1. Home Roasters Intro
2. Fluid Bed (Hot Air) Roasters
3. Drum Roasters
4. Links
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Writing this article, I've been totally amazed at the quality of green bean roasters on the market. Today's products are full of great features and so, so easy to use. But, if you're new to it all, how do you know which roaster is best for you?
Well, you can make a good start right here by reading this article for a thorough overview of the basic domestic roasting machines and their pros and cons. First let's take a look at the two types of roaster - fluid bed (aka hot air) AND drum roasters.
First up is the fluid bed roaster, or hot air coffee roaster. The fluid bed roaster functions very similarly to a home popcorn popper, in that it uses a glass rotating roasting chamber to keep the beans and the hot air in movement, allowing for a very even roast. Fluid bed roasters work best for novice home coffee roasters that are only looking to roast a small amount of coffee for themselves and their family.
Drum roasters, on the other hand, are larger, more expensive contraptions made mostly for commercial use. Drum roasters are box-shaped and unlike the fluid bed roaster, does not allow you to view the beans as they are roasted. Drum roasters use convection or infrared radiation to heat the beans and are more for hardcore coffee enthusiasts than fluid bed roasters. These hardcore coffee drinkers drink a lot of coffee and it is almost a hobby to them.
The pros and cons of the two types of roasters: Fluid bed roasters are inexpensive, allow you to see the coffee beans as they are roasted, and they are fast, taking only 10-20 minutes tops to roast your coffee beans. On the other hand, fluid bed roasters also tend to be smoky, so you have to have good ventilation unless you want to set off your smoke detectors every time you roast and they only hold a few ounces of coffee at a time, usually about a 3-day supply.
Drum roasters give your beans a smooth, even full-bodied roast and can hold larger quantities of beans-up to 8 ounces at a time, and some of them are computerized for optimal roasting. Adversely, drum roasters tend to be expensive (ranging as high as $500 or more), take longer to roast the beans, and don't allow you to view the beans as they are roasted, meaning you have to rely on smell and sound to know when they are done unless your drum roaster is a high-end computerized model that does this for you.
If you are new to coffee bean roasting, the best bet home coffee roaster for you would be a more inexpensive fluid bed roaster. That way you can acquaint yourself thoroughly with the process before moving up to the big dogs-the drum roasters. Drum roasters are for people that are really serious about their coffee and are willing to shell out the big bucks to get the optimal coffee drinking experience.
1. Fluid Bed Home Coffee Roasters - aka Hot Air Coffee Roasters
As mentioned above, fluid bed roasters are the best option for the novice home coffee roasting enthusiasts because they are inexpensive, easy to use, and are optimized for home use by individuals and families.
How it works: Fluid bed roasters function like a home popcorn popper - they use hot air to roast the beans. In fact, some folks (like myself!) have actually used home popcorn poppers to roast their own coffee. In a fluid bed roaster, the coffee beans are placed in a glass, rotating roasting chamber that allows you to see the beans as they are roasted. The rotating chamber and roiling hot air within the roaster give the beans an even roast. The beans will roast very fast, taking a absolute maximum of 20 minutes, so it's best to not leave them unattended for very long-you'll want to monitor them as best you can so they are not burned and ruined. Most of the time, the roast will be around 10-12 minutes.
Price: One of the most attractive things about fluid bed home coffee roasters is that they are inexpensive. After all, nobody wants to spend a ton of money to try something they've never done before. Most fluid bed roasters will run you about $50-$150-not a bad price if you consider what most small appliances cost these days.
How to Use: Fluid bed home coffee roasters are also notoriously easy to use. All you need to do is place the coffee beans in the roasting chamber and set timer to the time that you desire. When the beans are done, remove the roasting chamber and put the beans in a bowl to cool. Remove the chaff collector, which contains all the non-essential granules that come off the beans in the roasting process, and dump it out. It's that easy. Once the beans are cool, you're ready to grind them and start making coffee!
Another reason why fluid bed home coffee roasters are great is that they are purposely made for home use. Unlike drum roasters, fluid bed roasters are unobtrusive, inexpensive countertop appliances that only make about a 3-day supply of coffee at a time, though you can of course make less than that. This is perfect for individuals, couples and families because if you roast a lot of beans and don't use them within a week, a bitter flavoring will develop.
The only real downside to fluid bed home coffee roasters is that some tend to be a bit smoky, which can set off smoke detectors and irritate people who are sensitive to such things. However, there are models out there that counteract this, but such models usually take a bit longer to roast the beans.
Fluid bed home coffee roasters are recommended for home use essentially because that is what they are designed to do. These roasters were created with the everyman in mind. They are easy to use and inexpensive-two things appealing to just about anybody.
2. Drum Home Coffee Roasters
Now - you should probably only read this section if you are a die-hard coffee enthusiast who has already tried roasting your own coffee beans! If you've been using a fluid bed roaster but find that it's just not getting the job done, then maybe a drum home coffee roaster is just what you need.
How it works: Drum home coffee roasters differ from fluid bed roasters in that they use convection or infrared radiation to roast the beans, rather than hot air. It's kind of like the difference between a regular sauna and an infrared sauna. If you've ever experienced both, you know what a difference it is. The infrared sauna is a big improvement over the saunas of old. Infrared radiation may sound kind of scary, but all it actually refers to is the light wavelength given off by the sun that conveys heat. It is what makes you feel hot on a sunny day. Infrared energy is perfectly natural and actually gives your roasted coffee beans a fuller-bodied taste than what you would get with a fluid bed roaster.
Roast Large Batches: Another great thing about drum home coffee roasters is that they can hold a large quantity of coffee beans. For those that drink a lot of coffee, this is an absolute must. The typical drum roaster can actually hold up to 8 ounces of coffee beans, as opposed to the fluid bed roaster which can only make enough for about a 3-day supply at once. While this may be enough for the average household, more and more households these days are embracing the "coffee culture" and therefore need more than what the fluid bed roaster can supply. So, unless you want to make several batches in your fluid bed roaster, you might as well step up to the plate and get a drum roaster.
Price: Though drum home coffee roasters are excellent appliances, they do have their cons. First, they are expensive. If you are going to buy a drum roaster, be prepared to spend three to four times what you would spend on a fluid bed roaster, if not more. Most drum roaster run at about $500 or more. Also, drum roasters take quite a long time to roast the beans, as opposed to the Fluid bed roasters, which only take 20 minutes at the most. Lastly, drum roasters do not allow you to view the beans as they are being roasted, which may result in some burned or otherwise ruined beans. Although some drum roasters are computerized to compensate for this, it will cost you more for those models.
All in all, though, drum home coffee roasters are great appliances for hardcore coffee enthusiasts. If you are a daily coffee drinker that takes your "hobby" very seriously, you might want to invest in one. A drum roaster can roast beans that will give you a much more full-bodied tasting coffee than you've ever had before and at a much more affordable price (as compared to your local caf?) in the long run.
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