Frequently Asked Questions

While it is possible to roast with a standard rotisserie motor, you will not produce very good results with it. A standard rotisserie motor rotates at 2-6 RPM, which is too slow to evenly roast the contents of the RK Drum.

If you have a 4LB or smaller RK Drum, then it is possible to roast with a 6 RPM motor, but the results may be mixed. Modern meat rotisserie motors spinning at 1-2 RPM have been shown to universally produce uneven results.

We recommend a method that targets finishing the roast in a set amount of time. Therefore, you will need a timer to track the progress of the roast, so that it finishes in the appropriate amount of time. See our Roast Profiles to find out how long you should roast for your drum size and bean volume.

You will also need thermal gloves to protect your hands when you handle the RK Drums after a roast.

You will also need a method to cool the beans. We sell a number of coolers, and there are DIY options as well.

Last, you will also need somewhere to store your finished roast.

We recommend a 20-60 RPM motor because it will produce a good even roast. The lower speed motors do not stir the beans enough, so some beans are roasted faster than others, resulting in an uneven roast.

The thermometers that come with grills are horribly inaccurate. Maybe fine for burgers, but not fine for roasting, as we need good temperature control. Grill thermometers are not only inaccurate, but they will not tell you the same lie consistently. For example, if the actual temperature inside the grill is exactly 500 degrees in 2 separate roasts, the thermometer may tell you 400 during the first roast and 550 in the second roast. Temperature is an important gauge that you will need in order to product consistent results. That is why we recommend purchasing a quality thermometer.

No. Do not feel the need to buy an expensive grill for your RK Drum. Any grill that meets the size and BTU requirements will produce amazing coffee. If you want an expensive grill for aesthetic or other reasons, on the other hand, go right ahead.

A new grill is preferred, but a meat grill may be used with your RK Drum, as long as it meets the BTU and size requirements. However, coffee purists may detect meat flavors that taint the coffee. If you wish to use a used grill, we recommend you clean it well and run it hot at max temp for 30 minutes to burn out the odors.

Yes, a charcoal or wood fired grill may be used. Approximately 5-10% of the people we talk to are interested in this type of coffee because it provides a more artisan, more niche method for producing coffee. The benefit of producing coffee this way is that you will be able to impart a charcoal/natural wood/smoked flavor to your coffee. The downside is heat control is more difficult, and you will need good air flow to increase or decrease the heat. Keeping your roast timed correctly is important, so some experimentation may be necessary, and you may not have as much control. Never-the-less, the benefits in coffee flavor may be worth the learning curve in perfecting the roasting process. If you roast this way, we’d love to hear about your experience. Let us know how it goes.

We don’t recommend specific grills because it is a major task to keep track of them. Manufacturers have the freedom to change their designs at any point, and we do not have a way to stay informed about their design changes. If we recommended a specific grill, it is possible that the manufacturer changes could make it incompatible with the RK Drum at any time. Most grills will work with the RK Drum, and you can verify your grill selection by carrying along a small tape measure with you when you go to get yours.

You will need some method to cool your coffee. A cheap solution is to use a common box fan, some screen and some wood. The 15-minute setup can be put together for about $30. For a professional solution, see our coolers lineup.