For anyone who loves coffee, it would be a dream come true if they could be able to get the coffee beans roasted on their own. Unlike in the past where we had to rely on only getting already roasted coffee beans, you can actually do the roasting on your own nowadays but only with the best home coffee roasters.

The truth is that there’s plenty of ways via which you can get this done; you could go ahead and use your oven, your skillet, a popcorn popper or even your grill to get this done. The sad part about using alternatives to a dedicated coffee roaster is that you’ve got no clue what results you are going to end up with especially if you are doing the roasting for the first time.

The benefits of getting to do the roasting on your own are innumerable starting with the fact that green beans can be stored for longer and are cheaper as well.

To save you both the time and hassle of having to look for one yourself, we’ve put together a list of 10 of the best in 2023 and we’ll also be taking a look at what you should look into if you really want the best.

3 of our recommended picks

Before we move on to the buying guide, let’s take a quick look at 3 of the best among our top 10, shall we?

Image	3 of our best home coffee roasters	Amazon rating	Price
	KALDI Mini Size (200~250g) Home Coffee Roaster		Check price
	Nuvo Eco Ceramic Handy Coffee Bean Roaster		Check price
	Nesco CR-1010-PR Coffee Bean Roaster, Black		Check price

Getting your first coffee roaster- 2023’s #1 Buying guide

Is getting a dedicated roaster for your beans really worth it? Well, we’ll be finding that out just shortly and also take a look at what you ought to look into if you really want the best.

How many beans can you be able to roast at a time?

The volume of the roaster is quite important and there’s really no standard capacity that the roasters observe. Different roasters come with different capacities.

Regarding the size of your household, you could approximate which roaster size suits you best. On the other hand, it is always better that you get a small sized coffee roaster if it’s your first time using one. The other side of the coin to getting a small coffee roaster is that spending a lot of cash on too small a coffee roaster that you’ll outgrow could be quite a loss.

How much are you ready to spend on the roaster?

We all want something that will last for as long as possible but on the other hand, what most people don’t know is that coffee roasting is quite an intense process. Taking this into account, not all roasters would last as long as we would like them too.

If you, therefore want the best, then you should be ready to go really deep into your pockets. Whereas some may be as cheap as your oven tray, others may cost as much as $1000.

The trick to getting a long-lasting coffee roaster is taking a look at the warranty. The rule of thumb is that a coffee roaster should be expected to last just as long as the warranty. Just like most of the other appliances you use at home, how long the coffee roaster will last greatly depends on how well you maintain it.

Programmability.

When it comes to getting your coffee beans just right, there’s a lot that you need to take into account but I have to say that programmability is one of the major things.

The capability of being able to set the variants just the way you’d like them to be is quite important as far as getting your coffee beans roasted right is concerned. Some coffee roasters will allow you to set a given temperature for roasting your beans and some will allow you to set the time for roasting them. Wither of these is equally essential but what would be even better is getting a coffee roaster that allows you to set both of these.

On the other hand, as much as getting a programmable coffee roaster is quite important, it’s not the best idea to go for one especially if you are going to use it as your first coffee roaster. I’d highly advise that you get some experience first in using a roaster then go ahead and get a programmable one later on.

Where will you be using your roaster?

Yet another thing to take into consideration is where you’ll be using your roaster. Regarding the type of coffee roaster you go for, you’ll know where to best use it.

Some coffee roasters end up producing too much smoke and would not be suitable for use indoors and on the contrary, some are designed to get rid of some of the smoke. The smoke reduction feature renders the roaster suitable to use indoors but on the other hand, it slows down the roasting time which could, in turn, affect the flavor of your coffee.

If you’d like your coffee roasted darker or would like to roast a large amount at a go, the more smoke you are likely to produce. In this case, you should go for a roaster that’s exclusively meant for outdoor use.

Some coffee roasters that are dedicated for home use will come with a filter that gets rid of the chaff. If you’ve got a kitchen with good ventilation, you’d probably be better off going for one that can be used indoors.

Which type of roaster do you prefer?

Depending on how you want your coffee beans to be roasted and how much you want to roast at a go, you’ll know the best home coffee roasters to look for. The two types are the air roasters or the drum roasters

The air roasters

Air roasters are meant for anyone who loves to get the roasting done quickly and also loves the lighter and brighter flavor. These are intended for anyone who handles small batches of coffee beans at a time.

The drum roasters.

These work so differently from the air roasters, they have a drum that rotates and roasts the beans as they roast. The roasting process is slower and takes 15-20 minutes to get the job done. If you’re all about quality, then you should strive to get drum roasted coffee.

The noise level.

Depending on the type of roaster you’re getting, the noise level will be different. Even though either will be quite noisy, air roasters tend to be louder than the drum roasters.

Air coffee roasters tend to be noisier as compared to the drum roasters. When it comes to coffee roasting, you need to pay attention to both the first and the second crack and in this case, getting a noisy roaster will make this quite difficult if you’re a first-time user

Even though the drum roasters are more expensive, they’re just the perfect choice if it’s your first time roasting the coffee beans.

Best home coffee roasters- the top 10 picks of 2023

You’ve got all you need to know about choosing a coffee roaster at your fingertips and it’s now time to have a look at some of the best home coffee roasters you could get for your money.

Let’s get started right away, shall we?

Nesco CR-1010-PR Coffee Bean Roaster, Black

Ease of use = 70/100

Versatility = 70/100

Safety = 80/100

You’ll be getting a catalytic converter, evenly roasted beans and all this can be done within a short 20 minutes since it’s an 800-watt roaster.

Starting us off on our review is the Nesco CR-1010-PR Coffee Bean Roaster. Since coffee roasting is all about getting the job done perfectly, let’s see take a look as to why this is one of the best…

Gets the job done quite fast.

Don’t let the size of this roaster defraud you, it does pack quite a lot of power. Taking into account that it’s an 800-watt roaster and is run on as much as 120 volts, it can get the beans roasted perfectly within a short 20 minutes.

If you’re looking for a roaster that’s bound to give you the best tasting coffee in your home, then you should definitely consider trying this one out.

A patented catalytic converter.

As far as the history of coffee roasters is concerned, I’m pretty sure that none of them has got this feature.

With NESCO’s Advanced patented catalytic converter, you won’t have to worry about having to deal with too much of the coffee odor and smoke. Even though it will not get rid of all of this, it takes care of most of the odor and smoke such that you only get to deal with a small amount of this which should be taken care of a proper ventilation in your kitchen.

Get an even roasting process.

Yet another thing that makes this roaster worth every penny is the capability of being able to evenly roast your coffee beans and gradually control the color from the original light to a darker one. Get to have them just the way you love them.

Regardless of whichever combination of coffee beans you’d love to try out, you can create your own signature blend and achieve a wide range of distinct flavors.

Roasts up to 1/3 lbs

As far as the volume is concerned, I’d say that this is pretty much the best coffee roaster for you to use indoors.

As stated earlier on, the roasting process takes no less than 20 minutes and you can be able to roast as much as 1/3 lbs within this span of time

Nuvo Eco Ceramic Handy Coffee Bean Roaster

User-friendly = 80/100

Safety = 60/100

Durability = 70/100

It’s made of ceramic for even heat distribution and comes with a natural cowhide handle to guard against the heat

Getting a programmable roaster is quite awesome but if you’re all about simplicity, then I’d highly recommend that you go ahead and get yourself one of these. Though it’s just but a hand-held coffee bean roaster, it’s got quite a lot to offer you.

Quite easy to use.

Of all the coffee roasters you’ll get out there, this is probably the only one of the few ones that won’t prove to be difficult for you to find your way around using it. As a matter of fact, it’s just the perfect coffee roaster for anyfirst-time user.

Once you place the beans within the roaster, all you’ve got to do is sway it from side to side to get the roasting done evenly.

Durable construction.

The ceramic material that the Nuvo Eco Ceramic Handy Coffee Bean Roaster is made from is over 1280oC (2336oF). This is not only durable but it also allows for even heat distribution so that you get your coffee beans done just the way you want them

A natural cowhide handle.

For the handle, you’ll be getting a natural cowhide which should be able to conveniently protect you from the heat. Taking into account that it takes a lot of heat to get the beans roasted, it’s quite important that you get as much protection from the heat as possible.

One thing you should have in mind is that if you use the roaster too close to the fire, you may risk getting hurt and the same goes for touching other parts besides the leather handle.

Also…

To avoid damaging it, don’t immerse it in cold water right after using it since this could lead to the roaster cracking and it definitely won’t do you any good in this condition.

Behmor 5400 1600 Plus Customizable Drum Coffee Roaster

Safety = 80/100

Convenience = 60/100

Reliability = 80/100

You’ll be getting a chaff remover as well as a smoke suspension technology and more so, there are different roasting profiles coming along with this

If you’re really specific when it comes to coffee roasting, then the best home coffee roasters for you would be the programmable ones.

Let’s see whether the Behmor 5400 1600 Plus has what it takes…

A patent-pending smoke suspension technology

The darker you want your coffee the more smoke you’re going to have to deal with. Whereas other roasters may limit you to roasting, this one has a smoke suppression technology which makes it suitable for you to use indoors conveniently.

For an even much better experience, you can use the roaster near tour window ventilation.

Chaff removal

Besides taking care of the smoke, this roaster also gets rid of the chaff. There is also a removable chaff tray that can be detached from the roaster when need be just in case you’d like to clean up the interior of the roaster.

It’s worth pointing out that cooling process is also just as efficient as the chaff removal.

Even roasting.

If you’re all about roasting large amounts of coffee, then a drum roaster would be the way to go. Within the roaster is a rotating drum which ensures there’s an even distribution of the heat from the variable rotating speed.

It also has got a thermostatically controlled quartz roasting element in addition to the variable speed rotating drum which ensures your coffee beans attain just your preferred profile.

Customizable roasting profile settings.

The fact that it’s got 5 customizable profile settings sets it apart from most of the other coffee roasters in its class. In addition to this, you can override all these and stick to the manual roasting

KALDI WIDE size (300g) Home Coffee Roaster

Reliability = 70/100

Ease of use = 80/100

Capacity = 80/100

It comes with a thermometer, has got a maximum capacity of as much as 300 grams and you’ll only be using gas for heating- simple and yet up to the task.

We’re nearly halfway done with our product listing and we’re doing good so far. Coming up fourth is the KALDI WIDE size home coffee roaster. Other than just having a 300g capacity, let’s take a look at what else it’s got for us

An outstanding 30 RPM

An even heat distribution is one of the major things that determine both the color and the texture of your coffee beans.

So as to ensure that they’re all evenly roasted, this coffee bean roaster has got an outstanding 30 RPM to get the roasting done perfectly.

A 250-degree Celsius thermometer

As much as even heat distribution is important, it wouldn’t be any good if you didn’t know how much heat is being distributed over the coffee beans. With the 250-degree thermometer included, however, you’ll heat up your beans exactly the way you want to.

Depending on the flavor you like, you’ll always need to vary the heat so as not to overdo your beans.

Gas heating method.

Whereas others may use electricity as a heat source, this one uses gas. You should be able to heat them up to high temperatures and as compared to electricity, gas is quite economical.

At the same time, you should also pay attention to the fuel level. There’s no need to mess up your roast with insufficient BTUs and end up wasting your fuel in the long run.

A wide stirring drum

Owing to the fact that it’s a drum roaster, you’ll be able to get the beans darker and simultaneously you can also roast as much as 300g of beans. The only thing you’ll have to worry about is the ventilation.

Behmor 1600 Plus Coffee Roaster 

User-friendly = 90/100

Reliability = 80/100

Safety = 80/100

With the ability to carry out system diagnostics, a lot of customizations and a drum roasting technology, you’re definitely bound to get the biggest kick for your buck

Yet another outstanding coffee roaster from Behmor is the Behmor 1600 Plus Coffee Roaster. As far as roasting coffee at home is concerned, this coffee roaster might just give you the biggest kick for your buck.

Here’s what it’s got in store for you…

4 pre-programmed time controls.

One of the things that makes this roaster an ideal choice for everyone is the fact that you’ll be getting pre-programmed time controls coming along with it.

if you are doing your roasting for the first time, this coffee roaster might just be what you need. since you won’t have to go through the hassle of timing your roasting process, it will be much easier to use it.

5 custom pre-programmed heat/roast profiles.

Besides just having a pre-programmed time profile, it also does have a pre-programmed heat profile. You’ll e getting 5 of the pre-set roast profiles each of which can roast the beans in a different way as per your preference.

If you’re a first-time user and would like the perfect roaster, then you definitely ought to try this one out. With the pre-set roast profiles, it will be difficult for you to go wrong anywhere.

Drum roasting technology

As compared to air roasting, the drum roasting technology is far much better. From the heat distribution to getting the beans roasted as dark as you want them and more so, you’ll be able to roast quite a lot of beans.

With the consistency you’ll be getting from the drum roasting technology on this coffee bean roaster, you’ll not only evenly roast your beans but the process will be quite fast. It is also worth mentioning that just as fast as the roasting process is, the same goes for the cooling process.

Adjustable time controls

Whereas the pre-set time controls may be quite efficient, you can also enjoy the adjustable on-the-fly time controls.

Also…

The roasting element is thermostatically controlled quartz and this roaster also has the capability of carrying out system diagnostics.

FreshRoast SR500 (4.6oz) Home Coffee Roaster

Reliability = 70/100

Durability = 70/100

Versatility =80/100

With the ability to vary the temperature, roasting time and fan speed coupled up with a sturdy construction the 4.6oz FreshRoast SR500 will definitely serve you quite well.

Little as it may seem to be, this might just be one of the best home coffee roasters in 2018. Here’s what it packs under the hood…

Sturdy construction

First off, the construction is quite sturdy which means that having to get a replacement just shortly after it breaks down is out of the question here.

Something else that’s worth pointing out about the construction is that you’ll be getting a capacity of an outstanding 4oz of roasted coffee. This should be able to make about 72oz of coffee depending on the coffee to water ratio from the manufacturer.

Variable roasting time.

It’s always important to pay attention to how long your coffee beans are subjected to heat in the roasting process.

As a matter of fact, the best coffee bean roasters will always give you the capability of controlling this which is also what you’ll be getting from the FreshRoast SR500. This way you’ll just be able to supply the right amount of heat for the correct amount of time. Speaking of heat, let’s move on to the next point.

Variable temperature

In addition to being able to set the time as you deem fit as per your preferred coffee flavor, you can also set the roast temperature.

The three variables you’ll be getting as far as temperature is concerned are low, middle and high and obviously, the higher the roasting temperature, the darker your coffee will be

Variable fan speed

For an even heat distribution, you can also vary the fan speed. When it comes to varying the fan speed with regard to the temperature and roasting time, it will take some time before you get to find the perfect combination of all of these that will give you the kind of roast you want.

KALDI Mini Size (200~250g) Home Coffee Roaster

Durability = 80/100

Convenience = 60/100

User-friendly = 60/100

It’s made of stainless steel, uses a gas burner and uses a motor to turn the drum around- quite ideal for a first-time user just as it is for an expert.

Yet another outstanding coffee roaster KALDI, we’ve got the KALDI Mini Size home coffee roaster. Let’s see whether it’s really worth giving a shot, shall we?

Stainless steel material construction

The longer the coffee roaster lasts, the better off you are. With the stainless-steel material construction, you’ll be getting on this coffee roaster, there’ll be an even heat distribution and at the same time, you won’t have to worry about it getting damaged

Optimal coffee roasting

Owing to the fact that this is a drum coffee roaster, heat distribution will be optimal and you’ll be able to supply as much heat as you want to your coffee beans to get them as hot as you’d love them to be.

There is also a thermometer included which will definitely make the roasting process easier considering you’ll be using gas for the heat supply.

Large volume

If you want a large capacity, then drum roasters are the way to go. Even though it’s a mini size, you can be able to roast as much as 200-250g of coffee beans conveniently.

Final verdict

Coming to the end of our review, there’s clearly a lot to consider if you’re really after getting the best coffee roaster. If you’re getting one for the first time, you need to be even twice as careful- you don’t want your money to go to waste, do you?

From our top 10 list, it shouldn’t be that hard for you to now get the best coffee roaster. All in all, you should take your time when shopping for the best home coffee roasters.

While using one, always observe all safety precautions pertaining electricity and the heat; don’t hurt yourself in the process.