Hearthware i-Roast2 Coffee Roaster
| Update - Somethings have changed since Tom wrote the review below. The Hearthware i-Roast 2 is still an advanced roaster that allows you to program temperatures and profiles in a way that no other air roaster does. Programmability is a definite plus if you have problems with line voltage or thew machine is quirky; if the machine is running too hot or cool, you can program temperatures accordingly. The trade off is that the machine has proved perhaps less durable than other models - the expected lifetime of all the small air units is about 2 years of regular use. We have seen much longer use and sadly, shorter.
Another thing that has also changed is the support available through Hearthware's customer service. We have sold this company's product for almost ten years - so we have a lot of experience with them. Recently, it seems that the company's focus has shifted to a new product, a small oven, that has overwhelmed any support for i-Roast customers. This is very distressing. There is a big user base out there for the i-Roast, so there is a lot support in terms of trouble shooting the machine. Hearthware seems to have improved their customer service a bit - but we will keep watching this situation. The one year warranty is through them - so it is best to contact them if you need warranty work. Let us know if you encounter problems. - Maria 2/27/09 There is a lot of information about both the i-Roast 1 and i-Roast 2 on our On-line Tip Sheet - where you can find a lot of answers to various questions/problems. And here is the iRoast2 .pdf Tip Sheet for information specific to the iRoast 2
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We
offer the Hearthware i-Roast 2 with
or without our Coffee Samplers. This includes 4 or 8 types of green coffees,
1 pound of each, and your choice of a Brewed Coffee Sampler, Espresso, Half Decaf-Half Regular, or All Decaf selection. There is a slight surcharge for all Decaf samplers - since these coffees are a bit more expensive . I encourage
you to get the roaster with a sampler, since it will allow
you to enjoy a range of the best quality coffees (Central American,
South American, African, Indonesian, wet-processed, dry-processed,
etc). Hearthware
*i-Roast 2* Home Coffee Roaster with the
4 Pound Green Coffee Sampler Hearthware *i-Roast
2* Home Coffee Roaster without coffee We no longer stock any parts for the i-Roast - Hearthware wants you to get those directly from www.hearthware.com or www.i-Roast.com
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Hearthware lists the iRoast2 as having these improvements over the iRoast 1 model: 1. Chaff Collector Assembly
2. Roasting Pot
3. Power Base
Okay, before
you get too excited, let me interject. I have tested a production
unit of the iRoast 2 and, while the changes are not frivelous,
they amount to a minor upgrade rather than a major overhaul. In
software terms, most changes are "bug fixes" and the
programming change (5 roast stages) is not a critical feature
of the machine. ** Hearthware has a note in the manual about using this pre-set- use essentially half a batch. |
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 Changes uptairs include tiny redesign features, such as this locking clip in the foreground. |
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The changes to the chaff collection and the roast chamber are things you would expect to make the roaster more durable and function better. The manufacturer should make such changes without fanfare or asking for customers to pay more for them. The new top end takes a little more elbow grease to snap into place, but appears to leak less air and vibrate less than the problem units of the previous model.
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It's difficult to even photograph changes on the new model because they are largely unseen. They basically make the top fit snug and firm on the base. | |
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Changes include 5 roast stages, but the roast stage indicator (red arrow points to Stage 1) has only 3 stages indicated. They have a way to indicate stage 4 and 5 though. Also, you don't have to program all 5 stages if you don't want to use them all. I think it is unecessary to use 5 roast stages - 3 is fine to create a heat "ramp" roast profile. Of course, you can still use Preset 1 and Preset 2 to roast. Now you can save and recall 10 roast programs of your own (using Cool/Time button, now also the Record button -green arrow), and they are saved even if the machine is unplugged. That's an improvement. |
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The i Roast 2 involves small, thoughtful fixes and improvements, but is what we would call in the software world iRoast 1.01 ... not a whole new, advanced redesign of the machine. You can see that the program was improved a bit, but not the user interface. I would be impressed if the controls were angled upward toward the user, and if there were appropriate buttons for each function, not reusing buttons or combinations of buttons. Note that the fixes to the top are in response to vibration problems (chaff collector vibrating lose) and air leak problems on some units of the iRoast 1). It's not like every iRoast had these problems. I appreciate Hearthware making these changes, and they are all good modifications. The last word on the iRoast, the older models or new one is this: the iRoast is still the most advanced air roaster on the market now and in any forseeable future. If I wanted to start roasting, it's the one I would choose, and whether you want to pay more for the little improvements of the iRoast-2 or go with the current iRoast, I don't think you lose out on either route. -Tom 8-26-05
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