Comparison

Pilot Roaster Shop vs OpenCup

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Pilot Roaster Shop

This app allows coffee roasters to record, edit, and analyze roasting profiles for PROBAT shop roasters. It saves manual interventions, allows for automatic roasting based on recorded data, and enables easy reproduction of results. Connects wirelessly to roasters for real-time data display and control.

Highlights
  • Record roasting profiles
  • Edit and analyze roasting data
  • Automatic roasting mode
  • Wireless connection to roasters
  • Real-time data display
  • Recipe management
  • Roast history tracking
Features
Read full description

Recording, editing, analysing, saving and recalling of roasting profiles: the newest version of the software Pilot Roaster Shop that was especially developed for the PROBAT shop roasters of the Probatone series renders all this possible. For recording roasting profiles, the app saves the manual interventions of the roast master into the roasting process. All modifications of the burner performance are filed with a time and temperature code so that a roasting in automatic mode according to time or temperature is possible upon recalling. The memorised recipes are freely editable at a later stage. Furthermore, useful information like e.g. the batch weight or the applied green coffee sort can be added. Thanks to the Pilot Roaster Shop, the roast master can easily reproduce the roasting results. However, this software cannot replace the roast master. Roasting is and remains a handcraft requiring experience and passion for good coffee. Even in automatic mode, the operator can permanently intervene into the roasting process in order to achieve the best possible result. The connection between roaster and smartphone or tablet PC is carried out via Wi-Fi available resp. to be installed in the roastery. That way it is possible to freely move with the mobile device in the room where the roasting machine is installed. It is however important that the roaster is only operated in presence of the roast master. Via the existing connection, the roasting machine sends all relevant data for presentation of the roasting profile to the mobile device. This information can be saved and edited at a later stage. Moreover, the Pilot Roaster Shop App renders possible the regulation of the modular burner of the Probatone roasting machine and allows the comfortable operation of the roaster via smartphone or tablet PC. The views: The current product temperature, the growth rate of the product temperature over the time (TDI = Temperature Development Indicator), the roasting time elapsed, the performance of the gas burner as well as the statuses of the drives are displayed in the mode --Roasting--. Of course the corresponding roasting profile and the TDI with nominal and actual curves are illustrated graphically. Besides, it is possible in the operating level to influence the performance of the gas burner. Recorded or manually created recipes are managed with the help of the --Recipe manager--. Thereby each recipe consists of descriptive information concerning coffee sort/blend and the memorised values (time, temperature, burner performance) of the roasting profile. For reasons of clarity, the roast master can define in which time intervals a saving of the values should be done. The --History-- contains all roasts which were produced on the roasting machine with the connected software. For simple regaining of roasts, the number of history entries can be filtered via the production date. Roasting profiles from the history can be used again and stored as recipe. In order to facilitate the technical support, possible malfunctions of the roaster are indicated in the module >Alarms> indicating an error code. Via >Adjustments> and >Connection> the app can be configured simply and comfortably according to the wishes of the customer. The Pilot Roaster Shop App whose functional scope is comparable to the PC software is only compatible with Probatone shop roasters, Series 2, that were prepared accordingly at the factory. On request a retrofit kit is available. http://www.probat-shoproaster.de/en/pilot-roaster-shop/app/

About

OpenCup

Features
Read full description

Create, taste, reveal…OpenCup helps you turn your evaluations into revelations! OpenCup gives you all the tools you need to see a bigger and better picture of your coffee. Much more than a digital scoring form, OpenCup makes it easy to catalog and evaluate your coffee, and also analyze, audit and track this information between samples, crops, vendors and virtually every other attribute of the greens in your library. Extensive Sample Cataloging OpenCup lets you define not only the green coffee in your library, but also each individual sample your receive, and varying attributes of that sample that may change over time. Powerful Digital Scoring Free hands are scarce at the cupping table. OpenCup’s digital scoring interface is designed to be fluid, smooth, intuitive and easy to use on any device. The extra real estate on iPad shows more evaluation data, while the reduced footprint on iPhone provides true one-handed scoring. Flexible Protocols Sensory evaluations are only helpful when they align with your individual needs. OpenCup provides the most common industry-standard cupping forms, called Protocols. You can expand these protocols or create your own from scratch. Tailor protocols with custom scoring attributes, form fields, layouts and functionality–designed to fit your particular needs. Customizable Descriptor Libraries In addition to the included standard lexicons, you can create your own catalogs of descriptors, and link them to your custom protocols. You can even choose whether evaluators will be locked to these pre-defined descriptors, or can enter them on the fly…controlling the exact manner in which you record the sensory experience of your coffee. Evaluate Samples, Blends or Roasts You can create and evaluate not only samples, but also particular roasts of each sample. OpenCup will be able to share sample and roast data with Roastmaster for iOS in its next update. You can also create custom blends, and evaluate those as well. Team Evaluations Not only can you create a flight of evaluations, and AirDrop it to other evaluators at the cupping table. But, you can also create a peer session of that flight, allowing an administrator to control and view the other evaluators’ progress in a unified dashboard. When the flight ends, evaluators can AirDrop their finished flights back for a team review. Capture Temperatures You can link a Thermapen® Blue probe by Thermoworks to a flight of evaluations to record cup temperatures during the evaluation session. The temperature is displayed on the scoring screen. In a peer session environment, it will be broadcast to participating team members for display on their screens as well. Robust Analytics OpenCup never forgets. As you evaluate coffee, your data grows. OpenCup’s analytics features show you at a glance how that data changes over time. Choose any major entity in the app to see all the analytical scores of that entity, and how they’ve changed from sample to sample. See Trends in the Analyzer Timeline OpenCup provides a powerful analyzer to show you the attribute scores and temperature as they change during the evaluation. This interactive timeline shows the trends, and what strengths and weaknesses the coffee reveals as it cools. Creating a Series Evaluations A series shows similar evaluations in a unified visual interface…showcasing the similarities and differences between the individual evaluations. They are well suited to round-table discussions, and provide more insight than a single evaluation. PDF Evaluation Reports Create a PDF report of evaluations with just one tap, then send it to vendors or clients–outlining the important sample data, attribute scores, form fields, tallies and descriptors. You can even customize PDF reports with your logo. User Management OpenCup lets you build a library of users. Any user can be made active, letting several evaluators share the same iPad. Download OpenCup today…let it reveal what your coffee is waiting to show you!

Screenshots

Pilot Roaster Shop4 screens
OpenCup4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Pilot Roaster Shop at Free against OpenCup's $9.99. Pilot Roaster Shop also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 27 months). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Pilot Roaster Shop is free to download; OpenCup costs $9.99 up front. OpenCup sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Pilot Roaster Shop asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pilot Roaster Shop ships an update every 2 months, OpenCup every 27 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 4 level
Pilot Roaster Shop versus OpenCup: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPilot Roaster ShopOpenCup
PriceFree — better$9.99
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 27 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS7.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPROBAT-Werke von Gimborn Maschinenfabrik GmbHArtisan Coffee Group Inc

In-app purchases

None

Pilot Roaster Shop

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

OpenCup

One-time7
  • Free Starter Evaluation CreditsFree
  • 10 Evaluation Credits$9.99
  • 20 Evaluation Credits$18.99
Show 4 more
  • 40 Evaluation Credits$36.99
  • Monthly Plus Evaluation$99.99
  • Weekly Plus Evaluation$249.99
  • Daily Plus Evaluation$399.99

Questions

Is Pilot Roaster Shop free?
Pilot Roaster Shop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is OpenCup free?
OpenCup costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Do Pilot Roaster Shop or OpenCup have ads?
Neither Pilot Roaster Shop nor OpenCup shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pilot Roaster Shop or OpenCup?
Pilot Roaster Shop ships an update every 2 months, and OpenCup every 27 months. Most recently, Pilot Roaster Shop was updated on October 8, 2026 and OpenCup on October 3, 2026.

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