Coffee is a popular beverage not only in the United States but across the world. The global coffee market is expected to grow at a rate of 5.32% from 2020-2024 and may reach $134.25 billion in 2024. But what are the best coffee roaster machine for small business in the market?
The consumer’s increasing demand for coffee is one of the factors that’s driving the growth of the coffee market. It’s no wonder a lot of people are trying their luck in this sector. Are you thinking of starting a small coffee roasting company? Do you want to know the best coffee roaster machine for small business? This article will help you get started.
What is the Best Coffee Roaster Machine for Small Businesses?
Listed below are some of the best commercial coffee roaster machines based on quality, functionality, performance, and affordability. Out of the many, we give you 5 – the ratings have all been gathered from Amazon to give this article a balanced and fair comparison on the same platform.
DYVEE Coffee Bean Roaster
The DYVEE Coffee Bean Roaster is a perfect option if you’re looking for a top-quality coffee roaster machine that comes at an affordable price. It has a lightweight and compact design, which makes it an ideal choice if you have limited space in your kitchen.
It features a stainless steel exterior and bean hopper along with a mesh that filters the chaff from the coffee beans. It prevents over-roasting and cools down roasting coffee beans in as fast as 2 minutes while still retaining their flavor. However, it produces a loud noise when being used because of its large fans.
It has a 4.4 out of 5 stars overall rating from 59 reviews, with 72% of the reviews rating it 5 stars on Amazon.
JIAWANSHUN Electric Coffee Roaster
The JIAWANSHUN Electric Coffee Roaster looks like a pressure cooker. Because of its design, the machine can uniformly heat the coffee beans. It comes with temperature control that lets you regulate the heat according to your preference.
You can bake up to 500 grams of coffee beans at a time, making it an appropriate choice if you’re catering to several customers at a time. This machine doesn’t have a built-in fan, so it’s best to use it in a well-ventilated area. It’s a multipurpose roaster, which means you can use the machine to roast other seeds, grains, nuts, and even popcorn.
It also has a 4.4 out of 5 stars overall rating from 129 reviews, with 65% of the reviews rating it 5 stars on Amazon.
Mingfuxin Coffee Roaster
The Mingfuxin Coffee Roaster comes with a holding capacity of 750 grams in 25 minutes. Its transparent lid allows you to see the coffee beans as they’re being roasted. You’ll get to smell all the coffee goodness thanks to the holes in the lid.
It features temperature control, so you can roast the beans according to your preference. It also has a non-stick base, which makes cleaning a breeze. It’s also a multipurpose roaster—aside from coffee, you can also cook popcorn and peanuts.
It has 3.8 out of 5 stars overall rating from 25 reviews, with 58% of the reviews rating it 5 stars on Amazon.
Moongiantgo Coffee Roaster
If you’re looking for a simple-to-use machine that lets you roast coffee in small batches, then the Moongiantgo Coffee Roaster should be on top of your list. It can roast from 130 to 300 grams of coffee beans. It features 7 roaster levels, from mild to deep roasting.
It features a cooling function, which allows the machine to cool down for 3 to 5 minutes. You can also use this machine to bake peanuts, pecans, and other grains. It comes with a removable stainless steel roasting basket for easy cleaning.
KALDI WIDE Coffee Roaster
The Kaldi Wide Coffee Roaster is a great choice if you’re starting a small coffee roasting business or a small coffee shop. Don’t be fooled by its complex design because this machine is actually easy to use. It comes with a holding capacity of 300 grams and boasts of various features, such as a bean hopper, chaff holder, probe rod, and thermometer.
It has 4.2 out of 5 stars overall rating from 30 reviews, with 64% of the reviews rating it 5 stars on Amazon.
How to Choose the Best Coffee Roaster for Your Small Business?
With the wide array of coffee roasters available in the market, you may find it difficult to choose the best one for your small business. Here are the factors you need to consider:
1. Site and Space
When choosing a site, you need to factor in several elements, such as your budget and business projection. You also have to consider the legal requirements when starting a coffee roasting business. You need to know if your state will allow you to operate in your own garage or if you need to rent a commercial space for the kind of business that you wish to start.
When choosing a site for your startup coffee roasting company, you should take into account the growth projection of your business. Do you expect your business to produce twice or thrice the volume of what you initially produced within just a few months? How much storage space do you need? How about a quality control area? Do you have enough space for your coffee roasting machine? Do you have a team who’ll work for you? You must consider all these things to determine how much space you need for your coffee roasting business.
2. Type
There are different types of coffee roasters. You need to be familiar with each one so that you can decide which one is suitable for your business needs.
Drum roasters
They have a simple design and come with parts that have a long service life. They can use different heat sources and can be manually or automatically operated. They are available in different designs but they consume a lot of space because of their horizontal orientation. However, coffee beans that come in contact with the drum may burn, and roasting them too long can degrade their flavor.
Fluid Bed Roasters
They can roast beans consistently. These coffee roasting machines are easy to use and consume small space thanks to their vertical design. However, you can’t check the coffee beans while they’re being roasted, and cleaning and maintaining them can be difficult because of their complicated closed system.
Pan Roasters
They’re affordable, portable, and convenient to use. If you’re looking for a traditional way of roasting coffee beans, then this option is for you. Unfortunately, coffee beans tend to roast unevenly using these machines. Plus, it’s difficult to maintain a constant source of heat.
3. Heat Source
You can choose between electric-powered and gas-powered coffee roasters. An electrically powered coffee roasting machine generally has a small roasting capacity, which makes it an ideal choice for small coffee businesses. Meanwhile, a gas-powered coffee roaster can accommodate large batches. It’s a good option if you need a machine that’s suitable for heavy use.
4. Capacity
When checking out coffee roasters, you’ll see that they’re rated by weight. You need to check the holding capacity of the machine. Needless to say, you need to go with a roaster that can handle large batches if it’s for heavy use or one that has a small capacity if the roaster will be used lightly.
5. Cost
Whether you’re a business owner or a regular consumer, the cost is one of the factors to consider when making a purchase. Coffee roasters come at different designs and prices. But you need to remember that the price of an item doesn’t always represent its quality.
An affordable roaster does not mean it is low quality while an expensive one does not always mean it is the best one for your business. Consider the cost as part of your capital. You need to know how much you can afford to spend on the coffee roasting machine and calculate its ROI (Return on Investment).
Don’t forget to check if the coffee roasting machine comes with a chaff collector. You also need to consider the drum speed, smoke control, and heat control.
6. Materials, Ease of Use, and Maintenance
You have to factor in the materials used to build the coffee roasting machine because they will affect its durability, functionality, and maintenance requirements. If you prefer machines that are resistant and durable, you need to go for one that’s made of stainless steel. If you’re looking for a roaster with better thermal ability, you may want to choose one that’s made of cast iron. It’s also crucial to buy a roaster that’s easy to use and requires minimal maintenance but can handle the demands of your business.
How Do You Start a Coffee Roasting Business?
Starting a business means making a significant investment. You want to do things right and that includes making the needed preparations beforehand. Here are some important points to consider when starting a coffee roasting business:
1. Know Your Budget and Stick to it
Your budget extends beyond buying a coffee roasting machine. There are other factors you need to consider, such as your target market, where you plan to set up shop, packaging, and storage. Your business plan will also determine how big your budget should be.
2. Identify Your Target Market
Are you planning to sell your roasted coffee beans to a local grocery or offer it to other retailers? Or do you want to use it in your own coffee shop? Before anything else, you need to identify your target market. You should also determine how you plan to serve your clients. Do you intend to open a brick and mortar store or do you prefer to sell online?
3. Placement, Storage, and Packaging
You need to find a perfect spot where you can place your coffee roasting machine and other equipment you may need to use. You should also know the proper way of storing your roasted beans so that you can keep them fresh and preserve their taste and aroma. Don’t forget about the packaging. You must create packaging that is clean, eco-friendly, attractive, and clearly represents your brand.
Is Coffee Roasting a Profitable Business?
Just like any other business venture. Coffee roasting can be a profitable business with proper preparation, planning, and execution.
What are the Pros and Cons of Starting a Coffee Business?
Pros
- People love coffee, which makes marketing your product easier.
- You can make large profits because of the growing demand for coffee. You just need to make sure that you always serve top quality coffee to your clients.
- Having your own business means you’re the boss and you create your own schedule.
- A coffee business, especially if you’re opening a coffee shop, can help bring people together. Your café can be the place where people come together not only to drink coffee but also to talk and hang out.
Cons
- Launching a business can be time-consuming.
- You’ll have major responsibilities as a business owner. You need to make crucial decisions since you’re the boss. You need to manage your employees, troubleshoot problems, and monitor everything to make sure that your business operation is running smoothly.
- You need to deal with competition. There are many coffee businesses, both online and offline. You need to find ways to stand out if you want your small business to survive and thrive. You need to market your brand using effective methods to make more people know that your brand exists.
- There’s a risk that you’ll lose money. It may take time before your business generates enough profits to cover all the investments you made. There will always be a risk of financial loss, such as when your business doesn’t pick up or you’re not getting a lot of customers to give you the payback you expect not only for the amount you spent for your coffee roaster machine but all the other expenses for your business.
Conclusion
The coffee market is growing and there are no signs of it stopping anytime soon. If you’re thinking of starting a coffee business, then now is the time to do so. Make sure you choose the best coffee roasting machine. Don’t forget to consider the important factors when starting a coffee business, such as your budget, location, target market, equipment, packaging, and storage.
Aidan has been writing about personal finance for over 6 years. Prior to this, he worked as a Corporate Finance Analyst where he specialized in Due Diligence, Company Valuations and more. He is a CFA charterholder.
