Hey Mike, I really enjoyed this video. As an Amazon Vine product reviewer, I was offered the Roma Pro for review and expect delivery tomorrow, so stumbling upon your primer was very timely and informative. Having never roasted coffee beans before, or even considered doing so, I'll be embarking on a whole new journey and hobby, which I'm pretty excited about. I've subscribed to your channel to help with the steep but fun learning curve. I have no doubt that you'll hear from me again. I don't even know where to order good green coffee beans yet, so my next stop will be your video on the topic. Thank you in advance for the plethora of advice I'll glean from your channel. Bravo.
I'm really glad to see you testing a Roma Pro. I was in the market for my first roaster, sure I wanted a fluid bed, and when I saw the Roma I could'nt help but roll the dice and preorder (insted of grabbing the steadfast but IMO dated design wise SR800). I have some questions if you don't mind: -Is the coffee bean handle on the top cap removable? It's very much in the way of where I would want to install probes for artisan logging. -Do you agree that it's a more compelling option than Fresh Roast? I chose it for the more granular power/fan control (18 vs 9 settings), double wall insulation of the roasting chamber, larger capacity out of the box, etc. It will be my first roaster though so idk what my opinion is worth lol. - Will you try dense high grown washed coffees on auto roast setting 1? Another reviewer said the inside of the beans were under roasted when they tried that- I love uktralight roasts so i want to make sure it gets addressed. Thanks!
All great questions. I’m going to drill holes for probes and leave the bean knob in place. The bean mass rotates counter clockwise. Look at how I placed probes on my fresh toaster artisan videos. You will want to roast manually for your light roasts but for now, and to learn you will probably be at the medium-light setting.
The concept is the same and maybe even some of the technology is similar to a hot air popcorn popper. The Fresh Roast and Sweet Marias Popper are hot air roasters that use hot air, heated from an electrical element and air is blown using a fan to move the heat and beans. There are similarities but there are electronics and design elements that make the roasters i mentioned AND the Roma Pro much different. I'm not sure to what extent you have modified your popcorn popper but since you have used it for 10 years you must be really happy.
@@VirtualCoffeeLab ya coffee is amazing as normal enzymes die at like 100F but coffee's don't activate until 200+F. 4-7 days they are active. Good stuff.
Nice video. The base of this thing looks pretty big compared with a freshroast. The company sent it to the right guy to check it out. It seems to be a pretty decent price although my concern would be durability given its coming from a kick-starter-type platform.
Thanks. Yea, It holds more coffee so the overall girth is bigger. There is quite a bit of room between the inner and outer glass tubes. Your right about durability. The longevity is unknown. It does seem like a pretty powerful and well thought-out design.
I had placed a preorder for this and cancelled it within an hour lol went and ordered an sr800 . I had my worries about it being such a new company with very very little information. If this video had come out when i was in the market for a roaster, i mightve stuck with this. But im happy with the sr800 so far
I just used mine for the first time yesterday and can confirm that this review is 100% accurate, I have had a gene cafe cbr101 for about 2 years and I have to say bar the unknown longevity this is a way more efficient and simple device to get into home roasting. In all honesty it is like a pokemon evolution of a $20 popcorn machine (my first home roast excursion) but at the kickstarter backer price it is the ideal entry device for homeroasting. The tip about setting it for a darker roast then stopping it at your desired level is how I used it first time, 1st crack at 6:30 then ended it at 7:30 with the cool button. Very even medium and very little chaff left on the beans
Thanks for your honest feedback about my review. I don't do many reviews because new roasters don't come along very often or they are too expensive to buy. This is a very interesting roaster with great visibility. One feature I don't like is the bean shoot. I hope they improve it to be a little bigger so the beans don't get clogged while dispensing after roasting. Other than that I think manual roasting could be pretty fun on a roaster like the Roma. I'm glad you are enjoying your roaster!
@@VirtualCoffeeLab The bean chute on mine cleared the 150g very quickly with no clogging so maybe the production one has been rejigged to cure the issue? I will try it with 300g on the next run and see what the results are like then but I have to say on first use I am loving this machines design and features. Lots of space to develop and experiment to learn the art of roasting.
I have been roasting for 10 years and had gone super deep down the rabbit hole and had a sr700, sr800 and even a husky 500. I realize I don’t have the time or energy to put into the nuances of those machines anymore so ended up getting a gene cafe last week. If I knew I’d this I probably just got this instead
@@VirtualCoffeeLab I like it so far. It is way easier especially with the chaff. Although I am in a phase to be a little more relaxed in roasting I do really miss at least tracking the bean temp. My first roast was very overcooked but second was decent. I wouldn’t pay full price for it but got it used for 300. Still think the SR800 is the best of the sub 1k but it does require a lot more work.
Interesting roaster. Where is it made? Would love to see a roast start to finish. The developers don’t really do a good job of answering questions from their backers, which is concerning.
Always intterested in new roasting technology. Biggest advantages over the FR seem to be the "auto" mode and larger batch size. What kind of phase percentages did you observe in auto mode? Wondering how a pre-programmed mode can account for different bean densities and individual taste. Maybe just as a starting point? Thanks Mike.
41/34/25 for the default medium roast. It was a solid 14% with a 10 minute and thirty second roast. 4 min 15 sec dry 3 min 35 sec middle 2 min forty sec development. It does not take into consideration density. This is a prototype and all profiles are set for 300 grams and do not consider density as part of the profile. The manufacturer says the following regarding the production model and profiles: Currently, in the machines under testing, like the one in this video, in automatic mode, all 5 levels roast 300g of beans. In mass production, when they start shipping to customers, , improvements have been made so that in automatic mode, levels 1-3 roast 150g, and levels 4-5 roast 300g. Adjustments in time and temperature will be made according to the weight of beans being roasted and the desired degree of roast. So, Jlantz in my video I suggest this would be ideal for someone who wants to roast at home and has. I experience. Using the auto mode they can watch the bean progression, smell, color and monitor temps and then use that info to roast manually. Kind of a cheat-cut to manual roasting. From there tweak the profile and enjoy.😉
Just bought a Fresh Roast SR540 a few months ago, would have opted for this home roaster instead due to advanced features. However, the Fresh Roast has been making some excellent roasts. Thanks for the review.
Great video Mike, you set the standard for home roasting videos. Question, do you believe this is a legitimate company that’s going to fulfill orders? Their Indiegogo site looks sketchy. (Not in production yet and the special and early bird quantities haven’t changed?
Thanks for your comment. Every interaction I’ve had seems to be business like. The page they have is part of a larger kick starter type website. They do have a production date goal. So, I don’t believe it is a scam and I wouldn’t have made the video if I thought the product wasn’t good enough for a home roaster. The product has been promoted by other RU-vidrs for a while so I think the initial momentum has plateaued. Those are my observations. I can’t see into the future, but the product is nice enough not to be a scam. I think they are really planning on manufacturing these. It’s just a financing thing.
So nice to see this roaster! It seems to have capability ranging from a simple push button roast to one of a more controlled roast. That means it can appeal to many people. I’m glad that it appears to be simple, yet of good quality. Thanks for the review Mike!
Hi Lou. Yea, I think it’s a good roaster for the beginner who wants to learn to roast manually but just wants a button to push to start out. I’ve got no way to know about longevity but it seems to be good quality.
Thanks for the video and info! What is the maximum temperature this Home roaster reaches? I thought you need to have at least 230 C to 245 C. In your presentation with the dark mode it seems it reached 200 C.
Hi Frank. The max temperature depends on your desired roast level, the type of roasting device you are using and the quantity of beans you are trying to roast. By the way, temperatures display on roasting machines will vary from one machine to the next. Are you currently roast coffee at home? What type of roaster are you using? What roast level are you aiming for?
Thank you for your great review. I have backed this product and will receive my soon. I didn’t know if I should have gone for the kaffelogic or this one but I figured this might be a good starting point before moving on to the next roaster. How hard is it to roast light roasts with the Roma pro? Is it similar to the SR800 or kaffelogic? I’m completely new to roasting so this will be my first machine
Hi George. The Roma is more similar to the sr800 in the way it roasts. The Roma pro has both the auto mode and manual so it’s kind of between the kaffelogic and the sr800. The kaffelogic is a smart roaster and in a whole different class as far as technology, the way it operates, and so much more. It is also a small capacity roaster at 100-200 grams max. The Roma will be a good machine to learn how to roast. You will have great visibility, and, if needed, the ability to use the auto mode. Roasting light on any machine takes some practice. If you watch my video about roasting light Nordic style coffee, you should get some ideas. Congrats on your new roaster
@@VirtualCoffeeLab Thank you! I really appreciate it. I will watch that video. I think like you say that the Roma might be good to learn from and then after move on to kaffelogic for more consistency and more features.
Thanks for watching. Here is the breakdown on the roast. 41/34/25 phase percentages for the default medium roast. It was a solid 14% moisture loss. 10 minute and thirty second total roast time 4 min 15 sec dry 3 min 35 sec middle 2 min forty sec development
@@VirtualCoffeeLab thanks. yes, the 2:40 development sounds darker than you usually roast and darker than my preference as well. the 4:15 to dry end looks right on and the 3 1/2 middle looks good. Shortening the development to 1 minute for light or 1 1/2 min for medium I suspect would give great roasts. The price on this thing is not as high as I was expecting, but I'll probably stick with the SR540 for now. Thanks for reviewing this for us.
Intruigued about this roaster. Since our talk, I’ve had to load 170-200g of coffee in my hottop to hit the times we’re going for without tipping roast defects. Did you do a 300g dose?
Hi Alec, yes, this was a 300 gram roast. The total roast time was longer than I would have done if I were doing a manual mode in an air roaster but, all in all, not bad
Thanks for sharing this! Does it suppress smoke/okay to use indoors without ventilation? I’ve only roasted on the Behmor and am considering moving to a different platform down the road.
The roaster is louder than a fresh roast but I have not measured the difference. It sounds a little like a portable vacuum. I was able to hear first crack. There are times when some coffee has a quieter crack. I experienced this on the all bullet recently so I guess it might depend on how fast you are moving through first crack and the type of coffee you are roasting as well.
Can you charge this machine? Is that necessary on this type of machine? I just roasted a Honduras on a medium roast and it’s tasting a bit harsh. Not sure what direction I need to go.
The Roma is an air roaster which does not need to be pre-heated. You can start your roast from room temperature. Are you roasting using the auto mode? If your roast is too harsh, consider roasting one level lighter and see how you like that. At some point you should consider manual roasting. It opens up a whole new world and your coffee roasts will really improve. Thanks for watching and being a subscriber. Sounds like you are enjoying your Roma Pro.
@@VirtualCoffeeLab thanks, I couldn’t find any info on that. I will try it again going lighter. I tried manual roasting but the beans I had were really old and gross. 🤢 I’m taking a step back and taking your advice and taking notes and tracking temps every thirty seconds and getting a feel for it. I’m still trying to grasp roasting concepts and your videos definitely are helping. Do you have a good video or resource that gives a general overview of what you’re trying to do in each kind of roast, light, medium, dark etc. Your videos have helped me understand rise and that first crack is not an event. Hopefully I will grasp this better and know what I can and shouldn’t do roasting manual. My goal is to get sweet and note defining coffees. Thank you again for your tremendous help.
I don't have a video for each of the roast levels on the Roma Pro but have done different videos for medium and dark roasts. I think the playlist "secret sauce of coffee roasting" will help with some of the basic concepts for roasting and putting together a plan. Even more basic would be to pay attention with your senses as the coffee is roasting. Notice the color change, the size of the bean swells, the texture changes, the aroma changes, and even the sound is different as the coffee looses moisture. These are things to notice as the coffee roasts. Then, connect those changes to events like dry, first crack, and when to end the roast. The Roma Pro has GREAT visibility compared to many other coffee roasters. One thing to note. When you watch my videos, I may talk about some concepts that are "drum roaster" focused. They may not directly apply to an air roaster like the Roma Pro.
Thanks for sharing that. It was a promotional link before the actual launch. Here is a good link to the product - www.roastlikeapro.com/products/roma-pro I'll update that on the youtube description
I am interested in this roaster but I can't seem to get the real price. I went to the page and they want $85,000. Then one corner of the page was like $365. Where can I get the real info and price of this roaster?
Jerry, the roaster is 328 usd currently. Scroll down just a little from the top of the page and you will see. The 85,000 is how many pre-order sales that have made so far which has exceeded their original goal . This is like a kick starter thing and the original campaign ends in about 14 hours and the price could change? So, the current offer says: Roma Pro-Launch Special ♥Get 1×Roma Pro at $328, which will retail for $680 | 52% OFF. Quantities Limited. Get it today before its gone. Guaranteed Shipment. 1×Apron,1×Bean Scoop, 1×Cleaning Brush, plus a 12-Month Warranty. Taste Your Coffee Fresh, explore new flavors and save money with Roma Pro - the ultimate home coffee roaster!
I can't tell you what you should buy Jerry. Sorry about that. The roaster seems to be good quality but I don't have any experience with the reliability of the roaster.
@@VirtualCoffeeLab That was an unfair question. I really think I have decided to wait on the Fresh Roast 800. I am on a call list when they are released in mid May so they say. I have a problem purchasing from CHINA. Fresh Roast is made in China. Imagine that. Do you think the Fresh Roast will hold up over time? Is the quality Chinese or a little better?
I have had a fresh roast SR540 for a few years now and I think the build quality is very good. The roasting chamber (glass) is fragile, and so it the Roma Pro. I think you made a good decision but it will require patience and practice to roast some really good coffee. The other positive is the company selling them is based in the United States with a phone number you can call. I have seen some Chinese products have excellent quality. Kaleido is one of those brands in the home roaster market. Just across the water in Tiawan the Ailio Bullet is manufactured and again, the build quality is very good. So, there are good quality products in China and there are some that are poor. Ultimately you get what you pay for.
In auto mode does it sense when the cracks occur or is it just a profile created by the manufacturer? Also does the profile change if you roast a smaller batch.
The machine does not sense when first crack takes place. It runs on profiles created by the manufacturer when using the auto modes. Question 2: Currently, in the machines under testing, like the one in this video, in automatic mode, all 5 levels roast 300g of beans. In mass production, when they start shipping to customers, , improvements have been made so that in automatic mode, levels 1-3 roast 150g, and levels 4-5 roast 300g. Adjustments in time and temperature will be made according to the weight of beans being roasted and the desired degree of roast. That answer is directly from the manufacturer and to me, seems a little confusing.🫤
Hi Jake. No it does not. The roaster has 5 pre-set roast levels from light to dark roasts. You can also roast in the manual mode. There is not an espresso or filter setting on this roaster. The LINK roaster app can roast for espresso brew or roasts, cupping, Omni, or filter brewing.
This link will take you to the page. roma-pro-worlds-largest-home.kckb.st/390f43ed It is on pre-order. After clicking the link and going to the page you will scroll down and select the feature offer for 328 usd, select which version ( USA/european) and then continue. They display Hong Kong dollars for the price on this page. I think it totals about 349 usd. I’m not sure about a phone number Tom. Sorry about that.
I think it's a great deal for someone looking for manual hot air roaster. However, I don't believe the Auto settings. Shouldn't the bean density or elevation affect roast profile (learning from your own videos). These Chinese companies come up with good deals but I doubt their product usability and reliability. Based on my experience (unsatisfactory) with SR540, listening to you and couple of other experts, I went and bought Ikawa home roaster for its product quality and repeatability. As a non-native coffee drinker, I consume very little coffee (
Great perspective. Ever roaster has its weaknesses. Correct, as far as I know, there is no roaster that takes moisture level or density into account. The long awaited Bunafr is supposed to consider this. Manual roasting is currently the most reliable means to profile roast. but, for someone who wants to start getting some decent coffee and then learn to roast manually, the Roma Pro is an interesting option. It is not an IKAWA quality. If Fresh Roast would produce automation into their product it would make things really interesting.. Great comments. Thanks for sharing
