If you've been following our home roasting adventure, you'll know we have been using an Ikawa Home Roaster on loan for several months. (If not, you can check out our first impressions HERE)
Now, nearly six months later, we've gained new insights, and we're here to share them with you.
Why a second article you ask? Well, roasting at home, believe or not, is a journey, and like all good journeys, you learn things along the way that you wish you had known earlier. From understanding the simple cleaning process to making the most of your coffee beans and using your Ikawa credits, we're sharing some key takeaways.
The Cleaning Process: Lessons Learned
Cleaning the Glass Lid: A Hard-Learned Lesson
We initially overlooked something that, in hindsight, seems quite obvious: keeping the glass lid clean. Over time, we noticed the lid becoming increasingly misty, a combination of coffee oils and chaff, a natural occurrence due to high heat and airflow within the chamber. A little embarrassing to admit, but we only realised this after a conversation with Chris from Bell's Beans who casually demonstrated the proper way to take off the glass lid.
To avoid this mistake, here's how you can clean the glass lid properly:
- Ensure the roaster is unplugged and at room temperature.
- Remove the lid by pulling it upwards, btw it's magnetically attached.
- Wash with warm, soapy water. The lid and metal vent are NOT dishwasher or microwave-safe.
- Wipe it dry completely before reattaching it.
- Give the roaster a light dusting with a microfiber cloth after each use to keep it in top condition.
Cleaning the Glass Jars
Since we're on the topic of cleaning, here's a quick note about the glass jars. These should always be cleaned by hand, never submerged in water, placed in the dishwasher, or used to heat anything in the microwave, as they aren't designed for those purposes. Instead, wipe them with a damp cloth to remove any buildup of chaff and oils. Also, be careful not to get the cork wet, as moisture can compromise its integrity over time.
Coffee Roaster and Beans: A Revision of Our Initial Thoughts
Smoke updates
In our first review, we noted that smoke wasn't an issue. Well, let's correct that: It depends. The more we roasted, especially when roasting multiple consecutive batches, the more we noticed some smoke buildup. While it's still minimal compared to traditional roasting methods, opening a window for ventilation is a good idea. The Ikawa's built-in cyclone system manages chaff and smokes well, but it's not entirely smokeless, mainly when roasting darker profiles.
Noise Levels: Is It Loud?
The Ikawa Home Roaster operates at around 77dB, comparable to a kitchen stovetop extractor. At first, we noticed the noise, but over time, it became background white noise, almost therapeutic in a way.
Roast Profiles: Graph Editor
One of the biggest surprises was how different beans reacted to the preset roast profiles. Some went darker than expected, and while we could tweak the roast degree, we weren't able to manually adjust all settings unless using the Graph Editor. This add-on might be worth considering if you prefer complete control over temperature and airflow. Be prepared for lots of experimentation with roast profiles to get the flavour you like just right.
(Graph Editor is a paid-for monthly subscription to a feature that allows you to make edits to recipes directly onto the recipe temperature graph.)
The Foundation of Exceptional Coffee: Bean Quality and Roasting Considerations
Why Bean Quality Matters?
The quality of coffee beans forms the essential foundation of every exceptional cup of coffee. Even the most sophisticated roasting techniques cannot compensate for substandard beans. Much like in culinary arts, where a chef relies on premium ingredients, coffee roasters depend on high-quality beans to achieve outstanding results. Defects in the beans, whether physical imperfections, improper processing, or poor harvesting practices, will inevitably manifest in the final brew, regardless of roasting expertise. We found the Ikawa beans consistently delivered superior flavour profiles and complexity.
Light Roasting and Chaff Management
When opting for light roast profiles, you should be aware of increased chaff presence, the papery skin of the coffee bean that detaches during roasting. This occurs because light roasts don't reach the higher temperatures or longer durations that naturally separate chaff from beans during darker roasting processes. At lower temperatures, the chaff remains partially attached to the bean surface rather than being fully released and blown away. While this increased chaff is not necessarily a quality issue, it does require additional attention during post-roast handling and may affect brewing if not properly removed. We found when roasting a light profile we got quite a bit of chaff left on the beans hence we started, most of the times, from a light-medium profile. We only mention this as understanding this characteristic of light roasting might help to better prepare you for and manage the roasting process but at the end of it still enjoy the roasted coffee.
Ikawa Home offers a wide selection of green coffee from Central America, East Africa, and Asia. As you know by now, all Ikawa green coffees have expertly designed roast profiles, helping you achieve optimal results with minimal effort.
Experimenting with the Ikawa roasting system has been truly eye-opening for us. Through hands-on experience, we've discovered the profound impact that roasting had on the final cup, deepening our appreciation for the craft behind delicious coffee.
Spending Your Ikawa Credits
If you're new to the Ikawa ecosystem, you might not know about Ikawa Credits, a digital store credit.
How do you earn them, you ask?
You would either need to have purchased or be the owner of an Ikawa Home Roasting System or sign up to Ikawa Home Credit here and participate in one of the offers.
If you haven't got the Ikawa Home Roasting System yet and you're considering trying it out, we recommend giving it a go! And if you're ready to dive in, feel free to use our affiliate link to get £100 in Ikawa credits! There's no additional cost for you to use this link and we might earn a commission too.
- With the Ikawa Home Roasting System, you will receive a welcome pack with the roaster, including 100 IKAWA Credits to use in the IKAWA Home Shop.
- Every time you buy green beans from the IKAWA online coffee shop, you'll instantly earn 10% back in IKAWA Credits.
You can use these credits towards your next order or to cover your shipping costs.
- 1 Ikawa Credit = £1 store credit
- Credits are valid for 24 months
- They are non-transferable
- They cannot be exchanged for cash or be used to purchase the IKAWA Home Roasting System, or any premium features within the IKAWA Home App
- Please note that purchasing IKAWA Pro products using IKAWA Credits will not be possible
Where to find your Ikawa Credits:
- Sign in to your account.
- Add the wanted products.
- Go to your Shopping Cart where you can find your Ikawa Credits. To use your IKAWA Credits, simply copy your code and paste it in the 'discount/gift card' field at checkout.
- Checkout. Apply the code and pay.
Final Thoughts
Looking back on the past six months, the Ikawa Home Roaster has been a fantastic addition to our coffee journey. It has its quirks, and we've had to make some adjustments, but overall, it continues to deliver an enjoyable and rewarding roasting experience.
Would we still recommend it? Absolutely. Just keep in mind that learning is part of the process, and sometimes, what seems like a small oversight (like cleaning the lid!) can make all the difference in your roasting experience.
Any tips to share? Let us know in the Contact us form!
