Hottop B vs Behmor

Discuss roast levels and profiles for espresso, equipment for roasting coffee.
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KimH
Posts: 46
Joined: 17 years ago

#1: Post by KimH »

Hi,

My dear 1½ year old Hottop B set itself on fire yesterday :cry: Fortunately I managed to stop the fire before it could burn my house down :?

I have been very happy with the Hottop, but I am wondering if I should go for a Hottop again or try something else. I have noticed that the Behmor has come to Europe since last time i was on the market for a roaster.

Have any of you guys switched from a Hottop to a Behmor? Then let me know what you think.

Or can somebody tell me if there are any disadvantages with the Behmor compared to Hottop B.

PS. I like the prize of the Behmor, but will not compromise the great coffee I know the Hottop can deliver.

Regards
Kim

trix
Posts: 114
Joined: 16 years ago

#2: Post by trix »

I liked the price of the Behmor too and we've been very happy with the roast qualities we've been able to achieve.

I've read that the Hottop B has more ability to adjust the tempuratures and time controls than the Behmor. But once you get an understanding of the profiles for the types of coffee's you are roasting and what roast you are after it isn't that difficult to achieve with the Behmor.

You can always adjust the time up or down as you watch what is going on and you can always hit the cool button on the Behmor as necessary. That is usually only necessary as the voltage varies in your home. I always keep a volt meter plugged in and plug the Behmor into that. Then I can keep track of the volts at different stages of roasting. It does make a difference to get know the profile with the optimum voltage. For instance, I have found that in Florida (US) in the summer, roasting in the morning nets me the highest volts. Higher volts = more consistent roast per profile without adjustment.
Lucy
LMWDP #166 trix

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JohnB.
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#3: Post by JohnB. »

KimH wrote:Hi,

My dear 1½ year old Hottop B set itself on fire yesterday :cry: Fortunately I managed to stop the fire before it could burn my house down :?
Chaff build up in the motor/control board area??
LMWDP 267

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GC7
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#4: Post by GC7 »

Sorry about your accident. I'd like to know if it was from chaff or electrical too.

Here is a discussion I started last year when I was deciding on a new roaster. It might be of help.

Behmor or HotTop for Christmas?

denniskeating
Posts: 94
Joined: 19 years ago

#5: Post by denniskeating »

Hello, I'd say the most important feature is size of roast it will handle. I picked the Behmor because of this.
It takes a long time to cool the beans down, though. I am really happy with it, though. - Dennis

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KimH (original poster)
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#6: Post by KimH (original poster) »

JohnB. wrote:Chaff build up in the motor/control board area??
No, even if I did not see what happened I am pretty sure the fire started in the roasting champer or in the cooling tray. I guess it is hard to tell from these photos, but the wires inside the machine does not look like there has been fire near them.
denniskeating wrote:Hello, I'd say the most important feature is size of roast it will handle. I picked the Behmor because of this.

It takes a long time to cool the beans down, though. I am really happy with it, though. - Dennis
How long time does it take to roast a batch of espresso blend to the beginning of 2nd crack? and how long is the cooling cycle?

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KimH (original poster)
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#7: Post by KimH (original poster) »

GC7 wrote:Sorry about your accident. I'd like to know if it was from chaff or electrical too.

Here is a discussion I started last year when I was deciding on a new roaster. It might be of help.

Behmor or HotTop for Christmas?
Great thread, thanks for the link. However I still don't know if I should go for Behmor or pay 4 times more for another Hottop B.

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sweaner
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#8: Post by sweaner »

Well, now at least you can get a job with Starbucks as the roastmaster. :wink:
Scott
LMWDP #248

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JohnB.
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#9: Post by JohnB. »

KimH wrote:Great thread, thanks for the link. However I still don't know if I should go for Behmor or pay 4 times more for another Hottop B.

HT/B is $720 or less in the U.S., Behmor around $299. What are you paying over there?
LMWDP 267

Frost
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#10: Post by Frost »

Wow, from those pics you really toasted that machine! I was going to suggest to Ed (farmroast) that maybe this would be a good hottop carcass to build/modify on, but it looks too far gone to salvage.
I'm guessing you were off tending to other business while it was flaming on?

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