5 Best Coffee Bean Roasters 2020

With a ceramic body and leather cowhide handle cover, this is a durable and safe to use small-scale bean roaster.

The interior is waffle-shaped, so the beans fall naturally into their positioning, and there is more of an even roast without you having to do much work shaking the roaster. There’s also a safety element included on the handle; with a cover made from genuine cowhide, it is both comfortable and safe to grip even when at its hottest without the risk of burning your hands.

Of course, we still recommend wearing gloves as it isn’t 100% cool, but it is a lot better than any of the other ceramic roasters we tested. We will say that the handle is quite short though, so wearing huge oven mitts is probably not going to be helpful. Get a smaller pair, and watch out for your hands over the heat source.

You must use at least 30g of coffee beans in the product when roasting to ensure there is no burning or over-smoking, but this means it will cope with making anywhere between two to five cups.

All you have to do is shake occasionally to make sure a more even roasting takes place. Although, we found that if you do this too often, it disturbs the roasting process too much, so it may take a bit of experimentation to get just right. When we did it every 20 seconds, it seemed to be enough.

The shape keeps the heat in well, and it heats up in just over a minute thanks to the material. Start the pre-heating on a higher temperature, and then reduce it slightly when you get going. It should only take ten minutes to roast them perfectly, but this all depends on your heat level and individual tastes.

If you want a machine that will cope in a small commercial setting or are simply a coffee bean roasting connoisseur and only the best will do, the ParaCity roaster is a good match.

The glass lid makes it easy to monitor the beans, so even if you fill it up to its 800g limit, you can keep a watch of the process. Whether you like the beans to be browned ever so slightly, or like to go fully all-out for a massive taste impact, it is easy to achieve.

It does take longer than with some other methods, but on a positive note, this allows the flavours to develop more. Despite the time increase, it is a lot quieter than a lot of the others we reviewed. It also seems to produce a lot less smoke, so we feel it could safely be used in a kitchen or cafè environment without any bother.

As you’d expect, if it is filled up with several layers of beans, the ones at the bottom will get browner quicker than the ones at the top despite the fact it rotates automatically. A quick shake of the machine will help and is easy to do as it doesn’t get too heavy.

You can set the temperature for further control. Set it low for a more prolonged roast and enhanced taste, or higher for a darker tinge. You can even increase it throughout the duration.

Now onto the price, which we think makes it a bit of a steal. There are models on the market for much more than this, but which aren’t automatic and don’t have anywhere near as large capacity. The non-stick coating, temperature selection and heavy-duty lid are just three aspects which make it even more worth the money. Similar machines can cost almost three times this price, too.

Designed as a large household roasting machine but perfectly suitable for use in a small commercial application, the Gene Cafe is an innovative product.

It does all of the work for you, from roasting the beans to your chosen degree to cooling them in a dedicated chamber, using air. The beans are automatically ejected after the roasting process to cool, so they won’t suffer from further cooking which is great if you are very specific about the tastes.

This basket is then lifted out of its holder for easy bean removal. You’re then good to go again, meaning a 300g batch of green coffee beans can be made in about half an hour. Perfect for a busy setting such as a coffee shop or bakery.

The material will all able to withstand the temperatures for years to come, with Pyrex, reinforced glass and aluminium as well as reinforced plastics, and it feels well-built too. Cleaning it is also easy thanks to these materials and the removable glass jug, and the internal workings only need a brush out after every use.

An LED display lets you know the chosen temperature and time. With a range of 100° to 260°C, whether you want a slow-roasted aroma or a quick roast, it is achievable with the turn of a dial.

You can purchase a chaff collector separately, which acts as a duct to take away the smoke and smells so you can continue to roast inside without disturbing the surroundings.

The price is a bit off-putting, especially as you need to buy a few extras if you’re going to do everything properly. It also doesn’t have an overly large capacity, maybe enough for 20 cups. But for a machine which will do all the work for you and requires no monitoring in a busy environment, it is a good entry-level option.

For an introductory product to roasting at home, or for something to take away on trips with you, this little ceramic model will ease you in gently.

Simply preheat the device for a few minutes over a gas hob or stove until it is smoking and pop 30-50g of green beans into the hole at the top. Check the browning process through the hole and listen for the cracks, before removing through the hole in the handle and leaving to cool.

The process takes around 10-15 minutes in all. The only thing you have to do is swing the pot about softly in a number 8 formation or orbit to ensure the beans are ground evenly and none burn.

The handle does get hot, so invest in some heat-proof gloves while it is in use and be careful when removing the beans. On a positive, it does show that the heat is transferred to the roaster well from the source. It is also easy to grip, designed to be sturdy enough to hold yet shaped comfortably for a natural feel.

We liked the simple, black design and colour of the device. The hole sizes also made it easier to get both the right amount of beans into the compartment without accidentally overfilling, and even get them out quick enough, so they don’t start overcooking by accident.

It is a perfect size to take on a camping trip or in a caravan over either a gas stove or an alcohol burner. This makes it easy to control the heat. There is nothing to stop you using it at home over a hob or separate heater, and it will roast the perfect amount of beans for around four cups of coffee.

It is priced generously for a product of its build; there are a few cheaper options available, but they just don’t match the quality.

A drum rotator which will automatically do the rotating for you thanks to an inbuilt motor.

It requires a heat source, whether it be an electric stove, charcoal or gas/alcohol burner. The circular base and stand have a generous circumference, so it should sit safely over most standard home cooking appliances. Or, if you prefer, you can purchase a separate gas or alcohol burner.

Even though it does the turning of the basket for you thanks to the electronic motor, you will still need to control the heat source and level to a certain degree. The motor will turn at 25 rpm consistently to give a uniform roast, so if you like a continental dark roast, being able to increase the heat slightly may help.

The mesh lets the appropriate amount of heat through without over-exposing the beans. Made from stainless steel, the heat conducts really well and doesn’t escape which results in a quicker, more even roasting and more efficiency.

When it arrives, there is a bit of building to do. You have to install the motor, and then the drum. Make sure the screws are all tight, and everything is perfectly aligned so it can work to the best of its ability; instructions are pretty clear, and everything is self-explanatory, so you can’t really go wrong.

It seems a bit excessively priced for what it is. There are a few manually-controlled models on the market which would save you a bit of money, as the only electric part of this appliance is the turning motor. You still have to control the heat so you can’t leave it unsupervised, and controlling the drum rotation isn’t a massive hassle.

But it is a very well-built machine, which will no doubt last for years to come if you look after it well. The large capacity will also appeal to a lot of people out there.