Hottop B KN-8828B-2K+

by Larry Bodine on December 29, 2021

I previously had a Gene Cafe for 10+ years. I wanted to move to a roaster that had more controls for roasting. I'm still a novice with the Hottop, but I really like it so far. I can now hear the first and second crack of the beans that I was unable to do with the Gene Cafe because of the hot air blower noise. I haven't yet used the Artisan software for further control of the roasting process, but have been experimenting with the time and temperature on the Hottop. I'm very pleased and would recommend this roaster to anyone roasting their own coffee beans. I really like the fact that you can go with the automatic roasting cycles, like I'm still doing, but can move up up advanced control with the Artisan software when you want.

by Todd on January 24, 2021

This is my third roaster and my 7th roast on the Hottop. It’s my first drum roaster so my experience is limited. As far as quality goes, I’m very impressed with the “fit and finish” of the machine. Past user reviews give me no reason to doubt longevity. Functionally, it’s as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. I started out using the “auto” mode and was very pleased with the coffee that it roasted. It also allows you to roast manually or program a roast using alarms on the software. It’s a slick application and a very nice link with the dual thermocouples. I enjoy the data aspect of the roast, so the Artisan software hookup was a requirement for me. Had I known that I would become addicted to roasting coffee, I should have started out with the Hottop. However, there are numerous great options for getting started in this hobby. Cleaning will be the biggest downside that I see. This unit gets smoky, and I suspect that the roasting chamber will need a good scrubbing after several roasts. Cleaning between roasts is easy in my opinion. Also be aware that you must let the unit cool down between batches....no back to back batches. Happy Roasting!!

by DaveCx on January 2, 2020

I still consider myself a novice although I have completed about 100 roasts on my old Behmore and a whirly popeer. The reason I went to the Hottop was for more consistent roasts, more control of the variables, and the for the datalogging capability via the Artisan software. So far after 10 roasts, I am thoroughly satisfied with my purchase. The Hoptop is fair-priced everywhere with their vendors at around $1600. I bought it from Coffee Bean Corral because of the excellent customer service, fast turnaround time on orders and the fact that they answered my questions very quickly. Getting their coffee samples also helped with my learning curve as well. So far, what I like about the K2+ are: • Easy setup. There was a minimal amount of assembly to do (put on the heat grills and mount the cooling tray) and you are ready to go. • Documentation is some of the best I have ever seen for a consumer appliance. I say this as a former tech writer and editor. • Good user interface (controls and display). Aside from being able to control this from my laptop, • Good control over the process. • Consistent results • Sturdy construction • Easy to clean and maintain. Cons: • Smoke ventilates from multiple openings. Unless you rig a big hood with a powerful fan, it will set off the smoke detector in your kitchen. • Its limited to roughly a 1/2lb (250 grams) capacity. For me this is not a problem. On my older roaster I tried full 1lb roasts and had very inconsistent roasts • Because the heating element is electric, heat changes will have a lag time. But with experience, this becomes a mote point. Is the K2+ for everyone? If you are serious about coffee roasting and want to perfect your craft, then I believe this is the machine for you. It will allow you to do more with your roasts than lower priced roasters and is well supported by the manufacture and the user community. Although there is a lot to be said for gas roasters, not everyone has natural gas or propane available. There are also safety concerns as well. The next up is getting a sampling roaster. This is really overkill for the home roaster unless you are planning to do this as a career. Happy roasting!