Do you enjoy brewing coffee and wish to become a professional roaster? If so, there are many different pieces of equipment that you will need in order to roast your own batch. These include: a roaster machine, a thermometer, cooling tray and other smaller items such as filters or cups for the finished product. In this post we'll outline the basic elements you need to actually roast coffee beans for commercial purposes.
Coffee Roasting Machines
What exactly is a coffee roasting machine? It is an essential piece of equipment that will roast your beans to perfection. You can roast anywhere from a couple ounces up to lbs at one time, depending on the machine you buy. Some bean roasters are able to roast automatically while others require some supervision by hand.
Choosing the ideal coffee roasting machine depends on a few factors. For instance, how much coffee will you roast at one time? Different machines can roast different sized batches.
Smaller roast batches can be accomplished with less expensive equipment. However, if you roast larger batches at one time it will require a much more expensive and powerful machine.
Another factor to consider is how well the coffee roaster can roast your beans. Some machines roast slower than others which creates an uneven roast - not ideal for those who value quality over quantity.
You'll also want to choose a coffee bean roasting machine that heats up quickly so you are able to make use of every second while your beans are being roasted! Otherwise, some heat energy goes wasted with each minute of downtime between roast sessions allowing the temperature of the grill plate inside the equipment to cool down.
Also consider what type of beans do you plan on roasting the most often? Some machines are more suited for lighter roast while others prefer darker styles that take longer to process. You should also look into which types of heating elements are available depending on your personal taste in style and flavor profile.
What are the Other Components Needed to Roast Coffee Beans?
Other important equipment you'll need to roast coffee beans include cooling trays, thermometers, blower systems, and drums.
Cooling Trays
A cooling tray is necessary so you can roast your beans and then transfer them quickly to the cooling area.
Cooling trays are either stationary or mobile. A mobile tray is ideal because you can roast, transfer the beans to the cooling area and then move them back into another roasting chamber if necessary for continued roast time.
A stationary tray is cheaper and can work as well, but you'll need to roast your beans in batches. Roasting a small amount of coffee at a time will affect the roast outcome because it causes inconsistent roasting conditions inside the chamber.
Cooling trays should be constructed from stainless steel or aluminum for easy clean up after use. You don't want any residues sticking around that could alter future roast results if they're not cleaned off first! It's best to buy one size larger cooling tray than what you think you may need since smaller quantities of roasted beans cool more quickly compared to large amounts, therefore requiring less time before being packaged into storage receptacles such as bags or cans for sale.
Thermometers
You'll also want a thermometer for monitoring your grill plate's temperature while it's roasting. A roast thermometer is useful for monitoring the roast temperature of your beans. This tool is crucial because it will help you to maintain an even roast throughout the entire process. If there are any irregularities in roast, you can stop the roast and fix them rather than trying to act after they have already happened.
A roast thermometer should be inserted into the chamber wall before you start your roast to ensure that it's giving an accurate temperature reading. These are relatively inexpensive devices, so don't skimp on buying one if you plan to roast coffee beans professionally!
Blower Systems
To help circulate hot air inside of a roasting chamber, use a blower system. Blowers keep the heat circulating evenly throughout all parts of the roast which will yield better results overall during each roast session.
There are many different types available but essentially they work by sending heated air from underneath your grill plate through copper tubing and then back out again through another tube at top or side vents. You can also purchase gas-powered blowers instead of electric if you need an outdoor roast area.
Drums
A drum roaster is a large rotating steel drum with many small holes punched across the surface for roasting coffee beans.
They roast much faster than other roast types, taking as little as 8 to 12 minutes to roast up to about 200 pounds of green beans at once. The drums are oval-shaped and can be operated manually or by gas.
Some coffee companies roast in professional grade drums on their factory premises while others offer manual drums for sale that can be used anywhere.
The drums themselves are typically made from steel with chrome plating, but the industry also produces stainless steel drums which are more resilient under high demands of use and longevity of investment. A typical coffee drum will have an infrared burner underneath it with forks hanging down to roast the beans.
The forks are actually adjustable to roast different amounts of coffee and can be raised or lowered as needed throughout a roast session.
Different types of drums are available depending on what type of roast profile you prefer as well as how much coffee will be roasted at once.
For roast profiles, drums come in a wide variety of sizes and configurations. You can roast anywhere from one pound up to fifty pounds at once so it's best to buy a roast drum that suits your needs.
The size of the roast chamber will also affect how much ground coffee can roast at once. A roast chamber of five feet by three feet is around the average size that you'll need for batch roasting, though some roast smaller amounts at once.
FAQs
What is the difference between industrial & small batch coffee roasters?
Industrial coffee roasters roast larger quantities of beans at a time. They are built for commercial use and can roast up to 75 pounds per hour. You will need an industrial-sized machine if you plan on opening your own shop, but they also work well in large offices or restaurants that roast their own coffee daily.
Small batch home roasters typically roast around one pound of green beans per roast which makes them perfect for people who roast less than once a week. Some models come with digital controls while others have more simple manual settings, so there may be some trial and error involved when trying out different batches before finding what works best for you.
How long will it take me to roast one pound of coffee beans?
To roast a pound of coffee beans, you will need approximately 40 minutes.
In ten minutes, it would take an experienced roaster about 60 seconds to roast one ounce of coffee beans.
If you are new to the process and do not have any experience in roasting your own product yet, then I would recommend that you roast less than half a pound at first because this is more manageable for beginners. The whole process could still last up to 20 or even 30 minutes depending on how long it takes you roast each batch of green coffee beans before they turn brown.
What type of roast is ideal for espresso?
Espresso roast is a light roast that takes less time to roast.
The roast process should take between 14-18 minutes depending on the roast degree.
Many people prefer a light roast for espresso because this is more straightforward and easier to work with compared to other roast degrees that have different taste profiles. A medium roast would be ideal as well if you are looking for something more complex, but still easy enough to control while roasting your coffee beans in an air popper or stovetop machine.
In some cases, it could even take up until 25 minutes before I can determine whether my batch of green coffee beans is perfectly roasted yet - especially when dealing with high quality Arabica varietals since these often require a little bit longer time during first crack.
How much will a roast drum cost?
A roast drum will typically cost between $800 and $5000.
Keep in mind, the roast drum is one of the most expensive parts when it comes to roasting your own coffee beans.
This device needs to be heated up in order for you roast your green coffee beans, so make sure that you choose wisely and look at multiple options before deciding on a certain roast drum because this will determine how long (and even if) you can roast each batch properly until they start turning brown. Since many people find themselves investing thousands into their air poppers or stovetop machines; which are already quite pricey by itself - I would highly recommend that you purchase an amazing quality roast drum instead since it is more worth it than buying an entire second machine just for roasting purposes alone.
Should I roast dark or light roast beans?
Dark roast beans are more popular but light roast coffee is easier to roast.
Many people roast their beans darker in order to mask the sour taste from under-developed roast defects, but this is not necessary when it comes to roasting light roast coffee.
In addition, light roast has a more straightforward taste that can actually be quite pleasant if you are looking for something easy and simple - especially since there is less of chance for your batch being ruined by burning or breaking due to an accident during the roast process because everything happens so fast at the end.
What roast level should I roast?
A roast level of dark roast will produce a bitter coffee.
In order to get the best flavor from your roast, you should roast at medium levels.
When it comes to roasting coffee beans, there are basically two types: light and dark roast which can be achieved within 20 minutes or less. However, most people prefer the taste of darker roasted coffee because this is what they grew up drinking so their palates have become accustomed to that specific type of flavor profile over time - regardless whether it produces an unpleasant aftertaste in some cases when compared to lighter roast coffees which often tend to be more straightforward with better tasting notes overall (depending on how well they were sourced).
While many baristas actually prefer light roast coffee due to the fact that it is easier and safer to roast (especially when using a home roaster like an air popper or stovetop machine), this doesn't mean that dark roast coffee isn't worth drinking as well.
Roasting coffee beans is a time-consuming process that can take up to 40 minutes or more depending on the roast degree.
Some people roast their own green coffee beans, while others purchase them from a roaster and roast at home. In order to get the best flavor from your roast, you should roast at medium levels of dark roast which produce an interesting bitter taste with hints of chocolate and caramelized sugar flavors.
The equipment necessary for this type of roasting includes: thermometers, cooling trays, and roast drums which are all expensive pieces of equipment so it is important not to buy something too soon without doing some research first in order to determine what's right for your needs before committing any money.
