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Thomas
August 25, 2024
I have used a SR800 for about 2 years and thought it was on its last leg, so I went with the Behmor 2000AB. I have watched and read a lot about how to use this machine and have roasted about 15 batches. All I can say is we cannot drink enough coffee to keep up with my desire to roast and play some more with this machine. Compared to the SR800 it is just fun to experiment with, looking forward to many more roasts.
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Chris
April 3, 2024
I have owned this roaster for years and absolutely love it! It's both easy to use and does an amazing job at allowing the user to create different roasts based on their taste in coffee.
The customer service is TOP NOTCH!!! I recently had an issue with the start button on the control panel not working properly and reached out to the company thinking that I was going to have to purchase a replacement panel board at over $100. Customer service sent me one for FREE! (even considering the roaster was several years old). Messages were replied to often within minutes (even on weekends which made me feel bad actually).
This roaster is definitely worth the investment.
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Ron
March 19, 2024
So far after a couple of roasts it is doing great. Im getting a really even roasts. After first crack I wait about
20 seconds to hit the cool down button, then let it run for about 5 min then pull the beans out. and let it cool the rest of the way.
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Bruce Munck
February 6, 2024
I, too, started with an SR500 and struggled with how fast things happened with it. I never really got comfortable using it. I did a lot of reading and settled on a Hottop. While it is well built it isn't magic; and the price difference between it and the Behmor is pretty big. My model interfaces directly with Artisan which is nice, but I can do just fine by using the buttons and knobs. So looking at the main difference as the build quality, I could have bought three Behmors for the price of one Hottop. For the average person I don't see where the Hottop is the one you should buy. The Behmor will roast a whole pound at one time while the Hottop does about 9 ounces. Of course, the Behmor takes almost twice as long to roast a pound as the Hottop does to roast 9 ounces, so I can do a pound in about the same length of time. They both do a good job of roasting and nobody can refute that. So...if there is an advantage at all it would be the price of a Behmore versus the quality of a Hottop. Each one has an advantage and it's up to you which way to go. I would like to have a Behmor to do some hands-on comparisons, but my wife probably wouldn't understand that. But, never say never.
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NSidhu
January 22, 2024
Much better than original 1600 with just one quirk. My last Behmor was 1600 model(original) and it lasted me 9.5 years and we roast 1lb a wk on an average. But it did not offer that control over roast temp and time that the newer model provides. After the rotary drum died and coffee beans burnt, we decided to upgrade.
Smart decision. The new Behmor 2000AB is more advanced, has faster drum rotation and roasts faster too. I roasted 1lb this morning in 20F outside in my garage and it warmed up without an issue. The older model would have given an ERR screen in that cold weather.
Quirk is that you have to push the Start button again before it goes into the final roast stage.Otherwise it goes into cooling mode. So, two things can happen. One is that you were paying attention and pushed the button on time. The other possibility is that you we’re not paying attention and were a bit late hitting the Start button, you can simply turn it off and hit P1 or any other roast button and get the first/second cracks by timing the roast manually.
Overall the features are better than 1600 and the quirk although annoying is built for safety and I totally get it and support it.
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Douglas Reader
October 11, 2023
I have had my Behmor for five years. I tell my wife it is the best gift I have ever received. I have hundreds of roasts resulting in coffee as good as I was buying from local roasters for a heck of a lot less. This roaster paid for itself in six months. One can roast using the preprogramed settings or roast manually using your own roasting profiles. I do a little of both.
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Braden Glett
September 2, 2023
I have had the Behmor AB2000 for a couple of weeks now. So far I am really liking it, as I don't have to roast nearly as often as I did using the FreshRoast machines. I wanted a machine that would allow me to roast up to a pound at a time, and the Behmor is one of the few machines that can do that. It's a little quirky, but just a little, and it didn't take me long at all to understand it as well as I need to in order to get a good roasting result.
Caveat: I live in Ohio, and roast in my garage where temps can dip into the 30s. I have not yet had the opportunity to see if the Behmor can power through an Ohio winter, as the FreshRoast machines can (with the optional extension tube for the FreshRoast, that is). So the jury's out on that.
Things I like:
1. One pound batch size!
2. Excellent chaff collection.
3. Solid build - seems like a very solid machine that will last a long time.
Things I don't like:
1. Behmor seems to limit the amount of time available for a batch, trying to protect us from ourselves for our safety (maybe their lawyers got a little too involved in their product design). I'm hoping that I can add time as needed, and that this nannying doesn't prevent me from getting a decent roast in winter. We'll see.
2. You can't see the beans in this thing due to the mesh screen (unlike the FreshRoast), so you can never be sure how dark your roast is. This takes some real getting used to... seeing the beans in addition to hearing the cracking adds a level of confidence that you just can't get without seeing them.
3. The Behmor is a lot less time-predictable than the FreshRoast and therefore you have to be there the entire time it is roasting. But as a positive, you don't have to roast as often. Some will like this, some won't (especially in winter).
CBC says you will get a phone call before they ship, which didn't happen. I did get an email, but an email isn't a phone call. So, CBC should probably amend their promise on the website if they are no longer calling - no use getting expectations up and then disappointing. (I don't really feel I needed a phone call, but once someone promises it and doesn't do it, it's a negative.) Overall I am EXTREMELY satisfied with CBC as a supplier after dealing with them for many years.
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Les
July 15, 2023
Replaced my 1600 AB. Looks about the same. My old roaster lasted through many roasts. Looking forward to more of the same with this one. Audible warning is nice.
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Olie Teeter
June 28, 2023
Although I have not used the 200AB, I have used a Behmor 1600 for about 7 or 8 years, not sure of the exact date I purchased it.
I can see there have been several improvements made to the 2000AB, one main improvement is the warning signal, but it should have been at 45 seconds or one minute, sometimes you can't get to the roaster in 15 seconds, I can't dry my hands in 15 seconds and get to the roaster. Too bad there isn't an override on the roaster, because when you miss the auto shutoff, you have to completely cool the beans before you can start the roaster up again.
I haven't seen anything about temperature control or monitoring;
my 1600 wasn't even in the ballpark when it comes to temperature monitoring. I corrected that by drilling a small hole in the upper left side and installed the probe of a grill thermometer which I can monitor with my cell phone and have a warning when it gets close to the four-and-a-half-minute auto shutoff time. Now I know the actual temp in my roaster.
As far as the quantity of beans roasting, I roast one pound of coffee two times a week and sometimes more. I roast the beans until the temp hits 275 degrees, shut the roaster off and start it up again at which time I start the timer, now at the 4 1/2 minute mark I hit the override for the auto shutoff and stay with the roaster until the beans are roasted fully. This is not an exact time as to the variables, humidity, room temp, moisture content of the beans, etc.
Another issue I have encountered is cleaning the roaster; after several years, I pulled the end cover off the roaster on the control side, it had a large accumulation of coffee bean hauls, dust, etc. enough that if it caught on fire you would lose the roaster. I further disassembled the roaster to clean the whole interior of the roaster, and it needed it!, which you can't get to any other way. I don't recommend this as some of the tabs can break off which holds the roaster together, I doubt if I can do this a second time without some of the tabs breaking off. The Behmor 1600 was a major improvement over the hot-air popcorn popper I started with. And I see big improvements in the 2000AB, but I am waiting for the Behmor "Jake", which I guess is behind schedule in production or maybe engineering???
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George V
March 21, 2023
I'm still learning but this is light years better than my Fresh Roast that just broke. I'm using standard settings and everything is coming out very well roasted and consistent. Lots to still learn but I'm very impressed so far.
Side note, do not roast inside, the smoke is much better than the Fresh Roast but it's still setting off smoke detectors.
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William
January 19, 2023
I've had the 2000AB for about a month now and roast about every other day. I share many of the roast with friends and family as I search for the perfect flavor. The roaster is very easy to use and provides a lot of flexibility as you can simply use the program modes or go completely manual. Any regrets? Yeah, I wish I had started doing this years ago.
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Kelvin Lee Padgett
January 8, 2023
I have done 3 different roast. First to light, second dark almost got away from me,but the 3rd a nice medium so far so good.
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Lb
December 1, 2022
Second behmor. Great medium roasts. How do I do it? I use an extension cord rated for the Amos. Preheat .. 1/2 lb press start . Weigh 8 oz raw beans. Press stop, .. put in beans. Press 1/2 lb then start then P5. Start timer. When 9 minutes is up come back, press start to avoid shutoff. Listen for 1st crack. When popcorn popping sound is less than 5 sec apart, press p3 and let 10 sec elapse the press cool. Let 2 min elapse. ( I use multi timer on iPhone). Then stop roast, vacuum chaff , close lit press cool. Shake cage to get rid of chaff in cage. Put beans in callindar, hand swirl until warm and vacuum pack. Put away roaster . Do all this outside.
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Scott M.
November 7, 2022
I bought the 2000AB plus from Coffee Bean Coral over a year ago, and for the price and volume of the roast (I roast a max of 14 ounces per session) it is a great option for people who roast a lot of coffee at home. I do two batches, twice per week. The machine already paid for itself in the money I've saved by buying green coffee instead of paying much more at the store.
There certainly was a learning curve, but I easily get into second crack just as cooling starts, and get perfect, even Vienna roasts every time, which is my favorite level of roast.
It can be messy to clean as only half the chaff gets into the tray, but I bought a small shop vac just for this purpose, and with the crevice tool on the hose, it takes less than thirty seconds to clean out all the chaff. Super easy, no more brushing it out and sweeping the floor.
The afterburner wire burned out after eight months, but Behmor sent a free replacement with good instructions, and I am mechanically inclined, so it was quick me easy. If you are not good with tools, this roaster might be harder to maintain if repairs are needed, but again, the price and roasting volume are hard to beat. The couple of minor chinks in the armor like cleaning it, and getting a few stuck beans out of the drum, are not a deal-breaker for me, as the machine does a great job once you find your groove.
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Randall Bennett
March 30, 2022
After a bit of experience, I have found the Behmore to be an excellent roaster after using a freshroast..very easy to get a french roast on P5 if u watch the temp and alternate between P4 and P5 on manual. Very happy with the machine and loved the coffee included in the order. Great Experience.
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Kate Stoller
January 17, 2022
I am new to coffee roasting, but have a passion for it and have dreaming about it for years. A month ago we ordered the Behmor 2000AB and I have been playing with it and testing it (and the sample pack of beans that arrived).
The compact size is great, the smoke removal system works really well on medium roasts, and the simple controls are easy to learn and ultimately use to create your own personal “recipe”.
The chamber is a bit tight, so putting the roasting drum into the preheated unit does take some care. The chaff tray works well, keeping most of it from reaching the heating elements. I have roasted in the house, but prefer the garage.
Clean up is simple.
I’m a fan!
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Alan Horne
January 5, 2022
We have had the Behmor 2000 about two months now and it is even better than our old 1600. I honestly don't think there is a better home roast deal anywhere!
We loved the coffee samplers and are saving our gift certificate! The log book was nice but portends little use as we have been roasting a long time.
Coffee Bean Corral is the best place to shop, we couldn't have gotten these incentives anywhere else. Just an example of how they do business, the best!
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Burks
July 16, 2021
I have been steadily experimenting with the Behmor. It's easy to use and great step up from grill roasting.
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drbll
May 21, 2021
This roaster is perfect for my home roasting needs, there was a slight learning curve, but there is so much information on line. Roasting levels are very easily reproducible once you find you happy spot.
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Heather Alden-Paredes
May 5, 2021
I am very excited about my Behmor 2000 AB. I was impressed that a representative from Coffee Bean Corral called me before they shipped it to talk about my interest in roasting, find out if I had any questions and offer ongoing support. I am brand new to roasting and have given my roaster a few trial runs. It has taken me some time to study the instructions but so far I have been successful. It's nice to know that I can always call if I need any support. As soon as my samples are gone, I definitely plan to order beans from Coffee Bean Corral.
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Kahvitauko
March 25, 2021
I am reviewing my Behmor 1600 AB purchased in July of 2019, so there may be some variation between that and this newer model. But I wanted to get good solid experience under my belt before reviewing. First of all, this isn't a frozen taquito microwave--don't expect to start it and walk away. It's a hands-on tool that exists to heat plant lignins...like a wood stove, say...and so requires attention to the process. Second, getting more out of this machine requires some understanding of the engineering of the timing and heating parts of the process, and the difference between the preset roasting programs and the user-set variables. Mr. Behm and his team supply all sorts of data on that--you just have to read it. I have roasted at least 200 batches--1/4 lb at first to learn, later 1/2 lb, then settled on 12 oz beans and the 1 lb programs as my Behmor's "sweet spot." By now I have it all down to about half a dozen manual tweaks to the basic 1 lb program...with variations for different beans/varieties. The consistency of the roasting profiles' temperatures amazes me every time. Like reviewer George Park, I roast in our garage, at temps 45 F and over, then haul it into a small utility room with exhaust fan during the winter months. It amazes me that whether it's 95 F and 30% humidity or 45 F and 95% humidity or anything in between, with a few minutes of preheating to the machine and chaff tray, this little machine produces the SAME TEMPS at the SAME TIMES (provided I start with house-room-temp beans!) within a couple of degrees. Wonderful controls engineering. I am the roaster for our posse, which can be a bit time consuming along with fermenting vegetables, making yogurt and cheese, processing garden and meat windfalls, milling and baking, etc. But the results are wonderful--much better than buying someone else's roasts. It took me a good ten years before deciding to buy a Behmor, and I wish I'd done it years ago. Our model Behmor doesn't have "warning beeps" which is fine by me--I'm sick of getting beeped at by every b(l)eeping piece of technology in daily life. I prefer quiet coupled with having an attention span and focus.
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Howard Goldstein
March 13, 2021
This is my second Behmor. Loved the first but motor was starting to slow down after several years. Don't care for the new one at all. First, after roasting for 20 years I know what to expect and don't want to have to baby sit this thing for 25 minutes. Secondly no matter what I do cannot get a roast into second crack. Lastly the function where you control everything really does not work at all. Oven will not heat when you slow the speed down. Regret buying.
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George Park
March 6, 2021
This is an update to my review of 8/15/20. I have now had my roaster for 7 months and have completed 33 roasts. I am impressed by the reproducibility of the roast temperature profiles. They are almost identical in spite of different ambient conditions. I have my roaster in a permanent location in my garage. The ambient temperature has ranged from 51 to 87 degrees, and the humidity from 33 to 99%. I always preheat the roaster for 3-5 minutes before roasting. The smoke suppression system works well, and I love the roasting coffee fragrance in my garage but wouldn't want it throughout my house. I have had a couple of 'operator error' mishaps, forgetting to put in the chaff tray once, and that made a mess but wasn't critical, and I did not properly close the basket allowing beans to fall out of the end on another occasion. The latter mistake could have resulted in a fire but staying with the roaster while roasting allowed me to discover my mistake and stop the roast before an actual fire started. I highly recommend staying with the roaster and observing what is happening as per the operating instructions. While a fire is unlikely, it could happen, as I proved through my own carelessness. Everything I wrote in my initial review remains true. This is a great roaster and I highly recommend it.
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Ira
January 22, 2021
I did a lot of research before pulling the trigger on the Behmor 2000AB plus. It is a great choice that is hard to beat. I am enjoying roasting very much. It aint rocket science, but I can already see that with a little more experience I'll be able to tailor my roast to my taste. Previously, I drove across town to buy my fresh roast from a really good roaster, and while it was good, it was always the same. And, it tied up half my day off every week. Roasting through my sample packs a half pound at a time rewarding, fun and I get to do it on my time.
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Pierre Mitchell
January 2, 2021
My Behmor 1600 died and this is the replacement. I love the faster/stronger motor and the audible safety beep (finally!), but the drum and chaff tray have been lightened (to save money I guess), and it hampers the performance a bit in terms of a flush fit with the drum door; and also with the chaff tray (the flanges deform a bit). But it still works fine.
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P Mitchell
January 2, 2021
My old Behmor 1600 finally gave up the ghost, but this new model is amazing. Bigger/faster motor and finally got an audible beeper. I also got some beans to try and I like this site (i.e., reviews) and the coffee better than the other two major green bean sites. I'm also really getting better results by biting the bullet and only roasting 1/2 lb batches (on the 1lb roasting setting).
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JFrieden
December 15, 2020
I’ve been roasting for several years using an SR 500.
However I needed higher capacity and more control over the roast.
Finally nailed how to roast a perfect batch in manual mode after a just a few batches with Behmor 2000AB Plus.
I just use P5 on one 1lb and wait for first crack. 30 secs to a minute later I hit cool and open the door.
Voila. It’s perfect every time.
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Grant Johnston
November 4, 2020
I am very pleased with this purchase. The Behmor 2000 is very consistent and does a fine job roasting beans.
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solidmushroom
August 21, 2020
It's perfect for in home use, very little debris comes out, Smoke is minimal and the stove fan removes any that escapes. My first two roast attempts turned out good and can't wait to roast again.
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George Park
August 15, 2020
After years of using a iRoast2, I am ecstatic to have a roaster that allows me to actually hear the first and second crack! So far, I have completed four small (100 g) roasts and am impressed by the quietness, reproducibility and lack of smoke from this roaster.
There is no doubt that this is not a "put the coffee in, press a button and walk away" roaster, but should it be? Not if you really care about your coffee. There are plenty of controls to customize your roast, and the manual that comes with it (and I highly recommend reading it thoroughly) is quite instructive. The only downsides I have found so far are that it is sometimes a challenge to insert the roasting cylinder (square post into square drive have to be aligned) after pre-heating the roaster as recommended, but so far I haven't burned myself. Also, I find that chaff cleanout takes a little longer than it seems it should. Not all the chaff is caught in the chaff tray and the handy brush (included) is required to clean out the chaff from the roasting chamber. Finally, an occasional bean will get stuck in the roasting chamber. For me these are small irritants that don't take away from what seems to be an excellent product.
Only time will tell how the roaster ages (does it get easier as I get used to the routine, or do the small irritants become large irritants) and its long-term reliability. I used my iRoast2 for 15 years. I am hoping for the best and recommend this product for the serious roaster.
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Rita Mahaffey
August 15, 2020
So far I love it.I’m still trying to get the hang of it. It’s a little different than my other one.
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