My GeneCafe roaster failed after a year of good service. The heating element failed during my last roast, and now it will not heat. Monday I will pursue getting it fixed, but the real question is...

Has anyone owned a GeneCafe and a Hottop that could give a comparison? If you own one or the other please do not reply to this post. I would like to compare the roasters - so experience with both roasters is what matters.

Today I picked up some beans from a local roaster...yuck! One day I will roast again!

thanks,
Don

I would fix the Gene considering how young it is. I have both those roasters in addition to the Behmor and the iRoar2.

If you had a Hottop, we wouldn't be having this conversation

I currently own:
- Hearthware Precision
- Hearthware Gourmet
- Hearthware iRoast2
- GeneCafe
- Hottop KN-8828
- Hottop KN-8828D
- Hottop KN-8828B
- Hottop KN-8828B (converted "back" to a "B" from a "P" Model)

I have been using the Hottop roasters beginning with the KN-8828 around February of 2003. With those roasters on hand, I only use the KN-8828B. The others are either on display or in their boxes and stored.

While the Gene Cafe is a capable roaster, and for the price makes a very nice cup of coffee, the coffee it can produce is comparable to the Hottop. The Hottop does offer (IMO) better user control, real cooling for the beans after roasting, and memory for profiles so you don't have to watch over and manually control every roast in an attempt to duplicate your preferred profile.

Personally, I found having to manually stop the roast in the Gene and have to deal with the hot drum to dump the beans into my homemade cooler was a real PITA. For other methods of roasting the cooling feature of the Gene is sufficient, but for espresso I really like to end the roast NOW without having to predict when and stop it a little early to compensate for the fact that the beans would sit in the hot drum with air blowing over the still-hot heating element. If the GeneCafe had a separate blower to send cool air through the drum and a memory area to save roasts it would make an excellent roaster.

One online supplier sells the heating element for the GeneCafe for $75. It would be definitely be worth fixing, IMO.

Please feel free to read the reviews I have on my website of the Hottop and GeneCafe roasters. I would be glad to answer any questions you may have.

[DISCLAIMER: I have been doing independent contract work for Hottop for about four or five years.]

Tim at FreshbeansInc has shipped a new heater element for Gene and it sounds like I can make a simple repair. Apparently my failure is common on older GeneCafe's, so the 2008 models have a new/redesigned heater element.

I am looking forward to making the repair and getting the Gene back in service. Thanks also to Intelligentsia for a quick shipment of Black Cat to tide me over.

best,
Don

Niko, are you implying that the Hottop would beat the Gene in a side by side comparison? Since you own both roasters, what roaster is your "go to" roaster for espresso? --thanks

New heater came today, installed and 1st roast complete. No need to let the beans degass - Silvia warming as the beans were roasting, 1st shots pulled 30 min later and AMAZING.

It is good to be roasting again.

So while I was waiting for the roaster repair, I started thinking about creating my first espresso blend. Here is what I did...

65% Brazil Bija Flor
10% Kenya Peaberry
25% Ethiopian Harrar Organic

I didn't roast and cup each variety yet - I was too anxious. But I can taste the blueberry notes from the harrar, lots of dark chocolate, and a pungent body that sits in the middle of your tongue.

Thoughts on this blend anyone??

GeneCafe is down AGAIN. I regret ever purchasing it. The replacement heater unit was supposed to be a "more reliable design", but it did not last.

So I would like to announce: I BOUGHT A HOTTOP!!

While unpacking the Hottop, it does not take long to realize that the build quality of the Hottop is tons better than the GeneCafe. The Hottop is mostly metal, and the heating element inside is thick, like the one in my household oven. I have had the Hottop for a week now, and made 2 roasts. I have a new learning curve with the unit, but I can say the unit is operating perfectly and appears to be built like a tank. I will post more about my roasts later after I have learned all the nuances.

I am so disappointed with the GeneCafe, it is hard not to throw flames. Nevertheless, the truth is that my GeneCafe just did not hold up to ONCE per WEEK roasting of small batches. It is really disappointing when a $500 unit fails after only 40 roasts!

Buy a Hottop folks, do NOT waste time with anything else of lower quality.
Happy Roasting,
Don

Look at this.
http://southcoastcoffeeroaster.bl...sassemble-for.html

Thanks, Tim sent me a new heater unit free of charge so I will be doing the replacement tonight. I enjoyed using the GeneCafe, but it is really frustrating when a $500 unit doesn't hold up to a light usage schedule. Nothing beats home-roasting!

vanboom wrote:I am so disappointed with the GeneCafe, it is hard not to throw flames. Nevertheless, the truth is that my GeneCafe just did not hold up to ONCE per WEEK roasting of small batches. It is really disappointing when a $500 unit fails after only 40 roasts!

Buy a Hottop folks, do NOT waste time with anything else of lower quality.
Happy Roasting,
Don

Is it possible, however, that your experience is unique? Haven't seen a lot of complaints about Gene quality or inability to "hold up."