Why this page exists
Home roasting content online is mostly Sweet Maria's blog posts (great but commercial) and forum threads where 2009 advice is still cited. This site is run by a person who has roasted thousands of grams across three different roasters.
The math here matches what your specific roaster does at home, not a Probat at a roastery. Drum vs air matters. Bean density matters. The tools account for both.
Plain note about money. Some links in the reviews and calculator results go to product pages on eBay with an affiliate tag. If you buy through one, the commission pays for the site. Your price doesn't change. The cheap option is usually fine; when the expensive option is worth it, this site will explain exactly why.
Guides
Gear actually worth buying
Smart eBay searches we'd start with ourselves. We earn a small commission on qualifying sales through these links; the price you pay is the same whether you use them or go direct to eBay. Full disclosure.
Home roasters (entry)Behmor 1600 Plus is the honest entry — 1lb batches, drum, real airflow. Avoid air poppers long-term.
Home roasters (next step)Aillio Bullet R1 V2 is the real upgrade — drum, induction, data logging, lasts decades.
Green coffee beans5lb sample lots are how you actually learn. Sweet Maria's + Bodhi Leaf catalogs ship through eBay too.
Roast scale (read 0.1g)Acaia Pearl or a Hario VST — anything with 0.1g and a timer. The unitasker scale matters less than you'd think.
Cupping spoons + cupsCupping is how roasters actually evaluate. A 6-cup set + 8 spoons + small tray = a working bench.