Actually, it's not a fellow on CG who wrote BehmorThing, it's me who was here long before CG and is here a lot more than CG, it's just I tend to dislike signatures and coffee roasting is not a big part of this site so I keep quiet about it. But since you brought it up you should know. It works for not Behmor's too for the last 6 months or so, guess I ought to change the name, but that's work.

Ira

The issue of manual control on "off the shelf" homeroasters is a UL and other certification orgs. thing. To get their approval for safety it must be completely idiot proof. If you modify your off the shelf roaster and burn your house down your insurance co. may hassle your claim. Homeroasting deals with high temps and a combustion able substance so extreme care must ALWAYS be taken. I've turned down several requests to build one my Dreamroast roasters for them due to the liability. I've not researched to see if it's possible to have a buyer sign something making them solely responsible. This certainly wouldn't work for something mass marketed.

ira wrote:Actually, it's not a fellow on CG who wrote BehmorThing, it's me who was here long before CG and is here a lot more than CG, it's just I tend to dislike signatures and coffee roasting is not a big part of this site so I keep quiet about it. But since you brought it up you should know. It works for not Behmor's too for the last 6 months or so, guess I ought to change the name, but that's work.

Ira

My deepest apologies, ira.
I believe I must have seen a "regurgitation if the link" there.

Having used all three on the same day at SweetMaria's home roaster camp, I personally would still choose the HotTop. Especially for the B model, which I have been using for the past 1.5 years, it offers full manual control. I really don't feel the need to modify it, and have been using it in stock form.

The control board on mine failed after a few months, but HotTop was quick in sending me a replacement, all the way from Taiwan via express mail. The manual is very detailed and I was able to do the replacement myself without sending it back.

There is another machine from Taiwan by the name of Quest M3, which Arpi has been documenting and appears to offer full manual control, for similar price as the HotTop. To cure my upgraditis, I am in the process of getting a Mini-500, also from Taiwan........

chang00 wrote:
There is another machine from Taiwan by the name of Quest M3, which Arpi has been documenting and appears to offer full manual control, for similar price as the HotTop. To cure my upgraditis, I am in the process of getting a Mini-500, also from Taiwan........

Seems like, for all the "upgrade-itis, why not just bite the billet and get a 1# sample roaster, and be done with it?
That is, till you want a 5# sample roastewr.

Rob, the Mini-500 (500 grams per roast) is a gas one pound sample roaster.

The vendor for the Mini-500 did mention that it is more economical to just order the 5-pound roaster, as the price difference is not significant. I only wish I can consume that much coffee within reasonable time. I do have to keep my hands from shaking during surgery, but the caffeine does help during night calls. The local fire marshal and my neighbor may not be too happy with all the smoke from a 5-pound roaster....

chang00 wrote:Rob, the Mini-500 (500 grams per roast) is a gas one pound sample roaster.

IMAWriter wrote:My deepest apologies, ira.
I believe I must have seen a "regurgitation if the link" there.

It's not worth that much apology, but thanks!

Ira

chang00 wrote:Rob, the Mini-500 (500 grams per roast) is a gas one pound sample roaster.

Why not just get the Topper instead, it does 2x the amount and only costs about 100 quid more. It's also available in both gas and electric versions.

I am interested in the cast iron perforated drum and variable drum speed control of the Mini-500.