Hottop USA
Hottop Coffee Roaster
Troubleshooting Guide
    Some problems can "overlap." For example, a problem could be considered mechanical (like the beans not ejecting because the ejection door doesn't open), but that could be caused by an electrical problem (the ejection solenoid is faulty). Please consult other parts of this guide if you don't find what you want in the first area you search. If the following solutions do not assist you with your problem, please feel free to E-mail us for further assistance.
  WARNING: Be sure to read all safety warnings listed in the manual before using this page!  
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POSSIBLE CAUSES
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
The roaster will not start and/or no lights come on at all. · Roaster not plugged in.
· No power to outlet.
· Chaff tray not cleaned after last roast.
· Fuse on main circuit board is blown.
· Fusible thermal link is blown. 		· Check that roaster is plugged in.
· Verify that the outlet is working by using a different appliance or a lamp.
· Try another outlet.
· Remove chaff tray, empty it, and replace the tray.
· Go HERE for Fusible Link test procedure.
· Contact hottop@hottopusa.com for fuse replacement or fusible link replacement, or other repair procedures.
The machine dumps the beans before the roast completes and without warning. · Faulty electronic control. · Contact hottop@hottopusa.com for diagnosis and/or replacement.
Machines starts normally, but never gets hot, but everything else seems to work properly. Ejection trap door opens and closes quickly at start of roast. · Bad fusible link.
· Faulty electronic control. 		· Replace fusible link.
· Contact hottop@hottopusa.com for diagnosis and/or replacement.
The beans eject just a few seconds after I add them. · Electrical interference in area or through the outlet.
· Faulty electronic control.
· Voltage Problem (go HERE) 		· Try roasting in another outlet.
· Contact hottop@hottopusa.com for diagnosis and/or replacement.
The Coffee Roaster does not get hot. · Electrical interference in area or through the outlet.
· Heating element or electronic control is bad.
· Fusible link has failed. 		· Eject beans and try roasting in another outlet.
· Contact hottop@hottopusa.com for diagnosis and/or replacement.
· Replace fusible link.
Ejection trap door opens and closes quickly at start of roast. · Faulty electronic control. · Contact hottop@hottopusa.com for diagnosis and/or replacement.

POSSIBLE CAUSES
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
The roaster seems to take longer to roast than it use to. · Change in line voltage
· Roaster needs cleaning
· Heating Element needs alignment
· Main filter not installed
· Heating element is bad
 · Check voltage at outlet or use another circuit.
· Remove and clean drum and clean roasting chamber.
· Adjust heating element so it is away from chamber wall (See this page)
· Reinstall the main filter. · Replace the Heating Element.
There is a brown, watery liquid dripping from the machine · Moisture from the coffee being roasted is condensing. · Beans naturally contain water. Wipe up liquid after roast concludes. Our research shows that this moisture does not get onto any electrical parts and causes no danger. Do not place roaster on a towel or other flammable surface.
There are a few black, burnt beans mixed in with the roasted batch. · There were beans stuck in the drum from the last roast that were roasted a second time.
· Some of the beans were quite large and got stuck.
· Some of the beans were excessively oily. 		· Clean drum out after each roast and remove any stray or stuck beans.
· If drum is excessively oily or has excessive build up of coffee residue clean the drum following instructions in the owner's manual.
There are a few green, unroasted beans mixed in with the roasted batch when roast is completed. · Green coffee beans were mixed in after the roast.
 · Be sure cooling tray is empty before roast ejects.
· If you use the same container for the green and the roasted coffee, be sure it is empty before pouring in the roasted beans.
· When loading beans at the signal to begin the roast, be sure that all beans slide into the roasting chamber and that there are no beans left sitting in the chute.
There is chaff left on the beans after a roast. · Chaff is a normal by-product of the coffee roasting process.
· Roasting chamber not sufficiently cleaned after the last roast.
 · Clean drum to allow chaff to pass through more easily.
· After roast ends, clean the roasted beans in a colander or other similar container.
· Clean the stray chaff from the roasting chamber as described in the manual.
The coffee is roasted too light. · The roast level or time is too low.
· Amount of beans too great.
· Voltage might be low. 		· Add more time to the roast (see manual).
· Use a smaller amount of beans. Decrease by 10 grams at a time until proper roast is achieved.
· Test line voltage with proper voltmeter or plug the roaster into a different outlet for next roast.
The coffee is roasted too dark. · The roast is too long.
· Not enough coffee being roasted. 		· Use less roast time (see manual).
· Manually eject the beans at the desired roast level.
· Use more beans. Increase the amount of beans by 10 grams at a time until proper roast is achieved.
The coffee tastes bad. · Low grade or stale coffee.
· Improperly roasted coffee.
· You don't like that variety.
· Not enough coffee for the amount of water.
· Coffee too fresh.
· Problems with the brewing equipment. 		· Use a different bean or different bean supplier.
· Roast to a different roast level (lighter or darker).
· Change the coffee-to-water ratio when brewing. Use more or less coffee per cup.
· Let coffee rest one or two days or more after roasting before use.
· Use another brewing device or follow cupping instructions in manual.
The coffee tastes smokey and burnt. · The coffee was roasted too dark.
· Coffee is stale.
· Clogged rear filter.
· Inoperative main cooling fan. 		· Use a lighter roast level or less time.
· Use fresher coffee.
· Replace rear filter.
· Check main fan. If necessary, contact hottop@hottopusa.com for diagnosis and/or replacement.
The roaster produces a lot of smoke. · Coffee roasting produces smoke.
 · Smoke production is normal when roasting coffee. Use Hottop Coffee roaster with adequate ventilation as described in the owners manual.

POSSIBLE CAUSES
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
When I start a roast it immediately goes into cool down mode and turns off after a short time. · Chaff tray not inserted into machine
· Chaff tray not engaging the safety switch
· Chaff Tray Safety Switch not connected or not functioning properly
 · Insert Chaff Tray fully into machine
· Bend edge of Chaff tray so that it depresses safety switch when inserted
· Check Chaff Tray Safety Switch connection on rear of Control Panel
· Contact hottop@hottopusa.com for further diagnosis.
The beans do not eject at the end of the roast. · Ejection door jammed.
· Ejection solenoid faulty.
· Faulty electronic control. 		· If the beans are done hit the "EJECT" button."
· If the machine stops and the beans are still in the roasting chamber, first allow machine to cool completely! Disconnect power cord from wall outlet and then remove front and pour out beans. Use a suitable tool and push on ejection door to free it. See this diagram for part location
· If door is not jammed, discontinue use. Solenoid is probably faulty. Contact hottop@hottopusa.com for replacement.
When the machine signals I pour in the beans and they pour right out again. · Beans stuck in ejection door. · Ejection door spring weak. · Remove drum and use a suitable tool to free stuck beans in ejection chute. Use tool to push door all the way open a few times and allow it to slam closed to clear obstruction. See this diagram for part location. · If door doesn't close properly, spring is probably faulty. Contact hottop@hottopusa.com for replacement.
The control panel illuminates and the roaster heats up, but the motor makes no sound and the drum does not turn. · Main motor is bad.
 · Contact hottop@hottopusa.com for diagnosis and possible motor replacement.
Roaster starts, and the motor can be heard, but the motor seems to not engage and then catch and/or make grinding noises, and the drum rotation is irregular. · Gear box is faulty (integral part of motor).
 · For further diagnosis refer to the Noise Diagnosis Page.
· Contact hottop@hottopusa.com for main motor replacement.
The roaster makes noise, but the drum isn't turning. · Drum is jammed.
· Main motor is bad.
· Gear mechanism is bad or jammed. 		· For further diagnosis refer to the Noise Diagnosis Page.
· Remove roasting drum and clean ends of drum, roasting chamber, and bearing plate.
· With drum out, restart roaster to see if drive socket (in center of back wall of roasting chamber) now turns. See this diagram for part location
DANGER: - DO NOT reach into roasting chamber when doing this test. IMMEDIATELY stop machine and unplug after doing this test. DO NOT run for more than two or three seconds.
WARNING: heating element will be VERY hot after doing this test (See this diagram for part location), even after one or two seconds! If motor shaft turns, clean the drum and reinstall. If it still does not turn, then contact hottop@hottopusa.com for motor or gear-drive replacement.
The roaster makes grinding noises. · Front bearing improperly adjusted.
· Foreign matter between drum and roasting chamber.
· Foreign matter in front bearing. 		· For further diagnosis refer to the Noise Diagnosis Page.
· Loosen the gold screw, then slowly tighten during the roast until sound lessens.
· Remove drum and clean the roasting chamber, ends of drum, and the inside of the bearing plate.
· Clean the end of the drum's shaft and the bearing plate where the drum's shaft rides.
Grinding noise continues after Gold Screw adjustments. · Drum misaligned · For further diagnosis refer to the Noise Diagnosis Page.
· Refer to Drum Alignment page for further instructions
Grinding noise continues after Drum Alignment. · Heating element is bent or warped. · For further diagnosis refer to the Noise Diagnosis Page.
· Remove roasting drum and examine the heating element. If it is very close to the drum it needs to be bent back towards the wall. Proper location is parallel to the Roasting Chamber wall throughout its length. See THIS PAGE for more details.
· If the heating element is warped or bent oddly it will need to be replaced.
The beans eject but the agitation arms do not turn. · Agitation arms jammed in cooling tray.
· Agitation arm motor inoperative. 		· Remove cooling tray and rotate arms manually to be sure they are free. Remove any impediments found.
· Remove cooling tray and without adding any beans to roaster, start a roast, then immediately hit the eject button. Look to see if agitation arm motor shaft is turning. If not, contact hottop@hottopusa.com for diagnosis and/or replacement.
The beans are being ejected early. · Rear filter is clogged.
· Insufficient roast time programmed.
· Too large of a roast load of beans.
· Faulty electronic control.
· Temp sensor disconnected. 		· Replace main filter (try this first before attempting other solutions).
· Try using a longer roast time or higher roast level.
· Use a smaller load of beans (try 225 grams).
· Contact hottop@hottopusa.com for diagnosis of electronic problems.
· Contact hottop@hottopusa.com for procedure to reconnect temp sensor.

If the above solutions did not solve your problem, or if you have any further questions, please feel free to E-mail us at hottop@hottopusa.com for further assistance.


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