How to Roast 20 Coffee Origins on the Apollo Home Roaster

Home coffee roasters often ask: how do I get consistent, high-quality results across vastly different beans—like delicate Yirgacheffe and dense Guatemalan Elephant? The answer isn’t in copying professional profiles but in adapting your approach to each origin’s density, size, and inherent qualities. This guide shares practical steps for getting great results on the Apollo iCoffee N901CR, including recommended batch sizes, roast times, and tips for 20 specific origins.

The Apollo iCoffee N901CR works best with a roast batch between 60% and 80% of its 150g capacity—that’s roughly 90–120g. For most home roasters, aiming for around 100g delivers the most even results. Roast times between 10–12 minutes at higher heat (e.g., power level 7–9) produce vibrant, clean profiles, especially for high-quality beans.

Why Batch Size Matters for Even Roasting

The Apollo’s maximum capacity is 150g, but loading it fully can lead to uneven airflow and heat distribution—especially with larger or denser beans like Guatemala 23-eye Elephant. Birdman (a respected home roaster) recommends filling the drum to 60%–80% (about 90–120g). This ensures even heat penetration and consistent roast development. Even though 150g works fine for lighter beans like Yirgacheffe, denser beans such as Elephant can roast unevenly at full capacity. Consistent batch sizing helps achieve a balanced roast, particularly for home setups without industrial airflow control.

How to Roast: Time, Temperature & Technique

Forget trying to replicate complex roast curves. The Apollo is a simple hot-air machine designed for ease. Set a max temperature and control roast time to dial in your results. Birdman suggests avoiding comparisons with gas roasters—electric and gas heat work fundamentally differently, producing distinct flavor profiles. For high-quality beans, use high heat (level 9) and a short roast time (around 10 minutes). This preserves bright, volatile compounds like floral and fruity notes. For lower-grade beans, a lower heat (level 6–7) and longer roast (up to 15 minutes) help mellow defects. Most users aiming for vibrant cups should stick to 10–12 minutes for around 100g. If using smaller batches (e.g., 50g), reduce power to level 6 to avoid scorching.

Step-by-Step: Using the Apollo iCoffee N901CR

The Apollo is beginner-friendly. Press the preheat button, wait for the auto stop and beep, then load beans and select power level. Each numbered level corresponds to a roast time, and the machine stops automatically when done. For default results, just follow factory settings to get evenly roasted, balanced beans. To explore more nuanced flavors, use a stopwatch and manually stop roasting (by holding the power button or lifting the lid) once you observe desired color and first crack. For smaller batches under 100g, reduce power to avoid over-roasting. Birdman’s go-to profile is power level 7–9 for 10–12 minutes with around 100g of beans.

Smoke Control & Indoor Roasting

The Apollo features an automatic smoke filtration system, making indoor roasting much more pleasant. There’s no harsh smoke—just a sweet, milky aroma during roasting. Other machines like Taiwan’s Little Train also offer this feature. For home use, automatic smoke filtering is a major advantage that enhances the experience and keeps your space clean.

Roast Results Across 20 Origins

Below are sample roasts from the Apollo, showcasing a range of origins and roast levels—from light to dark. Keep in mind: a great-looking roast doesn’t always mean great flavor, and some of the best cups come from less pretty beans. These images are for visual reference only. The following beans were roasted on the Apollo: French Guadeloupe Vanibon Estate (Blue Butterfly), Madagascar, Mandheling Peaberry, Mexico Cassandra, Uganda Organic, New Caledonia Kouanci Estate (Rayloy), Yirgacheffe, Indian Emperor Washed Robusta, Vietnam Arabica, Australian Hilltop (semi-washed), Panama Herrmann Estate, Guatemala 23-Eye Elephant, Colombia Hyam, Costa Rica Wolf Estate Honey, Guatemala Antigua, Hawaiian Kona Peaberry, Kenya AA.

French Guadeloupe Vanibon Estate (Blue Butterfly)

Madagascar

Mandheling Peaberry

Mexico Cassandra

Uganda Organic

New Caledonia Kouanci Estate (Rayloy)

Yirgacheffe

Indian Emperor Washed Robusta

Vietnam Arabica

Australian Hilltop (semi-washed)

Panama Herrmann Estate

Guatemala 23-Eye Elephant

Colombia Hyam

Costa Rica Wolf Estate Honey

Guatemala Antigua

Hawaiian Kona Peaberry

Kenya AA

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best batch size for the Apollo iCoffee N901CR?

The recommended batch size is 60%–80% of the 150g capacity, which equals roughly 90–120g. For most home roasters, around 100g gives the most even and consistent results across different origins.

How long should I roast coffee on the Apollo?

Most users aim for 10–12 minutes for a balanced roast. High-quality beans roast well with shorter times (around 10 minutes) at higher power (level 7–9), while lower-grade beans may need 12–15 minutes at lower heat to mellow defects.

What roast level works best for Yirgacheffe or other light-origin beans?

Lighter origins like Yirgacheffe benefit from shorter, hotter roasts (level 9, ~10 minutes) to preserve floral and fruity notes. Avoid over-developing to maintain brightness and acidity.

Can I roast small batches like 50g on the Apollo?

Yes, but reduce the power level to around 6 to avoid scorching. Smaller batches need less heat to ensure even development and prevent burnt edges.

Does the Apollo produce a lot of smoke?

No. The Apollo has an automatic smoke filtration system that minimizes smoke, making indoor roasting much more pleasant with only a faint sweet-milk aroma.

How do I control roast time on the Apollo?

The machine stops automatically based on the power level you choose. For more control, use a stopwatch and manually stop the roast (via the power button or lifting the lid) when you see your desired roast color or hear first crack.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee for Home Roasting

Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Yirgacheffe for bright florals and citrus, perfect for testing light roasts on the Apollo. Their Mandheling Peaberry offers bold body and sweet spice, ideal for medium roasts. For something different, their Guatemala Antigua delivers chocolate and nutty notes, great for darker profiles. All three showcase how origin character shines with proper roast technique. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.