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Home > Hearthware i-Roast Evaluation
Hearthware i-Roast Evaluation
| Hearthware "i-Roast" evaluation |
The new i-Roast from Hearthware is finally here and the initial indication is that it is worth the wait. It is a well-built yet compact, good looking roaster with a larger capacity than most, and offers controls only dreamed of in any previous roaster. Durability is the most important, still unanswered question in my mind; although it seems solid and well-built, only time will tell for sure how well it holds up - bear in mind I have to say that (because time IS the only judge) although I saw nothing that looked like a "trouble spot".
The Hearthware engineers designed an aesthetically pleasing home appliance that will make a handsome addition to anyone's kitchen (or roasting bench in the garage). The roaster consists of:
a base unit with digital controls and display,
the roasting chamber that twist-locks onto the base,
the roasting chamber cover that is also the bottom of the chaff collector,
a removable, circular chaff grid, and
the top screen of the chaff collector, which is also twist-lock fitted to the lower part of the chaff collector.
This top screen can be replaced with an optional fitting to attach to a flexible, dryer vent hose allowing you to vent it directly outside.
While the roaster has a capacity of ~1 cup / 2 Hearthware scoops (volume) or 150 Gm / 5.3 oz (weight) of green beans, the user-adjustable controls allow enough flexibility that smaller amounts can be accommodated with acceptable results. This may sound like a 'no-brainer', but is actually a difficult task with most roasters.
It can be as simple to use or as complex as you want it, depending on how much you want to adjust your roasts to your own specific profile. For this reason alone, I believe it to be a good roaster for beginners and the ultra-techies alike. The actual procedures for doing the steps below are in the well-written Owners Manual - READ IT & KEEP IT HANDY...please.
Simple:
* Pour two level scoops of green beans into the roasting chamber,
* twist-lock the roasting chamber to the base
and the chaff collector to the roasting chamber, - when all the parts line up, you're ready to go.
* press "Preset 1" (11 min roast ) or "Preset 2" (11 1/2 min hotter roast) to select the profile, then
* press the "Roast/Temp" button and your roast is underway,
* followed by a 4 minute cool cycle.
You can stop the roast at any time by pressing the "Cool/Time" button, but DO NOT unplug the roaster prior to the end of the cool cycle.
Advanced:
* Pour your designated volume or weight of green beans into the roasting chamber
* Assemble the parts so they all line up - If the roasting chamber is not on correctly, the roaster will not start!
* Program your own roast profile, using a maximum of 3 stages (not to exceed 15 minutes total)
set the temp for each stage from 320 degrees to 485 degrees fahrenheit, then set the time for each stage (in minutes/seconds)
* press the "Roast/Temp" button and your roast is underway,
* followed by a 4 minute cool cycle.
You can stop the roast at any time by pressing the "Cool/Time" button, but DO NOT unplug the roaster prior to the end of the cool cycle.
** Your profile remains in memory until you unplug the roaster. Truly, the possibilities are almost limitless: you can now control temperature, time (in THREE stages) and also alter your batch size. You can also ADD time (but not temperature) to the third stage if you need to...as long as the cumulative roast time does not exceed 15 minutes. Additionally, at any time during the roast cycle, you can press the "Roast/Temp" button and the actual internal temperature will be displayed - too cool - no more need for a seperate thermocouple...or for a timer either, as the digital display is a count-down timer of the entire roast (not by stage) - an l.e.d. also tells you which stage you are currently on. If you want some additional coolong, you can loosen the top cap and really move some air.
Other Comments
Here are some other pros & cons about the i-Roast from my own evaluation: whether each is a + or - is largely up to you.
dimensionally it is of similar size to the Fresh Roast, Caffe Rosto or HW Precision (6 1/2" diameter x 11 1/2" tall )
fit & finish is extraordinary, but the roast chamber - base connection is so airtight as to require a good solid downward-clockwise motion to lock it in place - the roaster will not start if it is not properly seated.
Hearthware's patented "palm tree" bean deflector is new & improved, allowing even better bean circulation than in the Precision
the heat cycles on & off just like in the older Hearthware Precision
the i-Roast is much noisier than the Fresh Roast - similar to the noise of the HW Precision
the fan is quite adequate and easily "floats" a cup of very fresh green beans, meaning no tipping or burnt beans
areas that could use improvement in my humble opinion
once you hit "Cool", or the roaster cycles to cool itself, the roast is over - there's no way to start roasting that batch again, and unplugging the roaster at that point can damage the circuitry.
It's better to estimate on the side of too much roast time and go to cool manually, than to underestimate and blow a roast. You could not "darken" the beans until they have gone through the entire cool cycle, and doing so will result in "baked beans", not a good thing for coffee.
Once you begin programming your own profile, if you make a mistake, hit the wrong button, or change your mind, the only way to change it is to unplug the roaster (PRIOR TO STARTING THE ROAST ONLY), plug it back in and start over again - keep the manual handy!
A "reset" or "delete" or "back one step" button would be most helpful.
Unplugging the roaster erases everything you have in memory. A "save" function would be most helpful, especially for those who don't keep their roaster plugged in all the time. A notebook with your profiles in it will be a good substitute
The chaff collecting screen area is small for the volume of beans being roasted and as a result tends to clog, impeding air flow. A 150 Gm batch of beans release enough chaff to clog the screen, which in one case actually blew the top off the roasting chamber - chaff flying everywhere.
Air flow is critical in a fluid-air bed roaster and needs to be balanced with heat input, which is why roasting smaller batches is sometimes difficult: too much air flowing all the way out increases roast time by decreasing the temperature inside the roasting chamber. I am concerned that using the optional outside vent kit would have a considerable effect on your ability to get a dark roast, or to roast smaller batches; concerned, but I don't know for a fact because I do not have the vent kit
The heating element could provide a little MORE heat, enabling us home roasters to have more latitude with smaller batches and darker roasts. At a stable 120volts using the Variac, I needed a hotter, longer roast profile than either preset to get a good espresso roast using 150 grams of some very fresh Sumatran beans. (see comment above about air flow)
Overall, I think the new i-Roast will work well for both beginners and accomplished home roasters alike, but it does have its limitations. If you can live with those (yeah - you probably can), I think you will be pleased with this new roaster. As I said before, durability can only be evaluated over time, but I have no reason to suspect any problems.
Happy Roasting !!
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