Back in August, we were lucky enough to visit the Ikawa headquarters in London, and it was such an exciting experience! We got a behind-the-scenes look at the production line and chatted with the fantastic Ikawa Home manager, Emily.
Behind the Scenes with Emily
Emily gave us some great insights into the brand and the Ikawa roasting process. After that, we jumped into the roasting experience, which brought everything to life. It was a fun and hands-on day that deepened our appreciation for what goes into every roast.
Testing the Ikawa Home Roaster
It's no surprise that we now have an Ikawa Home coffee roasting system in our home (Ikawa Home recently loaned us one to test out) and after spending some time with it, we're excited to share our thoughts!
So, if you've ever wondered what it's like to roast your coffee at home, here's our experience.
Roasting has always sounded tempting for us and the next level from the home barista skills. When you think of roasting, you think about fresh flavours, personalised roasts, and a closer connection to the coffee-making process.
While there are DIY methods like using a pan or oven, not all seem consistent, or they tend to make quite a mess. So, when Ikawa loaned us their Home roasting system, we couldn't wait to try it.
Ikawa Home vs Ikawa Pro
Ikawa produces two types of systems: the Ikawa Home and the Ikawa Pro Series.
The Ikawa Home is designed for coffee enthusiasts who want to enjoy roasting fantastic coffee at home with ease. It's perfect for domestic use, providing an accessible way to experiment with different roast profiles.
On the other hand, the Ikawa Pro is tailored for coffee professionals who need advanced tools for sample roasting and profiling. It offers greater control and precision, featuring both an Inlet and Exhaust Temperature Sensor, whereas the Home version only has an Inlet sensor. This added control makes the Pro ideal for those looking to fine-tune every aspect of the roast with more analytical insight and flexibility.
Keep an eye out for our next article on the Ikawa Pro Series.
Unboxing and Initial Setup
The unpacking of the Ikawa Home roaster was very easy, and we had no issues setting it up, downloading the app, or creating an Ikawa account. The Roaster that we got is the upgraded version of the 50g roaster, the 100g one. We found it easy to follow the instructions and connect it to our phones via Bluetooth. The Roaster can be paired either to an iOS or Android device.
PS: The IKAWA Home app is free to download and use
Ikawa Home App
We were already familiar with the Roaster from our trip to the Ikawa headquarters, so we appreciated how user-friendly the Ikawa system is.
Roasting Made Simple: 4 Steps to Perfect Coffee
- Turn the Roaster on
- Connect the app to the Roaster.
- Use the in-app QR code scanner to scan the Ikawa green coffee bag
- Add green beans to the Roaster and press the "go" button to start roasting.
Bob's your uncle :)
In-depth Experience
Beyond its sleek design, the Ikawa Home roaster is an engineering marvel. When connected to the app, it gives you all the tools needed to apply heat to green coffee beans with precision, ensuring a controlled and repeatable roasting process. But how does it works, you ask?
Green Coffee Options
One thing that stood out when we got the Ikawa roaster was the selection of green coffees Ikawa provided, for which we are grateful.
Emily crafts recommended roast recipes for Ikawa's selection of green coffees, each carefully designed to highlight the best flavours and characteristics of the beans.
You can get your green beans from Ikawa, but Emily clarified in our chat that you can also get your preferred green beans elsewhere. But do remember that each time you add an Ikawa or non-Ikawa coffee to your Roaster, the app will recommend roast recipes thought through and tested before, with the Ikawa beans in mind.
If you're new to roasting, we suggest using theirs vs. other green beans to ensure you'll get a perfect roast. However, using other green beans is ok, with the recommended recipes as a starting point; this is when the Graph editor will probably need unlocking to have the freedom to explore roasting in depth.
Recommended Recipes Editing
The Ikawa Home app offers three types of roast recipes and editing options. You can choose from Ikawa Recommended, Guided Edit, or Graph Editor/Legacy recipes. So far, we have only used the Ikawa Recommended and Guided Edit. To unlock Graph Editing, you must invest a monthly fee to unlock this service, depending on each person's level of experience and the time you're willing to invest.
The Ikawa Recommended recipes are easy to follow, whilst the roasting graph tracks temperature, time, and the different stages of the roast, so you're not left guessing. Plus, it explains how different roast levels affect flavour, which is great for newbies like us.
Emily's roast descriptions and recipes in the app helped us easily select how we wanted each batch roasted.
With certain coffees, you can also use the guided edit, giving you more freedom to choose your roast degree and development time. The app allows complete control over some roast, whether light to dark roast, espresso, or filter. We were able to save everything we tried and easily tweak and revisit when required.
Simplified Repeat Roasts
One of the things we found handy about the Ikawa Home roaster is how effortless it makes repeating a roast. Once you've sent a recipe to the Roaster, you don't need the app to rerun it. The Roaster saves the last recipe you used. All you have to do is press the "go" button, and you can repeat that roast as many times as you want without needing to open the app or input anything. We found this feature convenient, making the whole process feel seamless, especially when you find, like us, a roast profile you love.
Going from Green to Brown
Light roast coffees are known for their sweetness, bright acidity, and complexity. You'll easily notice the unique characteristics of the coffee's origin and processing. As the roast gets darker, the acidity smooths out, revealing more sweetness and a fuller body. If you're unsure of your preference, a medium roast is a safe and balanced choice. Dark roasts, on the other hand, offer bold, distinct flavours with a mild acidity.
Key Stages of The Roasting Process
Drying – Before they turn brown, green beans must be dried out.
Yellowing – Once dried, the beans change colour, turning yellow or orange before they finally brown.
First Crack – As the beans darken, you'll hear a crack/pop sound where you can recognise the bean starting to burst open.
Roast Development – After the first crack, the beans take on a smoother surface as they develop.
Second Crack – If roasted further, the beans will crack again, though this time it's quieter, more like a sizzle.
Heat Hazard Note - Roasting beyond this point can cause the beans to catch fire!
Concerns of Smells and Smoke
A primary concern we had going into this was the potential for smoke and strong smells during roasting. But surprisingly, there was no smoke, and we found the smell delightful, not nearly as overwhelming as we expected.
Removing the Beans from the Roaster
Removing the beans from the Ikawa Home roaster is surprisingly simple. After the roast is done, all you need to do is take out the glass jar at the bottom that collects the chaff and pop the other jar back in place. Then, with just a press and hold of the "go" button you used initially, the freshly roasted beans are blown directly into the jar. We found this part very quick, clean, and super easy.
Conclusion
So, is it worth it?
After spending time with the Ikawa Home, we realised home roasting is a gratifying hobby.
If you love experimenting with coffee and want the freshest cup possible, either for a cupping session or a filter/espresso, this is definitely for you.
Also, this has not replaced our love for exploring new roasters or grabbing a cup at our local café, but it's added a fun, hands-on experience to our routine. For us, as coffee nerds, getting the chance to roast our beans at home is such a fun and rewarding experience. Ikawa has transformed our coffee routine in the best way.
Free £100 Ikawa Credits - Considering Getting the Ikawa Home System
If you're considering trying out the Ikawa Home, 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!
What are Ikawa Credits?
Ikawa Credits are digital store credits that can be used in the IKAWA Home Shop for purchasing green coffee, roasting accessories, and covering shipping costs.
Though valued in GBP (£), these credits can be applied to orders in Euros and US Dollars, with automatic currency conversion at checkout. Each Ikawa Credit is equivalent to £1 of store credit, offering flexibility for your purchases.
Coffee Nerdery's Ikawa Home Roasting Experience
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We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Emily and the Ikawa Home team for their hospitality and for loaning us this amazing system to try out. If you're curious about roasting your own coffee, Ikawa Home is an excellent way to dive in, offering precision and ease with every batch.
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