- Posted by Wakeknot
- Tue, 02/21/2012 - 10:16
The Iroast home roaster
This is a quick review of the iroast II roaster. I got it a number of years ago from my wife as a present. As such I have very carefully never found out what it costs, but my impression is that relative to most roasters (that are designed for home roasting – I’ll post about a few cheap options that were not intended for home roasting originally) it is fairly reasonable. I was given it before I had discovered things like Roaste.com and other mail order ways of buying coffee – this is a very important detail since the truth is the coffee from pro roasters when bought fresh is definitely better that what I have ever produced.
The Iroast is essentially a hot air popcorn popper modified to allow you control over temperature, time and to collect the chaff that comes off when you roast. The very first time I used it I pressed go and used the default settings and off it went. I pressed stop when the coffee got to the right color for my taste and ten minutes later I was drinking what I considered great coffee.
I did not realize at the time that I had never had fresh coffee and all the coffee I’d ever had before had been stale and past its prime. As a result this coffee was far better than what I was used to drinking (ie Starbucks, Peete’s, etc).
I went online, found recommended ways to set the temperature profile and found myself even happier.
Slowly I realized that the coffee was actually too fresh – that letting it sit for a few days made it even better, but I also found out about mail order coffee as a result of my search for better and better coffee and found out that while the iroast makes good coffee, it is not nearly as good (at least in my hands) as the coffee you can order from high end roasters that will roast to order.
I do recommend it as it is a great way to learn about roasting and about coffee at a reasonable price, but on the other hand I do not in the sense that if you are like me you will never make coffee as good on it as you can order here.
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REVIEWS & COMMENTS
INTERESTING DEVICE!
Son Ton | Sat, 03/03/2012 - 04:59Thank you for sharing about your usage of this little interesting coffee roasting device. I also started with something very similar and that is a little air popper from thrift store!
@HOONCHUL
Wakeknot | Fri, 02/24/2012 - 21:04yes, it is more about learning about coffee than about saving money or even getting the very best coffee.
@JBVIAU
Wakeknot | Fri, 02/24/2012 - 21:03I agree totally. that is why I dabble in it, but why I default to buying coffee - time is at a real premium and I can get great stuff at a reasonable price online.
@INTREPID
Wakeknot | Fri, 02/24/2012 - 21:01I agree money does buy equipment that makes it easier, but on some level the real key is having fun and focusing on learning more than focusing on besting the pros who have more knowledge, talent, and better equipment, even if you put in tons of money.
@RWGAMER
Wakeknot | Fri, 02/24/2012 - 20:59I think there is an issue of talent there, too. I do have a modified hottop that a friend more or less gave me (he sold it, but for a steal) and I am still not anywhere close to the best 5% - Velton, Vivace, Paradise,...
@CHAMIE
Wakeknot | Fri, 02/24/2012 - 20:58that is a good point. even if they are better on average you do know your own tastes better than anyone else and that is a huge advantage.
@AVASERFI
Wakeknot | Fri, 02/24/2012 - 20:57that is certainly supposed to be a good roaster. I have a friend who is a pro who has one and likes it.
I BRIEFLY THOUGHT ABOUT HOME
hoonchul | Thu, 02/23/2012 - 00:47I briefly thought about home roasting to save money but quickly realized that it was too much work for me. Buy fresh coffee from roaste is so much easier!
SO CONFLICTED
jbviau | Tue, 02/21/2012 - 15:17I love the *idea* of experimenting with home roasting, but on the other hand the last thing I need is another time sink/coffee-related thing to fuss over. Decisions, decisions!
AS WITH A LOT OF THINGS THE
intrepid510 | Tue, 02/21/2012 - 13:53As with a lot of things the more money you put in the better the results. I have been interested in getting one of these just for a little fun, as it sounds like a good way to experience roasting easily.
HOME ROASTING - PAN
rwgamer | Tue, 02/21/2012 - 12:58I've been pan roasting coffee for a while now. I used to use a popper but it kept breaking down on me and I got tired of tearing it apart all the time. I'd say my pan roasting is about 80% as good as professional. The Behmor could get you 90% of the way there. And a modified Hottop roaster for $700+ with temperature probes and PID control might match a pro roaster, but it will take a while for that investment to pay off. I still enjoy coffee from local roasters or online as a reference point and something to strive for in my home roasting.
ONE OF THESE DAYS
Chamie | Tue, 02/21/2012 - 12:26...I'll have to try roasting with a real roaster instead of a popcorn popper or frying pan. I don't pretend that my own roasts compare favorably with the pros, but I love having the control to fine tune my coffee exactly as I like it.
ROASTERS
avaserfi | Tue, 02/21/2012 - 11:17Roasting has been a section of coffee I've been interested in for a while. I finally got a Behmor (broken which I am fixing). Hopefully soon, I can see how it works out. Sounds like another good journey.