Recommendation for Green Bean Supplier & Roasting Machine

[destinicafe]

Hi! Everyone.

I am opening a small cafe in Southern California. I want to try to roast the coffee beans myselfs. I want some recommendations on where to buy green beans and what "not so expensive" roaster to buy. If roasting turns out too hard, I may go back to buying roasted beans. Do you think that I could roast green beans myself? Any help or pointers will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Destini

 

[Coffeeexpert]

Hello Destini, you are going to need some training and practice before you jump into coffee roasting. You could end up spending a lot of money and producing coffee that doesn't taste as good as the coffee you are selling now. You should pick up Kenneth David's book- Home Coffee Roasting and visit the site sweetmarias.com You can purchase a home roaster and green beans at this website.

Some roaster manufactures may have you attend their training course, sell you a roaster and then pat you on the back and send you on your way but you can't learn how to be a good coffee roaster in a weekend.

 

[Alun_evans]

Hello Destini. A decent (small) commercial roaster and all the other equiptment you will need will set you back probably around $20k. It is indeed a big investment for a new project. It is the reason why many cafes stick with buying roasted direct from a roaster...at least initially. I would agree with Coffeeexpert on this one. Better to perhaps play around with home roasting initially. In all a good roaster and packaging equiptment, degassing bins etc should be less that $1k easily. You can also get a wide range of green from Tom and then see what you like. If you go directly to an importer they would be loath to sell you small quantities.

 

[destinicafe]

Thanks everyone for your help.
BTW, who is Tom, the person that you referred in your reply from whom I could buy a small quantity of green beans?
How do I contact this person?
Thank you.
Destini

 

[jlyon10]

I sell green beans for home roasters visit my site.

 

[ElPugDiablo]

Thanks everyone for your help.
BTW, who is Tom, the person that you referred in your reply from whom I could buy a small quantity of green beans?
How do I contact this person?
Thank you.
Destini

He is the proprietor of sweet maria

http://www.sweetmarias.com

 

[Undergrind Roasters]

Thanks everyone for your help.
BTW, who is Tom, the person that you referred in your reply from whom I could buy a small quantity of green beans?
How do I contact this person?
Thank you.
Destini

Also at Sweet Marias, there are a ton of references, articles, and information on roasting. Go there first and learn some basic info, then look into DIY roasting and Professional Roasters.

Roasting is TOUGH and takes experience, knowledge, and skill. Good luck.

 

[FrankSalsille]

Why not try something like this
http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.freshroast.php

That way you can get an idea of how to roast, once you learn a bit about roasting and get the hang of it, then you can decide if its worth it to buy a larger roaster for your cafe. If it doesn't work out at least you are only out a few bucks not a few thousand.

Good Luck