How Much Is a Coffee Roasting Machine? Prices for New, Used & Commercial Roasters
So, how much is a coffee roasting machine? A basic home roaster starts around $45. A fully automated industrial line can run past $200,000. Most small businesses and micro-roasteries land between $1,000 and $20,000.
Where you fall in that range depends on batch size, automation, heating method, and whether you buy new or used. The listed price is also only part of the bill. Venting, gas or electrical work, and freight can add a real share on top. This guide covers both sides: what roasters cost, and what it costs to get one roasting in your building.
Key Takeaways
- Home coffee roasters range from $45 for basic manual models to $5,850 for programmable units.
- Small and medium commercial roasters usually cost $1,000 to $30,000, depending on batch size and automation.
- A 5 kg roaster sits in the medium commercial tier, which runs $7,500 to $30,000+ new.
- Industrial roasters start around $22,000 and can exceed $200,000 for high-capacity, fully automated lines.
- Used roasters usually sell for 30% to 50% of their original price. Brand and condition set the final number.
- Most install costs come from the building: the gas line, exhaust ducting, make-up air, and an afterburner where local air rules call for one.
- Before you compare two listings, check what each price includes. On CoffeeTec, crating and freight are usually quoted separately.
- Financing, leasing, and selling your current roaster can all lower the upfront cost of a bigger machine.
What Is a Coffee Roasting Machine?
A coffee roasting machine turns raw green coffee into the roasted beans you brew. It controls heat, airflow, and time to develop flavor, aroma, and color. Even, repeatable heat is what separates a balanced batch from one that comes out scorched or underdeveloped.
Types of Coffee Roasters
Roasters fall into three groups by scale:
- Home roasters: small machines for hobbyists who roast a few ounces at a time.
- Commercial roasters: built for cafés and small roasteries that need bigger batches and tighter control over temperature and airflow.
- Industrial roasters: large machines that roast hundreds of pounds per batch for high-volume production.
Manual vs. Automated Roasters
Manual roasters ask you to control heat, time, and airflow by hand. They cost less but demand skill. Automated roasters run saved profiles through roasting software. They cost more upfront, but they cut human error and keep every batch consistent. That consistency is why growing roasteries lean automated.
Batch vs. Continuous Roasters
Batch roasters roast a fixed load at a time and give you full control over each profile. They are the standard for small and medium operations. Continuous roasters move beans through the roasting stages nonstop for large-scale production, and their automation puts them at the top of the price range.
Price Ranges of New Coffee Roasting Machines
A new coffee roasting machine costs anywhere from $45 for a home unit to $60,000+ for an industrial machine, before custom builds. Use the table below as a quick reference. If you want specific model picks rather than price bands, our guide to the best commercial coffee roasting machines compares roasters side by side.
| Roaster Type | Typical Capacity | New Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Home Roasters | 100 g to 1 kg | $45 to $5,850 |
| Small Commercial | 1 kg to 3 kg | $1,000 to $7,500 |
| Medium Commercial | 3 kg to 15 kg | $7,500 to $30,000+ |
| Industrial | 30 kg to 200 kg+ | $22,000 to $60,000+ |
| Custom & Specialty | Varies | $5,000 to $50,000+ |
Home Coffee Roasters
Home roasters are compact and built for personal use. They suit small batches and let you experiment with your own profiles.
Basic Models ($45 - $225): Entry-level, mostly manual, and best for beginners roasting a few ounces at a time. Profile control is limited.
Mid-Range Models ($500 - $1,000): Better temperature control, some automation, and capacity up to half a kilogram.
High-End Models ($1,750 - $5,850): Programmable profiles, better airflow management, and precise temperature control for enthusiasts who want professional results at home.
Small Commercial Roasters
These machines suit cafés and small businesses that roast fresh beans on a regular schedule.
Entry-Level ($1,000 - $2,000): Around 1 kg per batch with basic automation. A common starting point for a new coffee business.
Standard Models ($2,000 - $7,500): Up to 3 kg per batch with better heat control and airflow, sized for a café with steady roasting needs.
Medium Commercial Roasters
Medium commercial roasters serve businesses with higher demand. You get more control, consistency, and automation as your brand grows.
Mid-Scale Models ($7,500 - $20,000): 3 kg to 15 kg per batch, with gas or electric heating depending on your site and efficiency goals.
Advanced Models ($20,000 - $30,000+): Larger batches, better heat distribution, and smart controls that save profiles and log every roast.
What Does a 5 kg Coffee Roaster Cost?
A 5 kg roaster falls in the medium commercial tier, so a new one lands somewhere in the $7,500 to $30,000+ band. Brand, automation, and fuel type decide where. Used, the same machine usually sells for 30% to 50% of its original price.
Five kilos is a common step up for roasteries that have outgrown a 1 kg to 3 kg machine. You can compare current units in our medium batch roasters collection.
Industrial Roasters
Large producers and roasting plants rely on industrial roasters for capacity, automation, and efficiency.
Large-Scale Models ($22,000 - $45,000): 30 kg to 60 kg per batch, built for bulk production with precise heat and airflow control.
High-Capacity Models ($60,000+): Fully automated machines that roast up to 200 kg per batch, with real-time monitoring and custom profiles.
Custom-Built & Specialty Roasters
Custom Models ($10,000+): Built to your requirements, including drum design, airflow systems, and heating method.
Specialty Models ($5,000 - $50,000+): Energy-efficient heating, touchscreen controls, or specialized drum materials for niche roasting styles. Brand, location, and feature set still set the final number, so weigh production needs against your budget before you commit.
How Much Is a Used Coffee Roasting Machine?
A used coffee roasting machine usually sells for 30% to 50% of its original price. That gap lets you step up to a better brand or a bigger drum for the same money. Many used coffee roasters are well maintained and roast just as well as a new unit. Price still depends on type, brand, condition, age, and what ships with the machine.
Used Roasters by Type
Sample Roasters ($3,000 - $20,000): Small machines for testing green coffee before a full production roast. A used Ikawa Pro 50 sample roaster is a good example, with app-based profile control in a compact, all-electric body.
All-Electric Roasters ($2,500 - $10,000): Clean operation and simple installation make these popular with cafés and small businesses that can't run a gas line.
Air Roasters ($1,000 - $15,000): These use hot air instead of a drum and tend to produce bright, clean cups. Price swings widely with capacity, automation, and condition.
Antique Roasters ($10,000 - $50,000): Rare, heavy-built machines with classic craftsmanship. A refurbished 25 kg Vintage Royal #6 Roaster from 1925 shows the kind of cast-iron build collectors and specialty roasters look for.
Used Roasters by Brand
Each brand brings different strengths, so used pricing varies with it.
Diedrich ($8,000 - $50,000): Known for infrared burners and efficient heat control, and a top pick for specialty roasters. A 1 kg Diedrich IR-1 currently lists at $10,500 and runs all-electric, so it needs no gas hookup.
Probat ($25,000 - $100,000+): One of the most respected names in roasting, built for precision and decades of service. Browse the current Probat inventory for available models.
San Franciscan ($8,000 - $30,000): Handcrafted in the U.S. with a classic look and modern control, well suited to small-batch specialty roasting. See the San Franciscan collection.
Mill City Roasters ($5,000 - $20,000): Accessible, hard-working machines for small and mid-sized coffee businesses. Check the Mill City collection for what is listed now.
Giesen ($15,000 - $80,000): Dutch engineering with strong heat retention and precise control. Browse current units in the Giesen collection.
Coffee Crafters ($2,000 - $6,000): Simple, fast, energy-efficient fluid-bed roasters. Browse the Coffee Crafters collection.
Coffee-Tech ($15,000 - $50,000): Drum and fluid-bed roasters with precise control for professional use. See the Coffee-Tech collection.
US Roaster Corp: Durable, no-frills drum roasters with a reputation for holding their value. They come up often on the used market. See the US Roaster Corp collection.
Loring: Convection roasters known for fuel efficiency and built-in smoke control, which can change what your site needs for emissions. See current units in the Loring collection.
What a Listed Price Includes on CoffeeTec
Two used roasters with similar prices can be very different deals. The difference is usually what ships with the machine and what gets quoted separately.
The Diedrich IR-12 shows how wide that gap gets. Across the 45 IR-12 listings in CoffeeTec's October 2026 catalog, the Included Equipment line varies a lot. Some list the roaster alone. Others add a chaff collector and factory venting, and at least one ships with its own afterburner.
Every CoffeeTec roaster listing carries a Sales, Inspection and Relocation block. It shows condition, year built, and when the roaster was last used and serviced. It also lists batch capacity, included equipment, fuel, power, BTU rating, and whether the original manuals come with it. Read that block before you compare prices.
A few patterns stand out across the 667 roaster listings in CoffeeTec's October 2026 catalog:
- About three in four note that crating and freight are quoted separately from the listed price. Plan for both, especially on larger drums.
- Close to half state the electrical phase. Single phase versus three phase matters, because adding three-phase service to a building is its own project.
- About one in five mention an afterburner. If your air district requires one, a listing that includes it saves you a separate purchase.
- 42 are never used or still in the crate. They sit between new and used on condition, and you can find them in the Used, But Never Used collection.
Used equipment is sold as-is, so CoffeeTec offers inspection appointments before you buy. On any machine you are serious about, book one. The used equipment condition guidelines explain how each condition grade is defined.
Have two listings in mind? Tick what each one includes below to see which is the more complete package, and what you'd still need to arrange.
Free tool
Compare Two Roaster Listings
Tick what each listing includes or confirms. You'll see which is the more complete package, and what each one still needs.
| What to check | Listing A | Listing B |
|---|---|---|
| Comes with the roaster | ||
| Chaff collector or cyclone | ||
| Cooling tray | ||
| Afterburner, or your site doesn't need one | ||
| Original manuals | ||
| Quoted | ||
| Crating and freight quoted | ||
| Confirmed for your site | ||
| Fuel matches your site (gas or electric) | ||
| Voltage and phase match your building | ||
| Last service date listed | ||
| Inspection booked or done | ||
Tick the boxes above to compare.
Listing A still needs
- Every check is open
Listing B still needs
- Every check is open
Once each listing's open items are quoted, compare the full picture, not just the listed price.
Browse used roastersSelling a roaster? Listing it as a complete package, with service records and the electrical specs, answers these checks up front. List your equipment with CoffeeTec.
How it works: each check counts once, out of nine. The tool doesn't weigh prices or brands.
Cost of a Coffee Roasting Machine for a Small Business
If you are opening a café or micro-roastery, you are most likely shopping in the $1,000 to $20,000 range. A business roasting 5 kg to 20 kg of coffee per week usually fits a 1 kg to 6 kg drum roaster. That puts you in the entry-level and standard commercial tiers above. Automation matters more here than at home, because consistency is what keeps wholesale and retail customers coming back.
For a model-by-model breakdown built for this budget, read our guide to the best coffee roaster machines for small business. It compares budget, mid-range, and premium small-batch options side by side.
Buying New vs. Used Coffee Roasting Machines
New buys you a warranty and the latest controls. Used buys you a better machine for the money and a shorter wait. Your budget, timing, and plans for growth decide which matters more.
Pros & Cons of Buying New Roasters
Pros: The latest technology and automation, manufacturer warranties and support, and no wear and tear.
Cons: A higher price, normal depreciation, and long manufacturer lead times on some models.
Pros & Cons of Buying Used Roasters
Pros: A lower price that lets you buy a higher-end model, machines ready to ship, and a proven track record on a well-kept unit.
Cons: Most used machines come without a warranty, older models may need repairs, and you may give up the newest features.
One-Time vs. Recurring Costs
The purchase price is the first expense, not the last. Plan for these costs too.
Upfront Purchase Cost: The largest one-time expense, scaling with size, brand, and features. Home roasters run $200 to $5,000, commercial roasters $5,000 to $50,000+, and industrial units can exceed $100,000.
Installation & Setup Costs: Larger roasters need proper ventilation and safety checks. Professional installation runs $500 to $5,000 depending on complexity, and gas or electrical work can add more.
Maintenance & Repair Costs: Routine upkeep (cleaning chaff collectors, replacing filters, lubricating parts) runs $200 to $1,000 per year. Major repairs like a burner or control panel replacement can run $1,500 to $5,000.
Energy Consumption & Operational Costs: Electric roasters run on power billed at about $0.10 to $0.20 per kWh. Gas roasters can cost $200 to $600 per month, depending on size and use.
Training & Labor Costs: A professional roaster usually earns $15 to $30 per hour. Staff training courses can run $500 to $2,000.
The Building Work Behind Your Install Cost
When an install budget slips, the machine is rarely the reason. The building is. Here is what drives that number, and what to check before you sign a lease or a purchase order.
| Infrastructure Item | What It Involves | What to Check First |
|---|---|---|
| Gas line | A line and meter sized to the roaster's burner | The BTU rating on the roaster's data plate against your building's gas supply |
| Exhaust ducting | Ducting from the drum, cyclone, and cooling tray out through a wall or roof | Duct run length, roof access, and landlord approval |
| Make-up air | Fresh air to replace what the exhaust pulls out | Whether your HVAC can handle it or needs an upgrade |
| Afterburner or catalytic oxidizer | Burns off smoke and odor before exhaust leaves the building | Your local air district's rules for your batch size |
| Electrical service | Power for motors, controls, and any electric heating elements | Single phase or three phase, and the amperage available |
| Floor and clearances | A level pad that carries the roaster's weight, plus fire code spacing | Machine weight from the listing and your local fire code |
| Air permit | Filing and engineering review, where your district requires it | Lead time with the air district before you commit to a space |
Electric roasters skip the gas line, but most commercial electric units still need exhaust venting. Our commercial electric coffee roaster guide covers what changes when you go all-electric. If your district requires emissions control, compare afterburner options sized to your roaster.
One tip from the listings side: check whether a used roaster ships with its chaff collector, cyclone, and afterburner. Sourcing a matching afterburner later is a separate project, so a complete package is often the better buy even at a higher listed price.
Factors That Affect the Cost of a Coffee Roaster
Batch size, heating method, build quality, automation, brand, and included equipment set a roaster's price. Here is how each one moves the number.
Size & Capacity: Bigger roasters cost more. A home roaster (100 g to 500 g) runs $200 to $5,000. A commercial roaster (1 kg to 15 kg) runs $5,000 to $50,000. Industrial models handling 30 kg or more can top $100,000.
Heating Method (Gas vs. Electric): Gas gives strong heat control and is common in production roasteries, but it needs a gas line and venting. Electric is easier to install, though running costs can be higher over time.
Material & Build Quality: Stainless steel and cast iron hold heat evenly and last longer. Thinner metals cost less but can lead to uneven roasts and a shorter machine life.
Automation & Smart Features: Digital controls, programmable profiles, and real-time logging cut manual effort and raise the price. Manual roasters cost less but need more hands-on skill.
Brand Reputation: Probat, Diedrich, and Giesen command more for reliability, parts availability, and after-sales support. Lesser-known brands may cost less, so confirm parts and service access before you buy.
Energy Efficiency & Emissions Features: Efficient burners lower gas or electric bills. Smoke reduction and built-in emissions control add to the price but can shrink what you spend on building work.
Included Equipment: Cooling trays, cyclones, chaff collectors, destoners, and afterburners all raise the total. They also save you from buying them separately later.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Budgeting for a Roaster
- Picking a roaster on price alone without matching it to your weekly roasting volume.
- Comparing two listed prices without checking what each includes, such as the afterburner, chaff collector, crating, and freight.
- Signing a lease before confirming gas capacity, the venting route, and your air district's permit rules.
- Skipping the service records or an inspection on a used machine before you buy.
- Forgetting to budget for installation, ventilation, and ongoing energy costs.
- Underestimating how much training your staff will need to run the machine well.
- Not checking whether parts and service support are still available for an older brand or model.
Financing & Leasing Options for Coffee Roasters
You do not have to pay the full price upfront. A few options spread the cost.
Buying Outright vs. Financing: Buying outright gives you full ownership from day one but needs a large payment. Financing spreads the cost over months or years, which puts higher-end machines within reach. CoffeeTec's own financing program is built for roasting equipment.
Leasing vs. Renting: Leasing suits businesses that want a newer model without a long commitment, often with a buyout option at the end. Renting works for short-term needs, though the cost adds up.
Grants & Business Loans: Some regions offer small business grants or low-interest loans that cover equipment. Ask your local business support office or your bank what is available.
Selling Your Own Roaster?
CoffeeTec is a two-sided marketplace. If you are upgrading, downsizing, or closing, your current roaster can help fund what comes next instead of sitting idle. Our Sell Your Equipment program handles the marketing and negotiation for you, with no commission taken from your asking price.
Not sure what your machine is worth? Our guide on how much your used coffee roaster is worth walks through the factors that set resale value. Buyers read the same listing details covered above, so a complete package and current service records help your roaster stand out.
Where to Buy a Coffee Roasting Machine
Where you buy matters almost as much as what you buy. A trusted source gives you accurate condition details and real support after the sale.
CoffeeTec: A dedicated marketplace for new and used roasting equipment, serving the coffee industry since 1972. Every listing shows real specs and condition details, with financing, inspections, and expert support. Browse the used coffee equipment collection to compare what is available now.
eBay: A wide range of used roasters, often at lower prices. Selection varies, and you verify seller reputation and machine condition yourself, since expert support and warranties are limited.
Exapro: A general industrial equipment marketplace that lists used roasters alongside other machinery. CoffeeTec's focus on coffee roasting equipment gives you a more specialized buying experience.
The Bottom Line
A coffee roasting machine can cost under $100 or well over $200,000. For most small roasteries, the real number is the machine plus the building work to run it. Match the roaster to your weekly volume, check exactly what each listing includes, and confirm your gas, venting, and permit path before you buy.
FAQs
How much does a coffee roasting machine cost?
+Prices run from about $45 for a basic home roaster to over $200,000 for a fully automated industrial machine. Most small businesses spend between $1,000 and $20,000.
How much does a commercial coffee roaster cost?
+A commercial coffee roaster usually costs $1,000 to $30,000, depending on batch size, automation, and heating method. Larger commercial and industrial units run well past that.
How much does a 5 kg coffee roaster cost?
+A new 5 kg roaster falls in the medium commercial tier of $7,500 to $30,000+. A used one usually sells for 30% to 50% of its original price, depending on brand and condition.
How much is a used coffee roaster worth?
+Used roasters usually sell for 30% to 50% of their original price. Brand, condition, capacity, service history, and included equipment all affect the final number.
Is it cheaper to buy a new or used coffee roaster?
+Used is almost always cheaper upfront, often 30% to 50% less than a comparable new machine. New roasters cost more but come with a warranty and the latest features.
What costs come on top of the roaster's price?
+Plan for crating and freight, installation, and the building work a roaster needs: a gas line, exhaust ducting, make-up air, and an afterburner where local rules require one. Add ongoing energy, maintenance, and training.
Is a roaster worth it compared with buying roasted coffee?
+It depends on how much coffee you roast each week. Roasting in-house replaces the markup you pay a wholesale roaster, but it adds the machine, the building work, and someone to run it. Our guide on how to calculate the ROI of a used coffee roaster walks through the math.
What size roaster does a small business need?
+Most cafés and micro-roasteries do well with a 1 kg to 6 kg drum roaster, which covers roughly 5 kg to 20 kg of green coffee per week.
Where can you buy a coffee roasting machine?
+CoffeeTec is a dedicated marketplace for new and used roasters with detailed listings, inspections, and expert support. General marketplaces like eBay and Exapro also carry used units, with less specialized support.
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