I'm using a recirculating, carbon filtered, range hood right now to roast about 2 pounds over the course of an hour and a half (six 1/3rd pound batches). The screen and carbon filter take care of grease, smoke and particulates, so the smoke detector and my furniture are happy.

They do nothing at all to reduce moisture carried odors (either from roasting or cooking). My nose likes the feedback this gives while I'm roasting or cooking, but it's a lot less happy an hour two afterwards, when the odors refuse to leave.

I just put up a Jet AFS 1000 in my garage (wood shop). They actually make a carbon filter for removing smoke although I was thinking that would be handy in the winter for clearing out the cigar smoke more than coffee smoke.

jbaldassari wrote: I live in a small condo, and I've been using a popcorn popper on my balcony, but it does produce a good amount of smoke after second crack starts. When it gets colder out I would love to be able to continue roasting indoors,

IMO, there's no such thing as too-cold-to-roast. Just the wrong clothes. I suggest you stop roasts at 2nd c: get used to (develop taste for) the countless magnificent coffees that do best at that not-so-light roast level.

I don't want to set off my smoke (and carbon monoxide) detectors or those of my neighbors. I wonder if one of the small home roasters like iRoast2 would be ok if operated next to an open window, maybe with a small fan blowing toward the window? Is the Nesco roaster really that bad?

In cold weather sensible neighbors will have their balcony doors closed. iRoast is a step up from a popper. Put it near your door where you can peek at it. Even a bigger batch/smoke producer doesn't have a long duration of heavy smoking, and outside, there's little build-up.

The nesco roaster makes a lot of smell, but not smoke (it has an afterburner), but gives terrible control. Nesco is better at light roasts than an unmodified iRoast2, however.

The iRoast2 can get away from you very easily.
My first modification was to add a vent fan using a dryer hose and a 12V muffin fan (with a 24V variable supply to control the speed). I could actually modulate the roast through a combination of iRoast program and changing the exhaust fan speed (which draws the air through the roaster, altering the profile somewhat)

Later, I gutted the controls and replaced them with an industrial programmable PID controller.



It doesn't make smoke inside, but the wife complains about the roasty smell.

Allon... Uhh.. Looking at that roasting setup, if all your wife complains about is the aroma, you got yourself a keeper there my friend!

Notice the fire extinguisher by the window. If you home roast, I recommend having one close at had. A pile of chaff or run away roast igniting is an ugly thing. You should have a couple around your house regardless.

Does anyone know why the Gene Cafe manual says "Do not use outdoors" under Important Safeguards? I found the manual here: http://www.genecafe.com/en/db/index.html?table=download&query=view&l=1&p=&go=1

jbaldassari wrote:Does anyone know why the Gene Cafe manual says "Do not use outdoors" under Important Safeguards? I found the manual here: http://www.genecafe.com/en/db/index.html?table=download&query=view&l=1&p=&go=1

I have no idea what they mean. Might well just be a clause that is there to cover themselves for litigation. I use the Gene outside, when the weather is clear and above 65*F ambient temp.

B|Java