In this episode of the Roast It Yourself Podcast, Stephen from Coffee Bean Corral and Catherine of Current Crop Roasting Shop tackle a question many home roasters have wondered about:

Should you preheat your roaster — specifically the Gene Cafe?

Listener Ilona writes in after purchasing several origins and noticing that some roasters swear by preheating, while others skip it entirely. Stephen and Catherine break down:

• What preheating actually does inside a drum roaster

• How thermal mass affects roast progression

• When preheating can help (and when it may not matter much)

• The difference between intentional preheating and simply roasting back-to-back

• How your goals for the cup should influence your decision

If you roast on a Gene Cafe — or any home drum roaster — this conversation will help you think more intentionally about your workflow, consistency, and roast development.

Whether you're chasing brighter acidity, better momentum into first crack, or just more repeatable results, this episode gives you practical insight without overcomplicating things.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: questions@riypod.com

NOTES:

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Coffee Bean Corral YouTube

Coffee Bean Corral Website

Current Crop Roasting Shop Website

Rancher Wholesale Website

In this episode of the Roast It Yourself Podcast, Stephen and Catherine focus in on the real-world experience of roasting coffee with the Fresh Roast SR800 and other small-batch air roasters.

They talk honestly about what these machines are great at—and where expectations can get out of whack. From realistic batch sizes and roast times to cooldown periods and the limits of back-to-back roasting, this episode is all about setting yourself up for success with an SR800-style setup.

You’ll hear practical guidance on:

• How much coffee you can reasonably roast per batch on the SR800

• Why pushing max capacity often leads to inconsistent results

• How to plan a roasting session without spending your entire afternoon doing it

• What “efficient” roasting actually looks like on a home air roaster

If you’re roasting on a Fresh Roast SR800 (or considering one), this episode offers grounded, experience-based advice to help you work within the machine’s strengths, avoid common frustrations, and enjoy better, more consistent coffee without overcomplicating the process.

A must-listen for SR800 owners and anyone roasting on compact home air roasters.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: questions@riypod.com

NOTES:

Follow Our Instagram Account @RIY_POD

CHECK US OUT HERE:

Coffee Bean Corral YouTube

Coffee Bean Corral Website

Current Crop Roasting Shop Website

Rancher Wholesale Website

In this episode of the Roast It Yourself Podcast, Stephen and Catherine tackle a classic home-roasting debate: low and slow vs. hot and fast — specifically on the Behmor 1600AB.

The episode is sparked by a listener question from Mike, a dedicated home roaster who’s dialed in a consistent workflow on his Behmor but wants to know if he can push his roasts further. Using African naturals and honey-processed coffees as examples, Stephen and Catherine walk through how power level, timing, and heat application affect flavor development, acidity, sweetness, and clarity in the cup.

They break down what’s actually happening during each stage of the roast, why certain flavor trade-offs are inevitable, and how expectations should shift depending on the roaster’s physical limitations. Along the way, they discuss why “customization” in roasting has boundaries, how to interpret roast controls that feel counterintuitive, and what experimentation is worth trying — and what isn’t.

Whether you’re roasting on a Behmor or just trying to understand roast dynamics more clearly, this episode offers grounded, practical insights that help home roasters make better decisions with the equipment they already own.

Have a roasting question you want answered on the show? Send it to questions@riypod.com

NOTES:

Follow Our Instagram Account @RIY_POD

CHECK US OUT HERE:

Coffee Bean Corral YouTube

Coffee Bean Corral Website

Current Crop Roasting Shop Website

Rancher Wholesale Website