Best Coffee Bean Roaster Machine Reviews 2024

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North 500g Gas Coffee Roaster

North 500g Gas Coffee Roaster

8.9 TOTAL SCORE North 500g Gas Coffee Roaster The North 500g Gas Coffee Roaster is a solid, full-featured piece of equipment, offered at a good price. Recommended for: Anyone with the space, who can make full use of its capacity.
Capacity 9.5
Chaff Management 8.5
Customization Options 9.5
Ease of Use 8

Design & Function

The North 500g roaster is functionally similar to our top pick, but slightly smaller and offered by a slightly lesser known company.

Cost

It’s also correspondingly cheaper, so if money is an issue, but you still want a world-class roaster for home use, then this is an excellent choice.

Capacity

It is perhaps even more solidly built than the Arc but has the drawbacks of slightly reduced capacity, and it may be somewhat harder to get good aftermarket support.

Those two things aside though, we view it as a compelling model, and proudly name it the second best home coffee roaster machine available today.

Gas-Powered Only

Note: Where the Arc is available in both gas and electric configurations, the North is available in gas only, though both propane or natural gas configurations are available.

An image of North 500g, which is our second best coffee roaster

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Hottop KN-8828P-2k+

Hottop KN-8828P-2k+

7.5 TOTAL SCORE Hottop KN-8828P-2k+ The Hottop KN-8828P-2k+ is a decent, easy to use machine, but falls a bit short when compared against others in its class. Still a good, low priced home option for the right user though. Recommended for: Novice roasters who are at least a little tech savvy.
Capacity 6
Chaff Management 5
Customization Options 10
Ease of Use 9

Design & Function

The Hottop roaster has been around for a while and at the time this review was written, comes in three different varieties. Of the three, we find the 2k+ to be the most capable and robust, but all three are exceptional. We’ve linked to the model comparison page so you can see for yourself which one would work best for you if you’re leaning in the Hottop’s direction.

There are three things we really like about this small coffee roasting machine:

It’s easy to use and delivers a consistently good roast
It’s got a great, lively and active community that has grown up around it, so help and advice is readily available
It’s far and away the least expensive of the machines listed here, so if you’re on a budget, this is a great way to break into the home roasting game.

Customization

It’s also got a frankly amazing number of customization options, including the ability to save all your roasting parameters at the end of a roast to make it easy to replicate (thus ensuring consistent results) and three profile slots so once you settle on a particular type of bean, you can create a custom profile for one-touch roasting access.

Having said all that, it’s not without its shortcomings.

An image of Hotttop KN-8828P-2k+, a consistently good coffee roaster

Electric Powered Only

One of the biggest problems we have with all three of the Hottop models is that they’re electric, and not gas-powered. We realize, of course, that not everyone will have a problem with this, but it did cause the brand to score somewhat lower with us.

Capacity

The other problem we had with the model is its capacity. Given that it can only handle half a pound of beans at a time, it’s got the lowest capacity of any model on our list.

Cost

Depending on how much volume you’re planning to roast at home, that might not be a deal-breaker for you, but for not terribly much more money, you can get your hands on a machine that can handle bigger batches at a time, so is something you should at least consider.

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Huky 500

Huky 500 Coffee Roaster

8.6 TOTAL SCORE Huky 500 Coffee Roaster The Huky 500 Coffee Roaster is an amazing, hand-built stovetop roaster that will serve you well. Recommended for: Anyone, but the Huky will be especially attractive to those who value artistry and quality workmanship, in addition to pure function.
Capacity 9
Chaff Management 6
Customization Options 10
Ease of Use 9.5

Design & Function

Not only is the Huky one of the best coffee roaster machine on the market today, it’s also one of the most interesting. It looks like a machine from an alien planet, and the best part is, every Huky sold is handmade by a man named Kuanho Li, who lives in Taiwan.

You can buy the baseline model (the most recent of which is the “Model T”), but even if you do, each one is marginally different and unique, being hand built, and of course, you can order a variety of customization options.

This essentially gives you the best of both worlds. You can get exactly the mini coffee roasting machine you want, and wind up with something quite unlike any commercial product sold today.

Gas or Electric Powered Option

Unlike the other units on this particular list, the Huky doesn’t have an onboard power supply. To make it work, you’ve got to set it atop the eye of a gas-powered stove. It should be noted, though, that one of the recent innovations offered by Kuanho Li is the option to order an electrically powered Huky.

An image of the Huky 500, fourth in our list of the best coffee bean roaster

It’s got a robust capacity, and with the distinction of being hand-built, you’re getting as much a functional roaster as a one of a kind work of art. There’s a lot to be said for that, which is one of the reasons it’s such a popular option. Don’t let this model’s fourth-place position on our list fool you. This is a serious roaster, and one of the best home coffee bean roasters on the market today. Highly recommended.

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Top 4 Best Coffee Roasters Under $500

Best Coffee Roasters Under $500 - Overall Best

KALDI Home

$479.90

Amazon.com

Last update: April 19, 2024 1:01 pm

RATING
PROS	Gas!, solidly constructed, produces consistent, high quality roasts.
CONS	Poor chaff management (though better than the mini).

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Best Coffee Roasters Under $500 - 2nd Pick

KALDI Mini

$285.50

Amazon.com

Last update: April 19, 2024 1:01 pm

RATING
PROS	Gas!, solidly constructed, produces consistent, high quality roasts.
CONS	Poor chaff management.

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Best Coffee Roasters Under $500 - 3rd Pick

Behmor 1600

Amazon.com

Last update: April 19, 2024 1:01 pm

RATING
PROS	Easy to use, aesthetic fits well into most home kitchens, produces a consistently good roast.
CONS	Electric, mediocre chaff management.

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Best Coffee Roasters Under $500 - 4th Pick

Fresh Roast SR700

Amazon.com

Last update: April 19, 2024 1:01 pm

RATING
PROS	Stylish and attractive, fast, and has a surprising number of extras, good chaff management.
CONS	Electric, can produce somewhat uneven roasts, tiny batch size.

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	OUR PICK
OVERALL BEST Best Coffee Bean Roaster Under $500 Espresso Machine Under 600 Dollars	KALDI Home $479.90 Buy this item Amazon.com Last update: April 19, 2024 1:01 pm	KALDI Mini $285.50 Buy this item Amazon.com Last update: April 19, 2024 1:01 pm	Behmor 1600 Buy this item Amazon.com Last update: April 19, 2024 1:01 pm	Fresh Roast SR700 Buy this item Amazon.com Last update: April 19, 2024 1:01 pm

Rating
Price	$$$$	$$$	$$$	$$
Dimensions	22.1” x 14.1” x 8”	10.2” x 7.9” x 9.4”	9” x 9” x 15.2”	6” x 6” x 13”
Weight	14.6 pounds	5.5 pounds	24.2 pounds	5.7 pounds
Capacity RESERVOIR SIZE	8.8 ounces	8.8 ounces	1 pound	4 ounces
Extras MILK FROTHING TECHNOLOGY	---	---	A few basic preset profiles and electronic controls	App controlled, remote operation, custom roasting profiles
Pros	Gas!, solidly constructed, produces consistent, high quality roasts	Gas!, solidly constructed, produces consistent, high quality roasts	Easy to use, aesthetic fits well into most home kitchens, produces a consistently good roast	Stylish and attractive, fast, and has a surprising number of extras, good chaff management
Cons	Poor chaff management (though better than the mini)	Poor chaff management	Electric, mediocre chaff management	Electric, can produce somewhat uneven roasts, tiny batch size

The machines we’ve talked about so far are fantastic, but let’s face it, not everyone can afford to spend a thousand dollars or more on a single function machine like this. That leads naturally to the question, “what is the best coffee roaster for people who don’t have a ton of money to spend?”

Don’t worry, if you fall into that category, we’ve got you covered!

The machines listed above are what we consider to be the best small batch coffee roasters being sold today.

Obviously, if you’re talking about buying a machine on a budget, then sacrifices must be made somewhere, and the best way to make a big impact on the price of the unit is to cut back on capacity. While it’s true that none of these machines can roast a ton of beans at once, all are well-suited for home use and can provide enough fresh roasted coffee goodness to satisfy most coffee drinkers.

Winner - KALDI Best Personal Coffee Roaster

In our view, this is hands down the best small commercial coffee roaster machine in its class. It checks all the important boxes for us, relying on gas power, rather than electricity, being well-made and constructed of sturdy material (stainless steel), and focusing on the fundamentals without getting bogged down in high-tech wizardry.

As much as we love the KALDI roaster though, we readily acknowledge that it may not be a good fit for everyone, and in no particular order, here are the reasons why:

It doesn’t have a power source of its own. You’ve got to either set it atop your gas-powered stove or grill, or it’s not going to do anything for you. We’re fine with that, but some people will no doubt want something more convenient. “Plug and Play” as it were. This machine isn’t that
Poor chaff management is probably an understatement; while it’s better than the “Mini” we’ll talk about below, this is still a relatively messy machine and you’ll have some cleanup to do after each batch. The chaff collection bin is nice, but the machine only gets a little better than half the chaff into the bin most of the time, with the rest decorating your stove top.
The housing gets really hot when the machine is in use. Handle with care!
The included thermometer is low-quality, and you’ll probably want to buy a better (digital) one

An image of KALDI Home, our top pick for the best personal coffee roaster

KALDI Home Coffee Roaster

That said, if you can live with those limitations, we think you’ll agree that this is the best personal coffee roaster in its class by a wide margin. We just love it.

KALDI Mini Roaster

KALDI deserves high praise indeed. Not only did they claim top honors in this category, but dominate the value-priced segment of the market, occupying fully half the space on our table with this, the miniaturized version of our top pick, the KALDI Home Roaster.

Amazingly, the company managed to shrink the footprint of the machine without sacrificing any capacity inside the roasting drum. Unfortunately, the sacrifices they had to make in order to pull that off were pretty significant.

The KALDI Mini roaster is unquestionably our top pick, but there are two reasons it might not be for everyone. The first is, it’s powered by a combination of gas and…well, you.

You need to set the unit on a gas stovetop or grill in order to make it work, but then, you also need to manually turn the crank to rotate the drum.

We don’t take issue with that, but then, we’re hands on people and don’t want to use presets and profiles to automate the roasting process. Not everyone is going to feel that way.

The second big drawback to this machine is the fact that there is no chaff management system, and no attempt to bother with one, which means that it’s messy. For that reason, this one’s ideally suited for use outside on a grill. You can certainly use it indoors on your gas stove, but if you do, understand that there’s going to be significant cleanup involved after each batch.

Again, we don’t regard this as a deal breaker, but we completely understand if it’s not something everybody will be clamoring to sign up for.

Even given those two significant drawbacks, the Kaldi coffee roaster is a wonder. Compact, well-constructed, and capable of producing really consistent roasts, every time you use the machine. At the end of the day, isn’t that what it’s all about?

An image of the KALDI Mini, a capable home coffee roaster

Behmor 1600 Plus

Behmor 1600 Plus

8.3 TOTAL SCORE Behmor 1600 Plus The Behmor 1600 Plus is a good mix of convenience and capability. Looks and feels like a typical kitchen appliance. Recommended for: If you’re looking for maximum control, you probably don’t want an electric model. But novice roasters will find a lot to like about the Behmor 1600.
Capacity 10
Chaff Management 7
Customization Options 7
Ease of Use 9

Don’t let this model’s third-place position on our chart fool you, we absolutely love it! It’s really got a lot going for it, but based on our selection criterion, we had to place it behind the gas-powered units in this price range.

At first glance, the Behmor 1600 Plus looks a lot like a toaster oven. A second glance, however, reveals it to be anything but.

The thing we like best about the Behmor is the fact that it can handle a generous amount of beans per batch, with the highest capacity of any machine in its class. On paper, it says it can handle a pound at a time. In practice, if you load a full pound, you’ll get suboptimal results. We recommend dropping down to fourteen ounces, but even at there, it’s got a larger capacity than any other roaster in the value-priced segment.

An image of the Behmor 1600 Plus, a capable home roaster

It also has a number of presets, but don’t make the mistake of thinking this is a “set and forget” kind of coffee bean roasting machine. We found the presets to be only of limited value, and if you want to get the most out of this machine, you’ll probably find yourself abandoning their use in short order and just winging it to get the result you’re looking for.

On the drawbacks side, there are a few. First, it’s electric, rather than gas-powered. That’s not a deal breaker, and in fact, some folks might like that better. For us, it counted marginally against the machine, but again, definitely not a deal breaker.

The window is a bit on the smallish side, and that can sometimes make it hard to tell what’s going on with the beans. While the unit’s smoke reduction tech is good, if you open the door to take a peek, you’d better be prepared for some serious smoke, so keep your stove fan on and a window open!

An image of the Behmor 1600 Plus, which is an electric-powered home roaster

Chaff management could be better too. When you open the door, be prepared for a bit of “shrapnel” and some cleanup afterward.

Perhaps the biggest drawback though is that the unit is underpowered (which is why it won’t actually roast a full pound per batch), and it’s not designed to roast your beans dark. If that’s what you’re looking for, then give this model a pass. It can do light, medium and even semi-dark, but it just doesn’t have the juice to do dark roast justice.

All things considered though, this model is fantastic. If you’re looking for a relatively simple home machine, the Behmor will serve you well, and it’s no great surprise to us that in other “best home coffee roaster reviews” scattered around the web, the Behmor consistently earns a spot on the list.

Manufacturer

Fresh Roast SR 700

Fresh Roast SR 700

7.8 TOTAL SCORE Fresh Roast SR 700 The Fresh Roast SR 700 has a small footprint and is very easy to use. Nice aesthetic. Recommended for: Casual coffee drinkers who want to experiment with roasting their own beans in small batches. Probably too low capacity for a serious home roaster.
Capacity 4
Chaff Management 7
Customization Options 10
Ease of Use 10

If you’re looking for a small, stylish roaster that’s super easy to use and comes with a surprising number of high-tech bells and whistles, then this is the model for you!

Far and away the least expensive roaster on our list, there’s a lot to like about the Fresh Roast SR 700, and even though we’re not overly fond of bells and whistles, we have to admit to being impressed by what this little unit can do (although admittedly, one feature, in particular, left us scratching our heads).

First, let’s talk about this machine’s positives. Using it is a snap. It looks a bit like a blender. Pour beans in, push the button, magic happens and beans roast.

It’s fast, efficient, and provides decent quality.

You can fiddle with and save your roasting settings for one-touch convenience later, so once you zero in on what settings you prefer for a given type of bean, it’s extremely simple to replicate your results from one batch to the next.

Also, this machine comes the closest we’ve seen to being “set and forget,” so if that’s what you’re looking for, then this one deserves particular attention.

On the other hand, the machine has some issues, shortcomings and one downright strange feature. In no particular order, these are:

Tiny capacity. If you plan on roasting in bulk, this machine is a poor choice.
Although the unit is highly programmable, there are no pre-programmed profiles, and the learning curve to create them is quite steep
There’s no temperature readout on the front panel of the unit. Given how important temperature is to the process, that really matters and is something that ought to be there.
Somewhat fragile, owing to its lightweight construction
App-controlled. Why you’d want to control a coffee roaster that you need to manually load beans into and watch the process via your phone or computer, we’re not exactly sure, but yes…you can! (see our final note below regarding this topic!)

The single biggest shortcoming of the unit though is the fact that due to the way it is designed, it’s very difficult to get a consistent roast from the machine. You’ll wind up with beans roasting at different rates, and seldom will you see a nice, uniform coloration in any batch you do.

For coffee purists, that’s the kiss of death, and we can’t see many purists gravitating to this machine for that reason.

If you’re a casual coffee drinker though and looking for a great, low-cost way to experiment with home roasting, it’s hard to argue with this one’s feature set, capabilities, or price tag.

Final Note: Actually, while we did poke some good-natured fun at this model for the ability to control it via an app, the presence of the USB port built into the device and the ability to connect a laptop computer to it is pretty handy.

There are some great open source programs that have grown up around this computer controlled coffee roaster, allowing you to create highly customized profiles and provide better tracking (including temperature tracking, which is notably absent from the control panel of the machine itself), and this is unquestionably a good thing.

While we don’t consider the SR 700 to be the best coffee roaster for home use, we can totally see why technophiles would fall in love with it!

Top 4 Best Coffee Roaster Machines for Small Business

While the machines we mentioned at the start of this review could be made to work in a business setting, if you’re going to custom roast coffee beans for profit, you’re probably going to want, and ultimately need something larger and more robust than any of those models can provide.

In this next segment then, we’ll identify what we feel to be the best coffee roaster machine for small business, and highlight some other excellent models to consider. Before we get into details, let’s take a high-level look at our winner and the various runners up!

Best Coffee Roaster Machines for Small Business - Overall Best

Probatino is a marvel of design and engineering

The Probatino

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RATING
PROS	A legendary machine, offered by a giant in the industry. Top notch quality, service and support.
CONS	Pricey, given its capacity compared to some of the other machines on our list.

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BEST COFFEE ROASTER MACHINES FOR SMALL BUSINESS - 2nd Pick

Sedona Elite 3200

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RATING
PROS	A solid, well performing machine for the money.
CONS	Some problems in the past with customer service and support.

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BEST COFFEE ROASTER MACHINES FOR SMALL BUSINESS - 3rD Pick

Mill City’s Gas-Powered Roaster comes with a USB port for data logging

Mill City’s 6KG Gas

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RATING
PROS	Highest capacity of any machine listed here. If quantity counts for more than quality, this is the one you want.
CONS	Decent quality, though not quite on par with what you get from the Probat.

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BEST COFFEE ROASTER MACHINES FOR SMALL BUSINESS - 4th Pick

Artisan 2.5

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RATING
PROS	Extremely fast and affordable, produces consistent quality roasts.
CONS	You’ll outgrow it quickly, and it’s not nearly as solidly built as the other machines on our list.

More Specifications...

	OUR PICK
OVERALL BEST Best Coffee Roaster for Small Business Espresso Machine Under 600 Dollars	The Probatino	Sedona Elite 3200	Mill City’s 6KG Gas	Artisan 2.5
	The Probatino	Sedona Elite 3200	Mill City’s 6KG Gas	Artisan 2.5
Rating
Price	$$$$	$$$	$$$$$	$
Dimensions	36.5” x 24” x 45”	44” x 26” x 44”	59.8” x 37.8” x 65”	12” x 19” x 57”
Weight	260 pounds	330 pounds	771.6 pounds	80 pounds
Capacity RESERVOIR SIZE	2.2 pounds	7 pounds	13.25 pounds	3 pounds
Pros	A legendary machine, offered by a giant in the industry. Top notch quality, service and support	A solid, well performing machine for the money.	Highest capacity of any machine listed here. If quantity counts for more than quality, this is the one you want.	Extremely fast and affordable, produces consistent quality roasts
Cons	Pricey, given its capacity compared to some of the other machines on our list	Some problems in the past with customer service and support.	Decent quality, though not quite on par with what you get from the Probat.	You’ll outgrow it quickly, and it’s not nearly as solidly built as the other machines on our list

Best Coffee Roaster Machine Commercial Type - In More Detail

Winner - Legendary Probatino

Legendary Probatino

9.8 TOTAL SCORE Legendary Probatino The Legendary Probatino is an amazing, small-footprint machine made by a legendary company in the industry. Recommended for: Anyone, and if the Probatino’s capacity isn’t enough to meet your needs, they make bigger machines that are able to handle any capacity.
Capacity 9
Chaff Management 10
Customization Options 10
Ease of Use 10

Probat Burns is widely regarded as maker of the best commercial coffee roaster machines on the market today, and we find ourselves in agreement with the general consensus. The Probatino is a marvel of design and engineering and is a study in excellence.

Everything about this machine is well thought out and perfectly placed. From the ergonomic operator board to the easy-access flame adjustment dial to the magnetic bean cooling and dumping bin, you won’t have any difficulty controlling every aspect of the roasting process from start to finish.

We simply love this machine, but having said that, it’s not without its flaws. In our view, the two biggest are the price and the relatively low capacity.

All those exquisitely designed features don’t come cheap, so you can expect to pay a premium for the honor of owning one of these, but if you find the capacity of this particular model to be lacking, the company manufactures much larger models too, so the sky’s the limit here…if your budget can support it!

An image of the Probatino, an excellent commercial coffee roaster

Manufacturer

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Sedona Elite 3200

Sedona Elite 3200

9.5 TOTAL SCORE Sedona Elite 3200 The Sedona Elite 3200 is sturdy, well-built, and incredibly capable. This roaster has it all. Recommended for: Anyone who can make full use of its capacity. It offers exceptional value for the money.
Capacity 10
Chaff Management 9
Customization Options 10
Ease of Use 9

Sedona makes solid machines, and the 3200 is a workhorse if ever there was one. It’s attractively priced, well appointed, and has just about every high-tech bell and whistle you could ask for.

The slogan associated with the 3200 is that it was designed with the beginner in mind, but has all the fine-grained control that a Master Roaster could ask for, and that’s certainly true.

With precise temperature controls and an infinite variable control ventilation control system, this model allows you to take control over literally every aspect of the roasting process if you wish while offering enough in the way of automation to allow a beginner to get up and running quickly and easily. Combining both on the same machine is no easy feat, so kudos to Sedona for that!

The only reason the company didn’t place top honors is that in the past, they have had some customer service and support issues. Those appear to have been resolved, but that, taken together with the fact that the company just doesn’t have Probat Burns’ stellar reputation for excellence were enough to force us to move them to the second position on the chart.

We love the machine, and it earns a solid recommendation from us as one of the best commercial coffee bean roasters on the market today, but we feel its second-place position is justified.

Manufacturer