The Hottop Owners Manual is one of the most complete and detailed owners manual you are likely to ever come across with the exception of the one that came with your vehicle. It is a standout compared to the manuals which accompany many appliances but there are good reasons for that:

  • Coffee is not difficult to roast but the details are very important for good and consistent results
  • We are not 'just an appliance company'- we are coffee enthusiasts and want you to not only enjoy your roasting experience but also have a delicious cup of fresh coffee whenever you like
  • We want your roaster to last as long as possible
  • We want you to be safe

    When carefully done and due attention is paid to the coffee roasting experience the results can be very rewarding. On the other extreme, negligence when roasting has the potential to create hazardous situations. 

    Beyond the detailed information about the roasting process there are a lot of warnings in the manual; some repeated many times. The most important one is in many parts of the manual and stated over and over. As an example, right at the top of page 4 at the beginning of "SECTION I" is this:



    Through the entire roasting process you should be right there, at the roaster, watching the color of the beans, paying attention to the volume and aroma of the smoke, and paying attention to the data on the control panel. Being “near” the machine or just in the same room is never considered “in attendance.” A few seconds in a roast can be the difference between good coffee, burnt coffee, or even coffee that can ignite when it leaves the roasting chamber or in the roasting chamber. 


Tips to avoid burnt coffee and be safe

  • ALWAYS Watch the coffee carefully throughout the entire roast. When the temperature of the beans reaches the 350F (175C) point things can happen in a big hurry
  • ALWAYS weigh your green coffee. Note that all weights in the manual are in grams. There is a reason for that. Once ounce (weight) is 28 grams. The manual recommends roasting 250 grams because that is the mass that the machine is designed to roast. Most kitchen scales that weigh in ounces are not accurate enough and being off by as little as 1 or 1½ ounces can make a big difference in taste and has the potential to create a hazardous condition.

And among the most important tips:

  • Read the manual thoroughly, refer to it often, and follow its instructions 
  • Have a spray bottle filled with water at hand when roasting
  • and...