Comparison

Pilot Roaster Shop vs PDF Chef

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

PDF Chef

Features
Read full description

PDF Chef helps you read, edit, merge, split, compress and sign PDFs on your device. Organize pages, add text and images, place a handwritten signature, add watermarks or page numbers, and protect PDFs with a password. Convert supported images and documents, and extract text. Results depend on the source file and the selected tool. Normal PDF processing runs on your device. Your documents are not uploaded to a PDF Chef server for processing. Offline tools remain available after their assets have loaded. PDF Chef does not require an account. Review your result before sharing or exporting it. On iOS, the first five successful jobs in each rolling seven-day allowance period are complete jobs that you can save, share and export. The period starts with the first successful job. After five jobs, processing and preview remain available, but saving, sharing and exporting require Pro until the allowance resets. Pro Monthly renews automatically until canceled. Pro Lifetime is a one-time purchase, not a subscription. Both options support Apple Family Sharing. Prices and purchase details appear in the app before you buy. Restore purchases from Settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Pilot Roaster Shop4 screens
PDF Chef4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pilot Roaster Shop at none against PDF Chef's 2. Pilot Roaster Shop also leads on iOS requirement (7.0 vs 17.4). PDF Chef's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). On price, 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

Both are free to download. PDF Chef sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Pilot Roaster Shop asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pilot Roaster Shop ships an update every 2 months, PDF Chef every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Pilot Roaster Shop versus PDF Chef: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPilot Roaster ShopPDF Chef
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS7.0 — better17.4
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPROBAT-Werke von Gimborn Maschinenfabrik GmbHDHANANJAY BABASAHEB BHOSALE

In-app purchases

None

Pilot Roaster Shop

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

PDF Chef

Subscriptions1
  • PDF Chef Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
One-time1
  • PDF Chef Pro Lifetime$49.00

Questions

Is Pilot Roaster Shop free?
Pilot Roaster Shop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PDF Chef free?
PDF Chef is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pilot Roaster Shop or PDF Chef have ads?
Neither Pilot Roaster Shop nor PDF Chef shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pilot Roaster Shop or PDF Chef?
Pilot Roaster Shop ships an update every 2 months, and PDF Chef every 4 days. Most recently, Pilot Roaster Shop was updated on October 23, 2026 and PDF Chef on October 24, 2026.

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