Well worth the minimal investment for a quality roaster that will get you where you need to be.
Positive Product Points
Best roaster for the money, especially for a small approx. 1lb. per week household. Much improved over first model.
Negative Product Points
Noise and capacity.
Detailed Commentary
I've had the original iRoast for about four years. It finally died about 3 weeks ago. The iRoast2 is a vast improvement. Being able to program and save up to 10 custom roast profiles even if the unit is unplugged is great as is the ability to program a five stage roast. I'm no expert, but it sure seems like a lot more control over the process. I think the biggest improvement is what appears to be a more powerful motor/fan allowing for greater bean distribution during the roast. My first roasts have been much much more uniform than with the first version.
The noise is a bit of a bummer, but hey it's only for 15 mins or so. The 1/3 pound capacity is the only real drawback. For me roasting no more than 1lb. per week this isn't so bad though. I considered the Behmor, but I'm willing to wait a few years to make sure he gets all the bugs out and see if a better roaster is coming down the pipeline.
Unlike other reviews, I don't find the programming to be that much of a pain. Once you get used to it, it's fine.
Buying Experience
Got it from Hearthware. When I told them my iRoast1 died they gave me a deal even though I was long out of warranty. Good folks.
