Listen up coffee fans, this might spark your interest. What’s exciting about the CBR-301? First off, it seems to carry forward the bean chamber size from the earlier CBR-101 model, which means you get a worthwhile batch size without going overboard. It has a pull-out tray for chaff, which is a welcome upgrade, making cleanup easier and keeping chaff control tidier. There’s also a companion app (iOS and Android) that lets you monitor roast profiles in real time, tweak settings live and save your favourite profiles. For folks who like a bit of tech and enjoy precise control over their roasting, that will likely be a big draw.
The app seems well supported so far, with multiple updates and fixes during prototype stage, which suggests Gene Café are taking feedback seriously. The roaster case is slightly larger than the CBR-101 though (496 x 276 x 277mm), so you’ll want enough bench space. The “modern skin” on the 301 makes it look fresh and updated, with a choice of Black and White.
It has an off-axis twisting system for an even and consistent roast. The unattended operation prevention function means that when the device reaches the set temperature (200-230 degrees Celsius) before the roasting time is up a beeping alarm with sound. If no button is pressed within 30 seconds, it will automatically switch to cooling mode. If you open the door the roasting will be paused, and a door open buzzer will sound. You can also stop roasting at anytime manually.
A Potential downside is that if you’re used to full manual control or large-batch roasting, you might find limitations. For example, the app is great, but people who prefer “old school” manual dials say they’ll use that instead. Also, heating ramps and cooling phases may take a bit of trial and error to get exactly how you like them.
Overall the Gene Café CBR-301 looks like a strong evolution of the CBR-101, adding modern touches, improved chaff handling, and useful digital features without losing the charm of the original. If you roast at home, enjoy tweaking settings, and want something visually slick and well thought out, this could be a very good buy. RRP £595
- Updated look
- App connectivity for roast monitoring and saving roast profiles
- Improved chaff handling with pull-out tray
- Good batch size
- Tilted-axis
- App dependency might matter
- Large unit
