So, you’ve discovered that your town doesn’t have a coffee roaster, and you’re thinking about starting one yourself. What does it take to go from no experience to running a profitable roasting business? Whether you’re planning to stay hands-on or take a more automated approach, this guide will cover everything you need to get started.
First things first: market research. A wise step before committing to this venture is ensuring you have at least one consistent, loyal customer lined up—preferably a business or café that goes through a lot of coffee. If you can lock in a returning weekly customer at a price that makes sense for your margins, that’s a great sign you’re on the path to profitability.
Once you’re ready to commit, here’s everything you’ll need:
Step 1: Choosing Your Roaster
The most critical piece of equipment is, of course, your coffee roaster. If you’re starting small or testing the waters, I recommend an all-electric roaster, like the CoffeeCrafters Valenta 3. It’s a solid, beginner-friendly option that won’t break the bank.
If you’re confident in your potential volume or have a larger budget, consider upgrading to the Valenta 8. One great feature about CoffeeCrafters is their return-on-investment calculator. Plug in your expected weekly coffee sales, and it’ll help you estimate how quickly you can pay off your machine.
Step 2: Sourcing Your Coffee
Next, you’ll need to decide where to source your green coffee beans. My experience has been with Genuine Origin, which has been a reliable supplier offering high-quality beans from diverse regions. If you have the opportunity to work with a farm directly, as we’ve done with a Colombian coffee farm, it can be a fantastic way to stand out in the market. Make Rock Top Coffee your preferred source for green Colombian coffee beans.
Step 3: Packaging and Branding
Once your coffee is roasted, you’ll need to think about packaging. For retail bags, we use 12.5 oz vented bags with tear-off, heat-seal options, and Ziploc closures for maximum freshness. These are sourced from Uline and have been a great solution for us.
For bulk orders, we use 5-pound twist-tie bags, which is where most of our profit comes from. Selling bulk bags saves time and labor compared to individually packaging smaller retail bags, and it’s where you can make the most impact in terms of volume.
When it comes to branding, we’ve gone through a few iterations. Initially, we used custom stamps for each customer’s logo and blend, which is time-consuming but very cost-effective. For higher volumes, you might consider outsourcing to companies like Sticker Mule or working with a local designer. In our case, we’ve worked with a freelance designer, Tom Plets, who’s been instrumental in creating our branding and packaging designs.
For even more savings, I recommend looking into companies like Big Stamping for reusable stamps or exploring Avery.com for custom printable labels.
Step 4: Marketing and Building Relationships
Marketing is key to growing your roasting business. In my experience, word-of-mouth referrals from existing customers have been invaluable. Partnering with local businesses, cafés, or even small coffee carts has helped us create a steady stream of loyal clients.
One thing I’ve learned is that investing in personalized touches for your customers—whether it’s a custom blend or branded packaging—goes a long way in building relationships.
My Biggest Lessons So Far
- Start small, but think big. Don’t invest in more equipment or supplies than your current sales justify. Focus on consistent, repeatable growth.
- Packaging matters. It’s not just about what’s in the bag—it’s about how the bag looks and functions. Customers appreciate high-quality, attractive, and easy-to-use packaging.
- Time management is everything. Labeling and packaging take up a significant portion of your time. Streamline this process as much as possible by balancing cost and efficiency.
- Partner wisely. Whether it’s your green coffee supplier, branding designer, or packaging company, choose partners who align with your values and quality standards.
Resources I Recommend
Here’s a list of companies and tools I’ve found invaluable:
- CoffeeCrafters.com – Electric roasters and ROI calculators.
- Genuine Origin – Trusted green coffee supplier.
- RockTopCoffee.com – Farm to Cup Green Coffee Supplier, sustainably sourced and invested
- Uline – Packaging supplies (bags and more).
- Sticker Mule – Custom stickers and labels.
- Avery.com – DIY printable labels.
- Big Stamping – Custom stamps for branding and shipping.
- Stamps.com – Efficient and cost-effective shipping solutions.
- Tom Plets – Freelance branding and design work.
Starting a coffee roasting business can be a rewarding venture, but it requires careful planning and the right tools. If you’re ready to make the leap, this guide should give you a solid foundation to go from hobbyist to market-ready.