This is good machine for someone who isn‘t willing to mess with a popper and doesn‘t want to spend $$$
Positive Product Points
- Small
- Quick roasts
- Relatively quiet
- Inexpensive for a purpose-built roaster
- Auto cool cycle
Negative Product Points
- Tippy design
- Gets hot to touch
- Small batch size
Detailed Commentary
I managed to find one of these, in the box at a local St. Vincent DePaul store, and paid $10. It looked like it had been given as a wedding gift and was perhaps used once if at all.
I was able to find some green beans and found that even without instructions, it was easy to use.
The chaff catcher works well, though the unit CAN produce a great deal of smoke if you are running dark roasts and roasting indoors. I rigged up a "smoke-catcher" with some sheet metal parts to use with my down-draft vent-- no more smoke.
The unit has a relatively small batch size, only able to roast about 1/2 cup by volume or 3-4 oz. by weight. This is about enough for one strong pot of coffee. Successive roasts go faster and faster, so as the machine gets hot, less time is needed.
I have dropped my roasting chamber and broke the glass chimney. I can order another chamber/chaff collector from the importer for about $16, but have not needed it as I mostly use A West Bend Poppery Mark 1 now.
If you pay more than $60 for this unit (from Sweet Marias), you‘ve paid too much. Though a good, well-designed entry-level unit, it‘s not worth the $125 list price.
