When it comes to choosing a home roasting machine, the sky really does seem the limit… and with countless options and even more opinions online, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
For us, two brands stand out: Ikawa’s PRO100 and the Kaffelogic. So we thought - why not put them head-to-head and break down the pros and cons of each?
A quick intro before we dive in: I’m Alex, and I head up Quality Control here at Omwani. I’ve spent years working with larger commercial roasters, so this has been a fascinating shift.
We’ve been using the Ikawa in-house for a while now, with two models in regular rotation - the PRO 100 and PRO 100X. But more recently, we got our hands on a Kaffelogic - and it’s delivered some incredible results, especially for home roasting.
So, how do they compare? Let’s take a closer look at where each machine shines - and where they fall short…
Price
There’s no two ways about it - Kaffelogic is the more budget-friendly option. While Ikawa offers several models, the home edition is fairly limited when comparing it to the Kaffelogic.
Of course, your needs matter. If you're an established business or advanced enthusiast, that higher price tag may make sense. But for most home roasters, the Kaffelogic delivers everything you could want - and then some - for a lower cost.
Look, size and finish
Here’s where you start to see where the savings come in.
Ikawa has a sleeker, refined build, with a polished and high-quality finish. Kaffelogic, on the other hand, does the job - but you can see where costs were cut. It’s slightly louder during a roast, but whether that’s a deal-breaker depends on your tolerance for noise!
However, Kaffelogic wins on footprint. It takes up less counter space, which is a big plus in home kitchens. And despite its smaller size, it actually has a larger batch capacity. The standard is 120g, but with a simple software upgrade (the “boost kit”), you can roast up to 200g - more than what Ikawa offers.
With the above points in mind, it’s clear almost straight away where the Kaffelogic has cut down on costs.
Overall results - flavour and quality
After a few weeks of testing, I can say this confidently: Kaffelogic performs just as well as Ikawa on our initial cupping profiles. The flavour clarity and roast consistency have been spot on. Honestly, the difference in cup quality between the two is minimal.
Overall workflow
Drum roasting usually means preheating, unlike fluid-bed' roasters like these two. Ikawa does allow you to pre-heat, however, in order to increase temperature stability at the start of the roast - whereas the Kaffelogic seems to work really well without needing to.
While the Kaffelogic has you off to a flying start, it does fall short a little at the end of the roast, with more steps to get from roaster to cooler. While the Ikawa has an easily removable beans compartment, you need to lift the entire Kaffelogic machine to remove the beans - and it’s not light. It also has a fairly short power lead, so you need it close to a power socket… small but, for some, potentially a deal-breaker.
Let’s get technical
Ikawa’s app connects by bluetooth and shows the roast progress live. With the Ikawa Pro versions, you can even search a big library of profiles designed by Ikawa or professional roasters and use those to get started.
With the Kaffelogic, however, you don't need the software to get started. You can use the roaster just by cycling through the pre-loaded profiles on the display - and you see the roast progress there as well. They also have a library of profiles to explore and add to the default ones.
Both machines work on the same basic principle when it comes to designing roast curves - you set a desired temperature curve and the machine automatically adjusts to meet the curve throughout the roast.
With the Kaffelogic Studio software, however, you can change a lot more. For example, you can tell the machine to ignore large fluctuations in rate of rise at specific points in the roast… that may be after first crack, when the rate might drop and then increase in quick succession.
With the Ikawa app, meanwhile, you can easily design a profile, including the temperature points you want the roaster to hit and the fan speed. The PRO X models with auto first crack detection really help to design a profile well. But unlike with the Kaffelogic, you can't change anything about how the Ikawa functions behind the scenes to hit the temperature points you set. They are, however, looking to AI for future models to help with this… more on that later.
Once you have the relevant software for the Kaffelogic, there are 15 pre-loaded profiles ready to use including lighter/darker, beans grown at different altitudes and washed/natural. We’ve tried the cupping profile which, for us, was a little dark, but could be perfect for others. Again, it’s all personal preference.
Our advice would be to start with the pre-loaded ones, then work from there to input your own. You may well find one you love - or you may wish to go your own way (like us).
We have so far used a profile from coffee consultant Christopher Feran, downloaded from the online library and with only some minor adjustments:
We really liked this cupping profile, and it can be downloaded from the Kaffelogic community website. You can see here that the bean temperature and air flow are set lower than the standard Kaffelogic cupping profile - giving a lighter roast that highlights origin characteristics well.
One thing to note - we were originally getting the error message: 'Heat too fast, please check beans' at the start of roasts with this profile. This means that the profile has too much power going to the heater at the start and the roaster can't match the cooler desired temperature. In Kaffelogic Studio, you can set the max Watts that the heater gets at the start of the roast, and this fixed the problem. One of the good things about having so many variables to play with.
However, Ikawa shines when it comes to advanced features - especially on newer models. Their latest Pro100X, for instance, includes a moisture detector that predicts first crack timing. It's seriously cool tech and makes the process even more hands-off. You can also then set the development time after first crack if you want - for example, 60 seconds after first crack, and the machine auto adjusts the roast.
They're also working with a production roast machine manufacturer, Bühler, on AI roasting to create a profile for the roast colour you want, based on information about the bean (size, moisture, density), so that the roaster follows the temperature curve you want more effectively.
This will take a lot out of the hands of the roaster, which may not be so fun for the hobby roasters, but will really push the existing boundaries. It would be helpful for many, including importers, who have to roast a variety of different coffees.
[A probe in the Ikawa detects a peak humidity in the roaster, detecting first crack. This is helpful for dialling in profiles and it’s really cutting edge.]
One caveat: Ikawa profiles don’t always travel… we had to dial in a different profile to match colour when roasting on the PRO100 X rather than the PRO100.
[Omwani's standard cupping profile for the Ikawa PRO 100 X. With this profile we needed to colour match with the profile from our PRO 100. We kept the curve as simple as possible (for example, no soaking at the start) to remove variables. Increasing power after first crack helps to develop the inside of the bean well, while keeping time after first crack short.]
Safety considerations
While both machines have built-in safety features, there is one place the Kaffelogic falls behind - and that’s its chaff compartment.
While Ikawa’s models have a see-through compartment so you can see when it’s getting full, Kaffelogic’s isn’t - so you have to remember to check it regularly to prevent risk of fires.
Conclusion
Both machines have plenty to offer. Ikawa takes the lead in design, simplicity, and high-end features, but it comes at a premium. Kaffelogic offers incredible value, strong results, and more control/opportunities to experiment - making it a standout choice for home roasters.
If you’re just getting started or roasting in small volumes, Kaffelogic is a fantastic option. As you grow or if you’re after cutting-edge features, Ikawa may be the better long-term fit.
But hey, that’s just my take. As with all things coffee, the right machine is the one that suits your style. Think about which features matter most to you - and let your taste (and budget) guide the way.
Happy roasting!
