Hottop KN-8828 User manual

Hottop USA
25 Katelan Court
Cranston, Rhode Island 02921
Fax: [phone]
www.hottopusa.com
Email: [email protected]
Manufactured by Chang Yue Industrial Corp.®
No. 170, Chung Lun, Chung Sha Tsun, An Ding Shian
Tainan, Taiwan
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
www.hottop.com.tw
Email: [email protected]
Includes Preliminary Information for KN-8828P
Programmable Model
Information subject to change without notice
REV. 1007-31-A March 8, 2007
Owner’s Manual
This manual covers models KN-8828 - KN-8828D - KN-8828P
COFFEE ROASTER
Model KN-8828P Shown

2
WARNING!
This device is capable of high temperatures.
If used without due caution it can constitute a
safety hazard. The outer surface will become
hot enough to cause very serious burns and
the bean roaster has the potential to ignite
flammable materials on or near the roaster.
The Hottop Coffee Roaster can be operated
in such a way as to create a fire hazard by
igniting the beans being roasted and/or the
chaff (a by-product of the roasting process).
Always follow the safety guidelines and
usage directions in this manual, and use
common sense to avoid these situations
Read, understand, and follow all
operating instructions and
safety warnings contained in
this manual before operation.
Always follow the safety guidelines
and heed all warnings when using
the Hottop Coffee Roaster

3
Table of Contents
All information in this manual is ©2007 Chang Yue Industrial Corp.® and Hottop USA. No portion of this manual may be
reproduced without the expressed written permission of Chang Yue Industrial Corp.®. Owners of the Hottop Coffee
Roaster may reproduce the roasting chart for their personal use only. All specifications subject to change without notice.
REV. 1007-31-A
I - Important Safety Precautions ----------------------------------- 6
How To Install The Heat-guard Grills --------------------- 7
II - Coffee Roasting- A Brief History -------------------------------- 8
You Are On Your Way Back To The Past ---------------- 9
III - Introduction To The Roasting Process ----------------------- 9
Recognizing Roast Level ------------------------------------- 9
Sound -------------------------------------------------- 10
Timing Of The Cracks --------------------------------- 11
Bean Color As A Roast Indicator ------------------ 11
IV - Basic Roasting Instructions And Your First Roast ------ 12
Basic Operation Of The Hottop Coffee Roaster ----- 13
V - Model KN-8828 - Roasting Step By Step --------------- 14
Quick Reference Operating Instructions --------------- 15
VI - Model KN-8828D Roasting Step By Step ---------------- 16
Quick Reference Operating Instructions --------------- 17
VII - Model KN-8828P --------------------------------------------- 18
Understanding The LCD Display ------------------------- 17
Active Buttons Illuminated ---------------------------------- 18
Fire Safety -------------------------------------------------- 18
Chaff Tray Safety Switch ----------------------------------- 18
Selecting Operating Mode --------------------------------- 19
KN-8828P Auto Mode ------------------------------------- 21
Program ------------------------------------------------- 21
Segments ------------------------------------------------ 21
Segment Time ------------------------------------------ 21
KN-8828P Manual Mode --------------------------------- 22
Segment Temperature ------------------------------- 22
Segment Fan Speed ---------------------------------- 22
Program Name ------------------------------------------ 22
Screen Color -------------------------------------------- 23
Selecting A Program ---------------------------------- 24
Roasting With A Program --------------------------- 26
Copying An Existing Program --------------------- 26
Deleting A Program ----------------------------------- 27
Understanding Programs And Segments ------ 27
A Sample Program And It’s Roast ----------------- 28
Modifying A Program ------------------------------------- 29
Temperature --------------------------------------------- 29
Fan -------------------------------------------------- 29
Program Name ----------------------------------------- 30
Time -------------------------------------------------- 30
Abandon Changes ------------------------------------ 30
Save Changes ----------------------------------------- 30
Changing One Parameter - “Quick Programming” -- 30
Advanced manual Control ------------------------------ 31
VIII - Cleaning And Care (All Models) --------------------------- 32
A. After Each Roast ----------------------------------------- 32
B. After 5 To 10 Roasts ------------------------------------- 33
1 - Drum Removal -------------------------------------- 33
2- Replacing The Drum ----------------------------- 34
3- Exterior Cleaning ----------------------------------- 34
IX - Roasting Styles Overview -------------------------------------35
Cracks, Flavors And Roast Styles ----------------------- 36
Experiment With Roasts ------------------------------------- 37
Coffee Varieties And Roast Styles ---------------------- 37
Central-American, Colombian And African Coffees -38
Brazilian, Mexican And Other Mild Coffees ---------- 38
Indonesian Coffees ------------------------------------------ 38
Sumatran, Or Sulawesi Coffee --------------------------- 38
What’s Best? You Decide! --------------------------------- 38
X - Tips And Hints -------------------------------------------------- 38
Storing Coffee ------------------------------------------------ 39
Roasting Tips ------------------------------------------------- 39
Dark And Decaf Coffee ------------------------------------- 39
Bean Cleaning ----------------------------------------------- 40
When Is It Ready To Drink? --------------------------------- 40
How To Taste-test Coffee ----------------------------------- 40
My Coffee Doesn’t Taste Right To Me ------------------ 41
Keep Records ------------------------------------------------- 41
XI - Resources -------------------------------------------------- 42
Suppliers Of Beans ------------------------------------------ 42
Usenet -------------------------------------------------- 42
Appendix - Roast Data Forms ------------------------------------ 43
MODEL-SPECIFIC INFORMATION IS COLOR-CODED ABOVE AS FOLLOWS:
KN-8828 - Basic model with LED indicator lights
KN-8828D - LED digital display
KN-8828P - Fully programmable model with LCD Display
The remainder of this manual’s contents pertains to all models except where noted in the text.

4
I - IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
When using this electrical appliance, these safety precautions must always be followed:
• Never leave the Coffee Roaster unattended while in operation!
• Do not attempt to bypass, defeat, or remove any safety feature of the Hottop Coffee Roaster.
• The outer surface can be VERY hot! Do not touch hot surfaces. When necessary, use oven mitts
for removing or touching any hot parts. Do not reach over or across the Coffee Roaster while it is
in operation. Allow the machine to completely cool before disassembling, moving, or cleaning.
• At the end of the roasting cycle when the beans are ejected into the cooling tray they will be very
hot. Do not touch the beans until the cooling cycle has completed!
• The Coffee Roaster should not be used by children or in the presence of children.
• Use the Coffee Roaster only when fully assembled. Never operate the Hottop Coffee Roaster
without first attaching the heat protection grillwork. Discontinue use if any part becomes damaged,
does not fit properly, or if the machine does not operate properly. Do not attempt to service
the machine yourself, but seek repair or replacement from an authorized service center or your
dealer.
• The use of accessory attachments other than those supplied or recommended by the manufacturer
may cause hazards and can void your warranty.
• This appliance is for indoor, household use only. Do not use appliance outdoors or for other than
household use as described in this manual. This appliance is not for commercial use.
• To prevent electric shocks, never use water on or near the machine. Do not use where rain or
water can enter the machine. Do not immerse or spray the cord, the plug, or the base with water
or other liquids, and other than as specifically described in this manual, do not wash in sink or
dishwasher.
• Arrange the cord so that it cannot be caught or tripped over. Do not allow cord to hang over edge
of table or counter. Keep cord away from all hot surfaces including those of the machine itself.
• Do not place the Coffee Roaster nor its cord on, in, or near a hot gas or electric burner, or in a
heated oven.
• A short power cord has been provided. An extension cord may be used if care is exercised during
its use. Use an extension cord rated at 8 amps or more. The cord should be arranged so it will
not drape over the counter or table top. Do not use an extension cord longer than is absolutely
necessary. Always pull the plug out from the wall socket- never pull on the cord. Disconnect the
power cord when the Coffee Roaster is not in use.
• Use both hands to move the appliance. Never move this appliance when it is in operation. Allow
appliance to cool completely before moving.
• If the electric circuit is overloaded with other appliances, your Coffee Roaster may not operate
properly. This unit should be operated on a separate electrical circuit from other operating
appliances.
WARNING: Read and Understand All Instructions, Precautions,
Labels and Warnings BEFORE Using This Coffee Roaster!
Keep these instructions for future reference and be sure anyone
operating the machine reads and understands them before
allowing them to use the Coffee Roaster. Feel free to contact your
dealer before operating this appliance if you have any questions.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS in a safe place and REFER TO THEM OFTEN

5
• This appliance has a polarized plug. One blade is wider than the other. As a safety feature, this
plug will fit in a polarized outlet in only one way. If the plug does not fit fully in the outlet, reverse
the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician. Do not attempt to defeat this safety
feature.
• To clean the Coffee Roaster follow the included cleaning instructions in this manual. Unplug the
unit and allow it to completely cool before doing any cleaning or disassembly. Do all maintenance
and cleaning chores only when the machine is unplugged and completely cooled off. Refer to
Chapter VIII for more details on “Cleaning and Care”.
• Always leave at least eight inches of space around the Coffee Roaster on all sides for proper
ventilation when operating and until it has cooled. Keep the machine away from flammable materials
such as curtains, towels, walls, furniture, or any other materials Place on a heat-resistant surface
when in use. Do not operate near combustible materials or liquids, nor near any pressurized spray
cans.
• Avoid touching moving parts. Never reach into the machine while it is plugged in.
• Operate the Coffee Roaster only in a clean, dust-free area. Dust and dirt can be drawn into the
Coffee Roaster and can contaminate the coffee being roasted.
• Use the Coffee Roaster only for roasting coffee beans. Never place any other substances, food
or otherwise, in the machine. Use of anything other than green, un-roasted coffee beans in the
Hottop Coffee Roaster may create a hazardous condition and will void your warranty.
• Coffee roasting produces smoke which can be a respiratory irritant. Control the smoke so it does
not enter the structure, and take care if there are children or elderly in the home or if anyone in
the home has respiratory or breathing problems. Avoid breathing the smoke. We recommend that
you use the Coffee Roaster in a place where ample ventilation is available- in the kitchen under
an efficient range hood which vents outside, or near a window with an exhaust fan as examples.
• Always allow the machine to go through the entire roasting and cooling process (except for hitting
the “eject” button to stop a roast early) and let the machine turn itself off after each roasting cycle.
This will help extend the life of the Hottop Coffee Roaster. NEVER unplug the machine during a
roast as it can cause a fire hazard and/or shorten the life of the machine.
• Roasting coffee too dark should be avoided. Just like you can over-cook and burn food on your
stove or in your oven, it is possible to over-roast and burn coffee in the Hottop Coffee Roaster.
Although much care has been put into designing the device to safely perform automatic roasting
and cooling cycles, over-roasting can occur. This is more likely to happen when using less than
the recommended amount of beans (250 grams) and/or on a setting that is too hot and/or too
long.
• Under extreme circumstances, over-roasted beans can catch fire, particularly when the beans are
ejected and become exposed to the atmosphere. Always use the indicated amount of beans (250
grams), and always monitor the progress of the roast to prevent over-roasting.
• Extra care must be taken when roasting decaffeinated coffee. The decaffeination process changes
the indicators used to judge roast level and over-roasting can result.
• Always have a spray bottle filled with water on hand when roasting to quench a fire if the beans
ignite upon ejection. Do not attempt to move the machine if the ejected beans ignite. Call emergency
services, disconnect the machine, and use the water-filled spray bottle or fire extinguisher to
extinguish the flames.
• NOTE: Some models cannot be restarted until the chaff tray is removed, emptied, and
replaced. For all models, empty the chaff tray after every roasted batch. The chaff and coffee
bits in the chaff tray will become very hot during roasting. Chaff can ignite during the roasting
process and may smolder in the chaff tray. Use great care when disposing of the chaff as it can
create a fire hazard particularly if it is dumped onto other flammable material soon after a roast
has concluded.

6
1
2
ON
OFF
Base
Bean Agitation Arm
Chaff Tray
Cooling Tray
Roasting Chamber
Viewing Window
Gold Knob
Front Cover
Top Filter
Bean Insertion-Chute Cover
Rear Filter
Main Cooling Fan
Control Panel
Hottop Coffee Roaster
Parts Diagram
How to Install the
Heat-Guard Grills
1) Attach front support on mounting
hook, holding the guard at an angle as
shown.
2) Lower rear of guard into position
being sure that both front and rear
guard-supports are hooked onto Coffee
Roaster.
To Remove: Wait until machine has
cooled to room temperature. While
holding front of guard in place (1),
raise rear of guard until support clears
the rear mounting hook (2).
WARNING: Always operate the
Hottop Coffee Roaster with the
heat-guard grills in place. Do not
lift or carry the Coffee Roaster by
the heat guards.
(panel design
varies by model)
Heat-Guard Grill

7
This diagram represents all the parts that are designed to be
removed by the consumer with the exception of the Heat-Guard Grills.
Only remove these four Bearing Plate Screws (7)
on the face of the Bearing Plate (8)
1
Alignment
Pin (11)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
910
11
1 - Rear Filter
2 - Bean Insertion Chute Cover
3 - Cooling Tray
4 - Chaff Tray
5 - Gold Knob
6 - Front Cover
7 - Bearing Plate Screws (4)
8 - Bearing Plate
9 - Roasting Drum
10 - Roasting Chamber
11 - Alignment Pins (2)
12 - Roasting Drum Axle
13 - Top Filter
12
(see bottom of previous page for heat guard instructions)
Alignment
Pin (11)
WARNING: Do not remove
these five smaller screws!
Use the included funnel to
pour the beans into the Hottop
Coffee Roaster as shown here.
13

8
II - Coffee Roasting- A Brief History
It wasn’t that long ago that it was common for people to buy raw coffee beans from the stores and then
roast these at home for fresh coffee. That was particularly true in rural areas that were removed from the
small roasters found in city neighborhoods. At that time, roasting coffee was considered a normal part of
everyday life and a part of many peoples’ cultural heritage. There were many types of small hand-cranked
roasting devices available, usually heated with wood, coal, or gas. These were either used in the kitchen,
the garden, or on the balcony. People took pride in their ability to produce the type of roast that they liked
best, and considered it a sort of ceremony, or art. Each morning in these neighborhoods, the sweet smell
of roasting coffee lingered in the streets.
With the advent of instant coffee, developed for the soldiers in WWII, and the post-war boom of
the convenience-food industry, the art of coffee roasting was all but lost to the masses. The same corpo-
rate brands that produced instant soups and washing detergents erected huge coffee roasting facilities to
provide people with a ready-made product. What use to be a fine art became a factory product. Today,
most consumers buy pre-ground coffee from these factories, unaware of the culinary tradition that once
existed.
Abandoning home coffee roasting has come at a price. While green (raw) coffee will easily keep for
over a year with little care, it has been shown that roasted whole coffee beans lose a large part of their
flavor within two or three weeks after roasting. Once it has been ground, the coffee stales at an even faster
rate, and loses its fresh-roasted taste within a matter of hours. Consequently, most cans and vacuum bricks
found on the supermarkets shelves contain a product that has long since lost its precious, volatile flavors.
Even when one finds whole beans in a supermarket or specialty shop, one hardly ever knows whether these
beans are fresh-roasted, weeks old, or worse.
Finally, like all convenience products, what you gain in convenience you pay for in lower quality and
less flavor. If you think of it in terms of comparing fresh, home-baked bread to pre-sliced, store bought
loaves, you begin to get the idea. The coffee available in the stores today may be of uniform quality and
style, but it may be very different from what you like best.
For these reasons, the best way to ensure your getting truly fresh coffee, roasted to match your per-
sonal preferences, is to return to the great tradition of home coffee roasting. More and more people are
discovering this, and home coffee roasting is quickly becoming a culinary delight.
You Are On Your Way Back to the Past
We want to and thank you for your decision to purchase our Hottop Coffee Roaster. We feel that this
is the most advanced coffee roaster available for home use, and when used with care will provide you with
excellent, fresh-roasted coffee, just like most households use to enjoy, but roasted with scientific accuracy
for easily-repeatable results. You are about to find out how good freshly roasted coffee can really taste!
Please take the time to read the instructions in this manual carefully. By doing so, you and your
guests will be able to truly enjoy the excellent flavors of specialty coffee, roasted precisely as you will like
it. The Hottop Coffee Roaster makes that easier than ever before.
Please keep this manual in a convenient place, so you can reread it when necessary. If you are uncer-
tain about any procedure as detailed in this manual, or are not sure how to get the most out of your Hottop
Coffee Roaster, please ask your local dealer or feel free to contact us. We are always ready to help.

9
III - Introduction to the Roasting Process
The changes that the coffee bean goes through during the roasting process are amazing. Those small,
hard beans, when properly exposed to controlled heat, grow in size and change in color, becoming the
source of one of the world’s most cherished beverages. The Hottop Coffee Roaster makes it easy to get
the best from the coffee.
Getting the best flavor from the coffee is a true culinary art, and just like other similar cooking skills,
you have to learn a little about the process to get the best results. Follow along and you will quickly learn
to create the taste you like best. We have made the Hottop Coffee Roaster so that it controls much of the
difficult work, but it is still important to know what to expect and when to expect it when using the Hottop
Coffee Roaster.
Recognizing Roast Level
To get the taste you desire in your coffee means knowing when to stop the roast. As you learn to roast
it will become a natural thing to judge roast level, but when starting out it can be a bit intimidating. While
you watch the coffee roasting in the Hottop Coffee Roaster you will ask yourself, “Is it done yet? Is it too
dark? Should I eject the beans now or wait ten more seconds?” The following information will help you
answer those questions.
There are four major indicators of roast level. These are the same indicators that professional roasters
have long used to recognize the level of roast. Even in this computer age, most professional roasters still
use these very same indicators to judge roast level. These three indicators are sound, color, temperature
and the aromas of the roasting process. If you are new to coffee roasting, the easiest indicator to under-
stand with the Hottop Coffee Roaster is sound.
Sound
When first beginning to roast coffee, the sounds the beans make are the easiest roast-level indica-
tor to learn. Yes, the beans actually make certain noises during the roasting process and these noises are
an accurate indicator of roast level. These sounds are referred to as “cracks” and there are two different
cracks that take place at two distinct time periods during the roast. These two different periods, for obvi-
ous reasons, are called “first crack” and “second crack.” These are universal terms, and if you talk to any
commercial roaster and say something like, “I like to roast about ten seconds into second crack,” they will
understand exactly what you mean.
During both these periods (explained in detail below) the sounds start slowly at first. You will initially
notice just an occasional “crack,” followed by another a few seconds later. This increases in frequency
as sounds become gradually more rapid. After a while, the progression of sounds slows down again, and
eventually subsides altogether.
For your first roast, it may be best to seek out a variety of coffee that has very distinct periods of
cracking; Central American or South American varieties, such as Colombian or Brazilian coffees are a
good choice for your first roasts.
First Crack - As explained above, “first crack” refers to a specific period of time during which
you will hear similar sounds. First crack sounds somewhat like breaking wooden pencils: distinct, eas-
ily heard, sharp snaps. Because the Hottop Coffee Roaster operates very quietly, it is easy to hear these
sounds, even from a number of feet sway from the roaster. At this time the beans in the roaster are already
light brown, and the grassy smelling steam has changed to a mellow, drier-smelling smoke. You will first
hear an occasional snap, then another, then the crackling gradually speeds up, and, after a while, slows
down again, then stops.
The actual times at which these periods start and stop again depend a lot on the variety of coffee you
are roasting. The coffee you are roasting will affect the differences in sound, volume, and speed of the
cracks. In some varieties the two periods also partly overlap, making it difficult to tell when first crack
ends, and second crack begins.

10
Second Crack - After first crack ends there is usually a period of about one minute before second
crack begins. By that time, the beans are a delicious-looking, dark shade of brown. Second crack can be
a little more difficult to hear as these sounds are lower in volume, but once you learn to distinguish the
sound it is unmistakable. It is a more muffled, subtle sound than first crack. If first can be described as
breaking pencils, second sounds like breaking toothpicks. Generally, once second crack really gets going
the individual cracks occur with much greater frequency than the sounds during first crack.
The beginning of second crack is an indicator that the coffee is nearly done and you should be ready
to end the roast very soon. When second crack begins to diminish, most coffees are near the end of their
preferred-flavor profile, and when second crack ceases the beans are on the edge of being ruined and are
approaching the ignition point.
Timing of the Cracks
So that you will have some idea of when to expect some of these changes, please refer to table on the
following page as you progress through your first roast. The times shown times are to be used as a rough
guideline only. There are many factors that can affect the various times at which to expect the following
changes. These influencing factors can include:
• Beans chosen (different varieties have various roasting characteristics)
• Actual weight of beans (can vary depending on your scale’s accuracy)
• Volume of beans (250 grams of one variety can take up more space than the same weight of another
variety)
• Size of Beans - some beans are very small (peaberry) and some quite a bit larger (Colombian Su-
premo)
• Ambient air temperature and humidity
• Moisture level of the beans
• The voltage in your home (it can vary as much as 12-15 volts from place to place)
For the KN-8828, use a stopwatch and begin timing from when you pour the beans into the machine.
For the KN-8828D and KN-8828P in its “Auto” mode, use the time displayed on the digital readout as a
countdown timer. Watch those times and compare them to the times in this chart and the description of the
roasting process described in the third column. Remember, this is a rough guideline so don’t worry at all
if your roast times differ. Also, do not stand right in the smoke plume. It is difficult to sense the aroma that
way and smoke can be an irritant to the respiratory tract. Smell the smoke from a distance away from the
machine where it is less dense.

11
Bean Color as a Roast Indicator
As the roast progress the beans go though series of a subtle, and sometimes not-so-subtle color chang-
es from their original color, to green, to beige, then through a whole range of browns- first dull then shiny
as they darken, and progressing to brown so dark that it can look black. Although color is important, for
someone new to coffee roasting it can be difficult to use color as the sole indicator of roast. Bean color
is discussed Chapter VI, so feel free to consult that for more details, but for people learning to roast, the
sound will be the best indicator as mentioned above. As your skills and perception or the process progress,
and as you narrow the range of your preferred roast levels, bean color will increase in importance as an
indicator of roast level.
*1 KN-8828 - These times are taken using a stopwatch, starting from when the beans were added to the roaster.
*2 KN-8828D - Starting with 19 minutes programmed time on the machine, these are the times as indicated on the
digital display as the machine counts down the roasting time.
KN-8828P - In Auto Mode the times will be roughly the same as with the KN-8828D. In Manual Mode the times will
depend solely on the Program used and its time and temperature parameters. Refer to the section in this manual
that deals with your specific model for more detailed information.
KN-8828 *1
Approximate
Elapsed Time
(Min:sec)
KN-8828D *2
Indicated
Roast Time
Remaining
(Min:sec)
Roast Level Indicators
You Will Observe
7:00 - 8:00 14:00-12:00 Beans become green in color, there is some steam
which has a pleasant grassy aroma.
9:00 - 10:00 11:00-10:00 Beans change slowly from green to yellow. The smoke initially smells
like pancakes, then becomes more like baking bread.
11:00-15:00 9:00-8:00 Beans gradually turn from dark yellow to a “cinnamon” brown color.
The smoke has a “nutty” odor.
15:30 - 17:00 3:00-1:45 First crack, sounds like breaking pencils. Beans medium brown at this
stage. The smoke increases and begins to smell like coffee.
18:00 1:00
Second crack, sounds like breaking toothpicks. Beans dark brown and
oil spots seen on some beans. Smoke becomes much denser
19:00 0:00
You will hear the rapid sounds of second crack, and the smoke coming
from the roaster will be pungent and quite dense. This is about as dark
as most coffees should be roasted. Much more and the coffee will be
burned.
IV - Basic Roasting Instructions and Your First Roast
That was a lot of information to remember, but follow along and it will all become quite clear during
your first roast. Believe it or not, using the Hottop Coffee Roaster is actually quite simple and safe when
the procedures and safety guidelines in this manual are followed.
WARNING: Never leave the roaster unattended during a roast!
This chapter is intended to make you familiar with the roasting process, and the way the Hottop Cof-
fee Roaster actually works. Before starting to roast your first batch of beans, be sure you have completely
read and understand the safety precautions and instructions presented in this manual.
Remember that the only purpose of this first roast is to practice, so don’t be concerned if the coffee
doesn’t come out as you might expect. Don’t be afraid that anything can go wrong. If you follow the safety
precautions and the operating procedures, roasting coffee with the Hottop Coffee Roaster is fun, easy, and
safe.

12
For your first experimental batch select a variety that is easy to roast. Most any of the varieties from
Central or South America will do fine. Guatemalan, Colombian, Brazilian, Bolivian, or Costa Rican are all
good choices. These coffees have very loud cracks that are easy to recognize. Moreover, these are also rela-
tively inexpensive, so if anything goes wrong, you don’t have to feel too bad about discarding the beans.
Basic Operation of the Hottop Coffee Roaster
The Hottop‘s programmed roasting process consists of three distinct stages which are controlled by
the internal microprocessor, and unless you decide to interrupt the process, all function automatically.
1. WARM UP - during this time the roaster pre-heats much like you would do with your oven before
baking, but in this case it is entirely automatic, controlled by the Hottop Coffee Roaster’s programming.
2. ROASTING - When the machine signals to add beans the roasting process begins. The roasting
cycle can take up to nearly 25 minutes, but can be as short as you decide depending on how YOU want to
roast the beans!
3. COOLING - After roasting, for best taste, it is important to cool the roasted coffee as quickly as
possible, this is called the cooling cycle. The Hottop Coffee Roaster features an external cooling tray, and
it cools the beans down to room temperature in less than five minutes.
For around the first fifteen minutes after pouring the beans into the Hottop Coffee Roaster not much
will happen. Nonetheless, it is important to remain near the machine and pay attention. Through this early
period, if you watch the beans through the window in the front of the Hottop Coffee Roaster, you will
see the gradual change of color from their original color, to green to tan, then to light brown. If you keep
a small portion of un-roasted beans close by you can easily compare the un-roasted beans to the changes
taking place to the color of the beans in the roaster.
Make a mental note of how much volume the beans take up when first poured in. You will notice a
definite increase in volume as the beans expand during the roast. The various aromas of the smoke change
throughout the roast as well. Initially, there is just a little steam that has a pleasant grassy scent and a
relatively high humidity. As the roasting progresses, this turns into a more dense smoke that smells like
hay, and later somewhat like making pancakes or baking bread. Again, steam and smoke are normal by-
products of coffee roasting, so don’t worry. Smoke does not mean that there is anything wrong with your
machine.
As mentioned earlier, sound is probably the most reliable indicator when roasting your first batches.
When the beans are a cinnamon-brown color, you will hear the first sounds of “first crack.” It is almost
impossible to miss these loud and fairly sharp snaps. Apart from being an obvious sign of where the beans
are in the roasting process, the sound of first crack also tells you that you should start monitoring the
process even more closely. Although little has happened in the previous fifteen minutes or so, the roasting
will proceed very fast from this point forward in the roast, and the beans will change a lot in the next few
minutes. Throughout the roast, and particularly nearer the end of the selected roast time, it is normal to
see a certain amount of steam and smoke escape from the Hottop Coffee Roaster. Smoke production will
increase as the temperature of the coffee beans rises and with darker roasts.
As first crack ends, there is usually a short pause of around one minute. Now is time to be very alert,
and listen for second crack, which is a much softer sound, and can be a bit more difficult to hear. This may
also be around the time when you will hear the beeping of the Hottop Coffee Roaster that signals it is near
the end of its roasting cycle. If second crack has not begun by the time the beeping begins, press the “Plus”
button add thirty seconds to the roast.
If the machine doesn’t eject the beans automatically, wait until you have heard about fifteen or twenty
of the muffled snaps of second crack (you don’t need to accurately count that, just estimate), then push the
“Eject” button to stop the roast. The Hottop Coffee Roaster then proceeds with the cooling cycle. When
the cooling cycle ends the machine beeps repeatedly to indicate that it has finished the entire roasting and
cooling process, and then shuts itself off. At that time disconnect the roaster.

13
V - Model KN-8828 - Roasting Step by Step
NOTE: Black and yellow words refer to the buttons on the control panel of the same name.
NOTE: Red numbers below in parentheses, such as (5), refer to the diagram on page 7
WARNING: Never leave the roaster unattended during a roast!
Read all directions and safety precautions before following these directions!
1. Pre-measure 250 grams (9 ounces) of green, un-roasted coffee beans. Although you can use the Hottop
Coffee Roaster to roast a little more, or a little less, it is strongly recommended that you always start with
250 grams of coffee when learning to use the roaster and when roasting new beans.
2. Locate the Coffee Roaster where the roast will take place (see Safety guidelines at the beginning of this
manual to help select a safe location) and plug the machine in. The power light comes on at this time
indicating that the machine is ready.
3. Push START/POWER once to enter the roast setting selection procedure.
4. Press TEMP to select the desired roast from one of the 7 settings. Repeatedly pressing the TEMP will
cycle through the roast levels until the desired level is selected. The higher the number, the longer the
roasting cycle will take, and the darker the resultant roast will be. For your first roast use level “4.” NOTE:
It is not possible to change the programmed roast level once the roasting process has begun.
5. Push START/POWER again to start the pre-heating cycle. The drum will begin rotating. Once started,
the Hottop Coffee Roaster needs to be pre-heated, similar to how you use your oven. The Coffee Roaster
should not be filled with coffee beans during this pre-heating cycle. This is the first part of the roasting
process. At any time during the roast, if the machine sounds like metal rubbing, adjust the gold screw (5) to
lessen the sound as much as possible. WARNING!- The screw may be very hot!
6. A few minutes later the Coffee Roaster will have reached its starting temperature. At this time the Coffee
Roaster will start beeping to indicate that it is ready to roast coffee. Since many parts of the Coffee Roaster
are hot, carefully remove the small lid (2) on top of the Coffee Roaster using the plastic handle.
7. Use the included funnel to fill the machine with 250 grams of green (un-roasted) coffee beans. After
filling, remove the funnel and replace the lid (2). Use the vertical panel on the bottom of the lid to push any
stray beans left in the loading chute into the roasting chamber (see photo on page 7). You are now roasting
coffee!
8. After a period of time, depending on what roast level you selected, the Coffee Roaster will start beeping
again, signalling that the end of the roasting cycle is approaching. Examine the beans through the viewing
window. If you decide the beans need some more time to roast to the desired color, you can now increase
the roasting time by pressing PLUS (the light above the button will start flashing). Each press increases the
roasting time by 30 seconds, and you can use this function up to five times.
9. At any time during the roasting process, if you find that the beans are dark enough (or for any other reason
you wish to stop the process), you can manually end the roast by simply pressing EJECT at which time the
beans will be ejected from the roasting chamber into the cooling tray and the cooling cycle will begin.
10. About one minute after the “End of Roast” signal (or longer, if you pressed PLUS ), the Hottop Coffee
Roaster will stop roasting, and will automatically deposit the roasted coffee beans onto the cooling tray (3).
The arms will agitate the beans for about five minutes while the cooling fan under the tray blows air to cool
the beans. When this cooling cycle ends the machine beeps repeatedly to indicate that it has finished the
entire process.
11. When the cooling cycle has completed, disconnect the power cord.
- After Roasting -
12. When the Coffee Roaster has completed the cooling cycle, the cooling tray (3) can be removed from the
machine. You can now use the funnel again to pour the roasted coffee in a canister, or jar for storage. A one-
liter canister is large enough to hold all the roasted beans.
13. Remove the chaff tray (4), located underneath the window, from the Coffee Roaster by holding the black
plastic front, and pulling it towards you. Empty the chaff tray and replace it in the roaster. Loosen the Gold
Knob, and remove the front cover to clean the viewing window. Refer to Chapter VIII for further cleaning
instructions.
WARNING: THE CHAFF TRAY (4) UNDERNEATH THE ROASTING DRUM MUST BE FULLY
EMPTIED AFTER EVERY ROAST! The machine cannot be restarted until the tray is emptied!
14. Allow the Coffee Roaster to cool before moving or storing the machine.

14
1
2
3
4
5
WARNING: Read and understand the owner’s manual and all the safety precautions
and use the directions on page 12 and 13 before following these step-by-step instructions!
Plug the Hottop Coffee Roaster into the proper outlet. Press
START/POWER. The red LED above the START/POWER but-
ton will begin blinking.
Repeatedly press TEMP to cycle through the roast levels until
the desired level has been selected
Press START/POWER and the roasting process begins.
After a few minutes the machine signals you by beeping to indi-
cate that it is time to add the beans
OPTIONAL: The Hottop Coffee Roaster will begin beeping to warn
you 30 seconds before the roast will end. At this time, if you wish, you can
press the PLUS button to add 30 seconds to the roast time. This can be
done as many as five times, adding a total of 150 seconds to the original
roast level you chose step “1.” The beans will automatically eject when
the time runs out. As the beans begin to eject the automatic cooling cycle
will begin.
At any time during the roast, when you decide that the coffee is done
to your liking, press the EJECT button and the Hottop Coffee Roaster
will end the roasting process, eject the beans into the cooling tray, and the
cooling cycle will begin.
Hottop Coffee Roaster - KN-8828
Quick Reference Operating Instructions
WARNING: Never leave the roaster unattended during a roast!

15
VI - Model KN-8828D Roasting Step by Step
Black and yellow words refer to the buttons on the control panel of the same name. Red numbers below in
parentheses, such as (5), refer to the diagram on page 7. WARNING: Never leave the roaster unattended
during a roast! Read all directions and safety precautions before following these directions!
1. Pre-measure 250 grams (9 ounces) of green, un-roasted coffee beans. Although you can use the Hottop Coffee
Roaster to roast a little more, or a little less, it is strongly recommended that you always start with 250 grams of
coffee when learning to use the roaster and when roasting new beans.
2. Locate the Coffee Roaster where the roast will take place (see Safety guidelines at the beginning of this manual
to help select a safe location) and plug the machine in. The power light indicates that the machine is ready.
3. Press START. The display will show “00”. The Coffee Roaster is ready to be programmed to roast coffee.
4. Press TIME until the display shows the amount of time (in minutes) you wish to roast the coffee. 17 through 21
minutes may be selected by repeatedly pressing the TIME button. When “21” shows, pressing the TIME button
again will send the program back to “17” and the selection process cycles through the numbers once more.
5. Once the minutes are selected, the time can be further customized by pressing PLUS to add seconds. Each
press adds one second. Hold the PLUS button down to quickly cycle from “00” through “59.” When “59” is
showing, pressing the PLUS button once (or holding down the button) will send the program back to “00”.
NOTE: It is not possible to change the programmed time once the roasting process has begun.
6. When you have completed programming the desired amount of time, press START and the roasting process
begins. The drum will begin rotating, but the time does not change. If you started with a cold machine the Hottop
Coffee Roaster will warm up for about five minutes before it is ready. If the Coffee Roaster has recently been
used it will progress through a special cool-down cycle first, and this can take an additional five to ten minutes.
7. The Coffee Roaster will beep when it is time to add green coffee beans, and the programmed time will begin
to count down. Since many parts of the Coffee Roaster are hot, use care when lifting the lid (2) on top of the
Coffee Roaster. Only touch the plastic handle. Use the included funnel to fill the machine with the pre-measured
250 grams of green (un-roasted) coffee beans. After filling, remove the funnel and replace the lid (2). Use
the vertical panel on the bottom of the lid to push any stray beans left in the loading chute into the roasting
chamber. At any time during the roast, if the machine sounds like metal rubbing, adjust the gold screw (5) to
lessen the sound as much as possible. WARNING!- The screw may be very hot!
8. After about 17 to 22 minutes, depending on the amount of time you programmed into the roaster, the Coffee
Roaster will start beeping again, signalling the end of the roasting cycle is approaching. At this time re-examine
the beans through the viewing window. If you decide the beans need more time to roast to the desired level, you
can now increase the roasting time by pressing the PLUS button. Each press increases the roasting time by 30
seconds, and you can use this function up to five times, adding 2:30 to your pre-programmed roast time.
9. Always monitor the roasting process by looking through the convenient viewing window at the coffee
beans. This way, at any time during the process, if you find that the beans are dark enough (or for any other
reason you wish to stop the process), you can manually end the roast by simply pressing the EJECT button at
which time the beans will be ejected from the roasting chamber into the cooling tray and the automatic cooling
cycle will begin.
10. When the programmed time has elapsed the Hottop Coffee Roaster will automatically eject the coffee into
the cooling tray and begin the cool-down cycle.
11. When the cooling cycle has completed the machine will sound a series of beeps and will come to a stop. At
that time disconnect the power cord.
- After Roasting -
12. When the Coffee Roaster has completed the cooling cycle, the cooling tray (3) can be removed from the
machine. You can now use the funnel again to pour the roasted coffee in a canister, or jar for storage. A one-liter
canister is large enough to hold all the roasted beans.
13. Now, remove the chaff tray (4), located underneath the window, from the Coffee Roaster by holding the
black plastic front, and pulling it towards you. Empty the chaff tray and replace it in the roaster. Loosen the
Gold Knob, and remove the front cover to clean the viewing window. Refer to Chapter VII for further cleaning
instructions.
WARNING: THE CHAFF TRAY (4) UNDERNEATH THE ROASTING DRUM MUST BE FULLY
EMPTIED AFTER EVERY ROAST! The machine cannot be restarted until the tray is emptied!
14. Allow the Coffee Roaster to cool before moving or storing the machine.

16
Hottop Coffee Roaster - KN-8828D
Quick Reference Operating Instructions
Press TIME until the display shows the amount of time (in minutes)
you wish to roast the coffee. 17 through 21 minutes may be selected by
repeatedly pressing the TIME button. When “21” shows, pressing the
TIME button again will send the program back to “17”.
Once the minutes are selected, the time can be further customized
by pressing PLUS to add seconds. Each press adds one second. Hold the
PLUS button down to quickly cycle from “00” through “59.” When “59”
is showing, pressing the PLUS button once more will send the program
back to “00”. NOTE: It is not possible to change the programmed time
once the roasting process has begun.
When you have completed programming the desired amount of time, press START
and the roasting process begins. The drum will begin rotating, but the time does not
change. If you started with a cold machine the Hottop Coffee Roaster will warm up for
about five minutes before it is ready. If the Coffee Roaster has recently been used it will
progress through a special cool-down cycle first, and this can take an additional five to ten
minutes. The Coffee Roaster will signal when it is time to add 250 grams of green cof-
fee beans by beeping, and it is then that the programmed time will begin to count down.
OPTIONAL: Pressing the TEMP button at any time during this
process will change the display from the remaining roast time to the cur-
rent roasting temperature. The temperature will display for two seconds
then revert back to time. Press and hold the TEMP button to change
the display from Fahrenheit to Centigrade. Holding it down again will
change it back.
At any time during the roast, when you decide that the coffee is done
to your liking, press the EJECT button and the Hottop Coffee Roaster will
end the roasting process, eject the beans into the cooling tray, and the cool-
ing cycle will begin. During the cooling cycle the display will alternately
show COOL and the amount of time remaining for the cooling cycle.
Plug the Hottop Coffee Roaster into the proper outlet. The green
power LED will be illuminated. Press START. The display will show
“00”. The Coffee Roaster is ready to be programmed to roast coffee.
OPTIONAL: The Hottop Coffee Roaster will begin beeping to warn you 40 sec-
onds before the roast will end. At this time, if you wish, you can press the PLUS button
to add 30 seconds to the roast time. This can be done as many as five times, adding a total
of 2:30 to the original roast time you programmed in step “1.” The beans will automati-
cally eject when the time runs down to 00:00. As the beans begin to eject the automatic
cooling cycle will begin.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
WARNING: Read and understand the owner’s manual and all the safety precautions,
and use page 12 and 15 before following these step-by-step instructions!
TO
OR
AND
WARNING: Never leave the roaster unattended during a roast!

17
VII - Model KN-8828P
Programmable Roaster with LCD Display
The KN-8828P is a programmable roaster with many advanced features
giving the user a lot of control over the roasting profile. It allows an easy,
automatic mode that is much like the KN-8828 and KN-8828D described
previously in this manual. In addition to the Automatic mode, the “KN-
8828P” also gives the user the ability to create their own roasting profiles to modify the roasting process to
suit their tastes. Internally, the KN-8828P model is much the same as the previous models described n this
manual, and can be maintained in the same way. The difference is that there is a more sophisticated main
circuit board inside the roaster’s base to control the roasting process and the LCD panel on the outside that
give the user far more information and control than in any previous model.
This section of the manual fully explains the KN-8828P and how to make best use of all its fea-
tures.
When first plugging the KN-8828P
roaster into an outlet the user is
given the choice of whether to enter
“Auto” or “Manual” mode.
The time is the total
amount of time left
in the roast and
the current internal
temperature of the
roasting chamber.
The dot matrix “Message
Center” will display various
states and give prompts to
the user for such things as cleaning the
chaff tray, adding the beans, the current
mode during the roast, and more.
The currently displayed
Program which is in the
KN-8828P memory.
One segment
from the
eight-segment
program.
The time super-
imposed over the
various roasting seg-
ments displays the
amount of time left in
the current segment.
UNDERSTANDING THE LCD DISPLAY
The first thing that you will notice is the LCD display panel. This is the interface between the user
and the roaster. Let’s begin by understanding what is displayed here. Detailed instructions on how to use
the different modes, and how to program the KN-8828P will be found in subsequent sections.
NOTE: The display components vary depending on which mode is in use.
Only the
portion of
the display
outlined in
RED is
visible in
AUTO mode.
The current
speed of the fan.

18
ACTIVE BUTTONS ILLUMINATED
You will notice that in any given state of operation some of the buttons on the Control Panel are not
illuminated. The advanced programming of the KN-8828P assists the user by illuminating only those but-
tons which are currently active. For example, when you have added six “Pluses” during the roast you have
reached the maximum number available and at that point the “+” button is no longer illuminated.
FIRE SAFETY
If at any time the KN-8828P senses that the temperature has reached 414 F, the machine will begin
beeping a warning for 30 seconds. If the user takes no action the beans will be ejected and the machine
will go into cool down mode. This is a safety function to avoid a situation that could cause a fire. If during
that warning time the user decides to proceed further with the roast, the user must press the “Enter”
button.
SELECTING OPERATING MODE
The KN-8828P operates in either “Auto” mode or “Manual” mode.
Auto mode is much like the way that the KN-8828 and the KN-8828D
operated. Manual Mode operates using one of ten Programs that are
used to control all aspects of operation.
As shown in this flow chart, when you first power up the KN-
8828P by plugging it in and pressing the “POWER/START” button
you have the choice of which mode to use. The default is “AUTO.” Use
either the “<” or the “>” button to choose the mode you desire. The
Display will show the selected mode. Press “”ENTER” to begin using
the displayed mode.
CHAFF TRAY SAFETY SWITCH
The Chaff tray has a safety switch that will not allow the operation of the roaster
unless the chaff tray has been emptied after a roast. Even is the machine is unplugged the
tray still needs to be removed for emptying before operation. An animation of the chaff
tray appears in the message Center to remind you.

19
The KN-8828P gives the user the option to roast using an automatic mode that operates much like
the earlier versions of our roaster. The “Auto” mode supplies a roasting curve that can be set to run for a
programmed amount of time and will automatically eject the beans at the end of that time. It also allows
additional time to be added at the end of the roast as well as allowing the roast to be stopped at any time the
user desires. If this is your first time roasting coffee we highly recommend starting with this function.
Plug the machine into an appropriate outlet and the “Power” button illuminates.
Press the POWER button to begin.
“AUTO” is the default display.
Since you are going to roast using this mode, select it by pressing ENTER
The time display will appear. Here you will enter the amount of roasting
time you wish to use. The “18:” signifying minutes will be flashing.
Pressing either the + or the - button allows you to change the programmed number
of minutes in a range from 15 to 21.
Press > to change the display to seconds. The “00” portion is now flashing. You
can program a number of seconds from :00 to :59.
Use the + and - keys to change the number of seconds. If necessary, press < to go
back to minutes. This can be repeated until the desired amount of time is on the display.
As you proceed through this process notice that only the keys which are enabled in any
given mode or at any given time are illuminated.
Notice that the POWER-START button is now illuminated green showing that
the roaster is ready to start. Pressing it begins the AUTO Roasting mode.
Once the desired amount of time has been programed, press ENTER. The screen
goes from the yellow-green programming background to the white background showing
that the KN-8828P is ready to begin roasting.
WARNING: Read and understand this owner’s manual
and all the safety precautions before
following these step-by-step instructions!
WARNING: Never leave the roaster unattended during a roast!
Hottop Coffee Roaster
KN-8828P AUTO Mode
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

20
After the “Add Beans” animation ends the roaster goes into the “Roast-
ing” mode and progresses through it’s roast. The time display counts down
from the amount of time you programmed towards 0:00. The temperature
display show the real-time temperature in the roasting chamber.
While the roast is in progress, if at any time the temperature
display reaches 414 F., a safety feature will warn the user by beeping
a warning. If the user does not press ENTER within 30 seconds the
beans will be automatically ejected.
With 40 seconds left in the programmed time, the roaster will beep
and the display will show “Plus Time.” If you choose to add more time,
press the + button. This will add 30 seconds to the roasting time. After an
additional 30 seconds the machine will beep again, and more plus time can
be added. Six “Pluses” can be added in this way, which extends the roasting
time an additional three minutes over and above the original programmed
time. CAUTION: When adding PlusTime care must be taken not to
burn the beans.
At the end of programmed time, or after Plus Time has expired, or
when the user has pressed the EJECT button, the beans are automatically
dumped into the cooling tray and a four minute cool down begins, with the
animation shown here displayed in the message center on the screen.
When the Cool Down mode is over, the machine will signal you with
beeping and the LED display turns from white to a yellow-green tint, and
the Chaff tray animation will display, reminding you to remove and empty
the chaff tray before beginning the next roast.
When it is time to add the beans, the machine will beep and the Mes-
sage Center will show the “Add Beans” animation. Add the beans and the
roast will progress automatically.
In the display’s Message Center you will now see “Preheat.” The roaster
is coming up to temperature. The amount of time this process takes varies.
11
12
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10