In a rush? Our top pick is the Fresh Roast SR540 home coffee roaster.
The most enjoyable cup of coffee has got to be one you make from scratch.
That starts with roasting coffee beans yourself at home.
If you’ve never used a home coffee roaster machine before, choosing a model might seem like an impossible task.
I should know – I was in your shoes once.
But you’ve got the upper hand, because I’m going to share with you everything you need to know to find the best home coffee roaster for your needs.
Read on!
The Best Home Coffee Roaster – Our Top 6 Picks
- Fresh Roast SR540 (Best Overall Coffee Roaster)
- JIAWANSHUN Electric Coffee Roaster Machine (Simplest Roaster To Use)
- Gene Cafe CBR-101 Home Coffee Roaster (Most Stylish Design)
- Nuvo Eco Ceramic Handy Coffee Bean Roaster (Best Budget Option)
- Barr Well Coffee Bean Roaster Machine (Best For Large Households)
- CAFEMASY Coffee Roasting Tool (Most Portable Option)
Fresh Roast SR540
When it comes to programmable coffee roasters, this model gives you the most control over your beans.
There are 9 levels of temperature adjustment as well as several fan options. This means you can get the exact roast you want every time.
This cool looking roaster takes up very little space on your counters. What’s more, it also looks good sitting on them. You’ll want this thing next to your other coffee gadgets, so that you can wow your guests with the perfect setup.
It has a 120 gram capacity, and it roasts your beans in under six minutes. That’s especially handy if other members of your household have different roast preferences. You can please them all in a short amount of time.
It also comes with a 1-year warranty, which is something you don’t often see with coffee roasters. This ensures you’ll get your money’s worth or your money back. In either case, you’re winning.
Pros
- With tons of temperature and fan options, this model gives you very precise control over your roast
- It has a small footprint, meaning it can fit on even the smallest of counters
- A 1-year warranty ensures you’re happy with the purchase
- A chaff collector saves you time and effort you’d otherwise spend cleaning
Cons
- Pricey compared to most other home roasters
JIAWANSHUN Electric Coffee Roaster Machine
This is a great model if you’re looking for simplicity.
It’s so easy to use, you might as well throw away the manual – you won’t need it.
It has a single button switch as well as a temperature knob. It has eight options, ranging from 100 to 240°C (which is 212 to 464°F). This temperature range is more than enough to roast coffee beans just the way you like them.
I love the glass lid. It lets you see the entire process, and there’s something so calming and satisfying about that. Plus, being able to visually keep track of the process is handy.
It uses a mixing rod that rotates in both directions, which assures your beans are roasted evenly.
The roasting chamber has a non-stick teflon finish, which makes cleaning fast and easy. All you need is a cloth or a sponge, and a little bit of water.
Its dimensions are 13x13x5 inches, so it’s a fairly compact roaster that can fit on pretty much any counter.
And since it’s quite heavy, it’s great not having to take it out of the storage every time you want to use it.
Pros
- It’s compact, which makes it great for small kitchen spaces
- The transparent lid allows you to keep an eye on the color of the beans while they’re roasting, so you can get perfect results every time
- You can use the roaster for nuts too, so you don’t have to buy a separate appliance
- Anti-scald handles allow you to use the roaster without burning your hands
Cons
- The power cord is very short, so the roaster has to be close to an electrical outlet
Gene Cafe CBR-101 Home Coffee Roaster
Coffee roasters might not have looked like this in the past, but this model gives off retro vibes.
It’s rather unique, and you can rest assured everyone will be wondering what that cool thing on your counter is.
It uses off-axis chamber rotation to create an even roast, and it does a pretty good job at it. It also allows you to choose the temperature and the time by turning the knobs. This lets you play around and find the perfect roast.
It has a large chaff collector, so the entire process is mess-free. And once you’re done roasting, you can wash it with soap and water to remove the excess oil.
An easy upkeep is always a plus, because who likes wasting time on cleaning?
Now, you should know that this isn’t the fastest coffee roaster out there. It takes around 15 minutes to roast 250 grams of green beans, which is roughly 25 cups of coffee.
But at least it’s super quiet. This means you can roast early in the morning without worrying you’ll wake up the rest of the household.
Pros
- With temperature and time controls, you can try out different coffee roasts to find the one that’s to your liking
- Comes with a chaff collector, which saves you the hassle of cleaning it manually
- Unique-looking design is sure to stand out in your kitchen
- It operates quietly, meaning you can use it 24/7 without disturbing anyone’s sleep
Cons
- It’s somewhat slow compared to other models
Nuvo Eco Ceramic Handy Coffee Bean Roaster
The unique design of this coffee roaster instantly caught my eye. At first, I thought it was a weird looking pipe – but no, it’s a roaster!
I must admit, I was confused at first about how this thing works, but it’s actually pretty simple.
You put the beans into the waffle-shaped roasting chamber through the hole in the middle. Then, you place it over a heat source and sway it from side to side to get an even roast.
Trust me, you’ll have fun doing it.
Thanks to the cowhide grip, you can hold the roaster in your hands without having to use oven mitts. This gives you better control over your movement.
I love the fact that it’s made of ceramic. It’s sturdy, but most importantly, it’s easy to clean.
Plus, you can just blow the chaff out through the hole. Then, just rinse it in the sink. What a time-saving hack!
This coffee roaster is also great for traveling. It’s lightweight and small, so it takes up very little space in your bag. This also means you can keep it in a drawer when not in use, which is great if you don’t have much counter space.
Pros
- It’s compact and lightweight, which makes it easy to store away and transport
- It makes you actively involved in the process, which gives you the ultimate control over your roast
- Cleaning requires no more than a quick rinse, which saves you time and effort
- It’s very affordable, so you can invest the money you save in other coffee gadgets
Cons
- Actively swinging the roaster over the stove can be too much work sometimes
Barr Well Coffee Bean Roaster Machine
At first glance, this coffee roaster reminds me of a slow cooker or a low-profile popcorn popper.
It has a pretty simple design, but it actually allows for a precise setup. This means you can play around to find the perfect roast.
There are 8 temperature options, ranging from 100 to 240°C (212 to 464°F), as well as a brew timer that goes up to 60 minutes. The controls are so straightforward, even a baby could use it.
It can roast up to 750 grams of coffee beans, all in under 25 minutes. That’s more than enough to keep you going for up to a week.
The pot is non-stick teflon that’s simple to clean. You just need to wipe it down with a wet towel, which is super quick and easy. Less time at the sink means more time doing other, more fun things, right?
The lid is made of glass and has four vent holes. Still, it produces very little smoke, meaning you can use it indoors without creating a dark cloud around you. This is especially handy if you live in a cold climate and roasting outside is not an option.
Pros
- Temperature and time options allow you to enjoy different types of roasts
- The teflon pot makes this roaster quick and easy to clean
- It can roast a large batch of coffee at once, meaning you don’t have to do it as often
- Straightforward functions make this model great for beginners
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a manual, so you’ll have to figure everything out for yourself
CAFEMASY Coffee Roasting Tool
Once you get hooked on freshly roasted coffee, you might not ever want to go without it. Even when traveling or camping.
You might not be able to take your fancy programmable roaster with you, but you can take a simple manual tool like this.
This roaster looks like a fine mesh strainer with a fine mesh lid. But it doesn’t just look simple – it’s also pretty simple to use.
Just put your beans inside, clip the lid and wrap the whole thing in aluminum foil. Then, place it over a heat source and shake it to get an even roast .
You can use it over the stove or even an open fire, which makes it great for camping.
And it’s made of stainless steel, so you can rest assured it’s durable.
It’s dishwasher safe, too, but it’s also simple to clean manually. This is especially important when you’re using it outdoors.
The capacity is about 100 grams, which is roughly 10 cups of coffee. This means you’re set for a few days.
And it’s a good thing, considering it takes around 15 minutes to roast that many beans. Sometimes, you just don’t want to work that hard for a cup of coffee.
Pros
- It’s so lightweight and compact, you can store it in just about any pocket on any bag
- The long wooden handle blocks the heat, so you don’t have to worry about burning your hands
- It takes practically no time or effort to clean, and you can even throw it in the dishwasher
- Suitable for use on any heat source, which means it’s suitable for both use at home and on the road
Cons
- It’s relatively slow compared to other roasters
An Explanatory Guide On Buying A Home Roaster
When I first got into coffee making, I wanted to have all the machines necessary for making coffee from scratch.
That included a coffee roaster, and I knew nothing about it.
A buying guide like this one back then would have saved me a ton of time I spent researching these gadgets.
So let me save yours.
Here are the things you need to look for when buying a coffee roaster for home roasting.
Type Of Roaster
There are two types of coffee roasters.
The first type is called an air roaster, and it works by applying direct heat to coffee beans. Basically, you put the beans into a chamber, and then blow hot air on them until they’re roasted.
The other type is called a drum roaster, and it uses the same mechanism as your washing machine. Coffee beans are placed into a drum, and while it spins, the hot air roasts the beans.
Which one is better?
It depends.
For a newbie, an air roaster might be easier and quicker to use. You just need to set the temperature and time, and the machine will do the rest.
With a drum coffee roaster, you need to know when your beans are ready – by sight! This means you’re up for a game of trial and error before you end up with the perfect roast.
In sum – an air roaster is pretty straightforward. Some might even call it boring. A drum roaster requires you to be more involved, which is something most people either love or hate.
Roasting Capacity
When deciding on the capacity, think about how much coffee you usually drink per day.
A large roaster lets you do it once a week, which is great for all the lazy coffee drinkers out there.
One thing to keep in mind though:
Just because you can roast your beans once a week, doesn’t mean you should. For optimal taste, it’s better to make small batches every few days.
Now, the amount of grounds that go into a cup of coffee depends on the type of java you’re drinking.
But I’ll give you a rough estimate:
For every six ounces of water, you need about two tablespoons of coffee. That equals around 10 grams of coffee beans.
Now take that number and multiply it by the amount of cups you drink per batch – that’s your ideal capacity.
Manual VS Programmable
A programmable roaster will make your job easy. All you have to do is press a few buttons, choose your options and let it do its own thing.
But, that comes at a higher price.
Most manual roasters will be more forgiving on your wallet, but you’ll have to pay more attention to the roasting.
Ultimately, your choice depends on how much thought you want to put into the process.
Personally, I believe that making the perfect roast is an art. If you do too, then you’ll enjoy doing it all manually.
Cooling Feature
Your coffee beans heat up during the roasting process, but as soon as that’s done, you need to cool them down.
Fast.
Why?
Well, let me put it this way:
Imagine you’re baking bread. But when it’s time to take it out of the oven, you just turn the oven off and leave it in there.
The oven takes time to cool down, and until it does, your bread will still be baking.
So what do you end up with?
That’s right – burnt bread.
And the exact same thing will happen to your coffee beans, unless your home roaster has a cooling feature.
Smoke Suppression
Whether you’re using a manual or automatic coffee roasting machine, it doesn’t matter. There’s going to be quite a lot of smoke.
That’s because coffee contains oil, and once it heats up, naturally, it starts smoking.
Ideally, you should do this outdoors. But if you live in colder areas, that won’t be possible for a large portion of the year, so you’ll have to do it inside.
Some models have a vent system that helps you regulate the smoke that you’re making. But if you go for one that doesn’t, I’d definitely advise you to position your roaster next to an open window.
Chaff Collection
While you roast coffee beans, their “skin” starts to peel.
This is called chaff.
And let’s just say it’s messy.
To save yourself the tedious job of cleaning it, choose a coffee roasting machine that has a way of collecting chaff.
Is Roasting Your Own Coffee At Home Worth It?
I’m not going to idealize it – roasting coffee beans takes time and effort.
But all the best things in life do.
Okay, I guess I am idealizing it a bit. But I’m sure any coffee lover will agree that making your coffee from scratch to finish is art.
What do you get by roasting your own coffee – aside from joy?
You can choose your roast level, which in turn defines the final flavor.
A lighter roast will be more complex and higher in caffeine. A dark roast, on the other hand, gives you a more sweet and caramelized flavor with a lower caffeine level.
FAQ
Okay, enough of the roaster talk.
I’m sure you’ve got some queries about the roasts themselves.
In this section, I’ll try my best to answer all the questions that might be popping in your head.
Which Roasts Are Best For Which Types Of Coffee?
A light roast makes a thin cup of coffee, which makes it a good choice for cold brew or pour over coffee.
A medium roast works for pretty much any brewing method, from pour over to espresso.
Finally, a dark roast is ideal for concentrated cups of coffee.
Is Home Roasting A Cheaper Option?
Yes!
It’s much cheaper to buy a bag of green beans than freshly roasted whole beans.
So it’s a hobby that saves money in the long run!
Can You Use A Popcorn Popper For Coffee Roasting?
Technically, you could.
But you’ll end up with a very inconsistent roast.
That’s because the temperature is too mild and the fan speed is too low to roast beans.
The Final Verdict
As you can see, there are lots of different types of home coffee roasters on the market, so finding the best ones was a tough grind. (See what I did there?)
But after hours of comparing hundreds of models, I found the perfect home coffee bean roaster.
Whether you’re new to coffee roasting or a pro, the Fresh Roast SR540 coffee roaster will make sure you never run out of freshly roasted beans.
It has tons of temperature and fan options, a small footprint and chaff collection for mess-free roasting.
Plus, its modern design will definitely catch the eye of everyone who walks into your kitchen.
