We measure out the maximum quantity of green beans as recommended by the manufacturer, and adjust the time and temperature accordingly or use a pre-programmed setting if available. We roast the beans to the first crack, aiming to get beans from each roaster to the same or similar colour for assessment. After cooling, we weigh the roasted beans before grinding them and making a shot of coffee to comment on flavour and crema quality.

We assess how easy it is to adjust the time and temperature, program a cycle, use the roasting chamber, fill and empty the chamber and clean and store. We also assess how clear the instructions are.