Hottop B KN-8828B-2K+

I previously had a Gene Cafe for 10+ years. I wanted to move to a roaster that had more controls for roasting. I'm still a novice with the Hottop, but I really like it so far. I can now hear the first and second crack of the beans that I was unable to do with the Gene Cafe because of the hot air blower noise. I haven't yet used the Artisan software for further control of the roasting process, but have been experimenting with the time and temperature on the Hottop. I'm very pleased and would recommend this roaster to anyone roasting their own coffee beans. I really like the fact that you can go with the automatic roasting cycles, like I'm still doing, but can move up up advanced control with the Artisan software when you want.

This is my third roaster and my 7th roast on the Hottop. It’s my first drum roaster so my experience is limited. As far as quality goes, I’m very impressed with the “fit and finish” of the machine. Past user reviews give me no reason to doubt longevity. Functionally, it’s as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. I started out using the “auto” mode and was very pleased with the coffee that it roasted. It also allows you to roast manually or program a roast using alarms on the software. It’s a slick application and a very nice link with the dual thermocouples. I enjoy the data aspect of the roast, so the Artisan software hookup was a requirement for me. Had I known that I would become addicted to roasting coffee, I should have started out with the Hottop. However, there are numerous great options for getting started in this hobby. Cleaning will be the biggest downside that I see. This unit gets smoky, and I suspect that the roasting chamber will need a good scrubbing after several roasts. Cleaning between roasts is easy in my opinion. Also be aware that you must let the unit cool down between batches....no back to back batches. Happy Roasting!!