ICOFFEE N901CR Home Coffee Roaster Review

If you’ve tried roasting coffee at home, you know the biggest hurdles: managing smoke, collecting chaff, and finding a machine that fits your kitchen without taking over. The ICOFFEE N901CR aims to solve those problems while delivering consistent results for serious home roasters.

The ICOFFEE N901CR is a 150-gram-capacity hot air coffee roaster with a built-in chaff collector and a patented smoke filtration system—no external chimney required. It’s nearly identical in function to its predecessor, the CR811 (also called the ‘Apollo’), but with updated control panel graphics, metal branding, and a few safety touches like anti-scald warnings.

What Is the ICOFFEE N901CR?

The ICOFFEE N901CR is a hot air coffee roaster designed for home use. It roasts up to 150 grams of green coffee beans in a single batch. The unit includes a built-in chaff collector and a patented smoke filtration system, which eliminates the need for an external vent or chimney. This allows for indoor roasting with minimal smoke and only the aroma of roasting coffee—no harsh fumes.

Design and Build: Old Meets Slightly New

The N901CR looks almost identical to the older CR811 (referred to here as the ‘Apollo’). From the outside, the differences are subtle: the new model has a digital control panel with numeric indicators for heat and time settings, making it more intuitive to operate. The logo is now a metal plate instead of printed text. The lid and heating elements feature anti-scald warnings, and the overall build quality is notably high—some users say it’s the best-looking home roaster they’ve seen, with a retro small-speaker aesthetic. The 1200W heating element remains unchanged, and the price is the same as the previous model.

How It Works: Roasting Inside the Drum

The roasting chamber holds the green coffee in a non-stick drum. Inside, a stirring blade rotates the beans evenly as hot air circulates. Chaff is separated through small gaps in the drum and collected in a removable tray beneath the roasting chamber. The drum gets very hot during roasting, so ICOFFEE includes a heat-resistant handle for safe removal. A clear, heat-resistant glass lid lets you monitor the beans throughout the roast. The chaff collector is also accessed with a handle once full.

N901CR vs. CR811 (‘Apollo’): What’s Changed?

Side-by-side, the N901CR and CR811 are visually similar, with only minor cosmetic and interface differences. The N901CR has a digital control panel with numbered buttons for easier time and temperature settings. The logo is now a metal plate. The lid and heater elements both include anti-scald warnings. The roasting chamber, stirring mechanism, and chaff collection system are functionally identical. Both models share the same 1200W power rating and maximum 150g batch size. Functionally, they roast the same way—but the N901CR has a more user-friendly interface and slightly refined design touches.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the batch size of the ICOFFEE N901CR?

The ICOFFEE N901CR can roast up to 150 grams of green coffee beans in a single batch, making it suitable for home or sample-roasting use.

Does the N901CR require a chimney or vent?

No, the N901CR features a built-in smoke filtration system and chaff collector, allowing it to be used indoors without connecting to an external exhaust or chimney.

What’s the difference between the N901CR and the older CR811 (Apollo)?

The N901CR and CR811 are functionally very similar, with the same 150g capacity, 1200W heater, and internal design. The N901CR has an updated digital control panel with numeric markings, a metal logo plate, and added anti-scald warnings on the lid and heater. The roasting performance is essentially the same.

Is the ICOFFEE N901CR suitable for beginners?

Yes, the N901CR is designed with home users in mind, including beginners. Its straightforward controls, built-in smoke management, and clear viewing window make it approachable for those new to home roasting.

Can you see the beans while roasting?

Yes, the N901CR has a heat-resistant glass lid that allows you to observe the coffee beans throughout the roasting process.

How hot does the roasting chamber get?

The exact temperature range isn’t specified, but the unit uses a 1200W heater to generate the necessary heat for roasting, and the drum and heating elements include anti-scald warnings for safe handling.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee Beans for Home Roasting

For home roasters using the ICOFFEE N901CR, FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe offers bright citrus and floral notes, while Colombia Huila provides balanced caramel and nuttiness—both ideal for exploring roast profiles. FrontStreet’s Brazil Cerrado adds chocolatey, low-acid sweetness for contrast. All three showcase distinct flavours that respond well to small-batch roasting. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.