CO-ROASTING: Your Affordable Entry to Coffee Roasting + Community

Coffee has always been about community and making good coffee accessible to everyone. Now, co-roasting brings that same spirit to coffee roasting. These shared roasting spaces give roasters the chance to start roasting without huge costs or complicated management.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• How co-roasting works
• The benefits for roasters and the coffee industry
• Things to consider before joining
• CoffeeTec’s co-roasting directory
• How CoffeeTec supports co-roasters

What Is Co-Roasting?

If there were a “Coffee Claus” who could grant new roasters everything they wished for. Like modern roasting equipment, sample coffee roaster rental, a cupping lab, storage for beans, extra tools like commercial grinders and constant heat sealers, and even a big warehouse to share with other roasters. And all this without the stress of owning or managing it.

That’s exactly what co-roasting is. These are shared roasting spaces (also called coffee collectives) where you can use professional equipment and resources without the high upfront cost. It is inspired by co-working spaces (like WeWork) and sharing platforms (like Airbnb). Now, co-roasting has quickly become the smart way to start roasting.

Co-roasting spaces are perfect for:

• Professional roasters who want to test bigger machines
• New brands starting their roasting journey
• Home roasters are ready to move to the next step

Instead of investing big money right away, you can “try before you buy.” These facilities give you a safe, affordable way to learn, experiment, and grow your business. You can think of them as training wheels for your coffee roasting career.

More Than Just a Place to Roast

Co-roasting is not only about access to machines. Most facilities also take care of maintenance, management, and storage. Even better, they often provide training, education, and advice to help you improve.

As Jeff Wong, co-founder of Shared Roasting in Brooklyn, NY, explains:

“We work with all types of coffee businesses, from startups and cafes to e-commerce and wholesalers. It’s a great option for anyone who doesn’t want to spend money on warehouses or expensive machines. The real value comes from the training, education, and advisory support we provide.”

How Exactly Does The Co-Roasting Model Work?

Co-roasting is simple. You become a member, book roasting time, and get access to professional equipment. Along with roasting, many facilities also offer extra services that make the experience even more valuable.

Scheduled Roasting Time

Members get a set time to use the roasting machines. This setup is flexible and cost-effective compared to owning your own roaster. So, it can give you the chance to focus on roasting without heavy financial pressure.

Learning Opportunities

Many facilities host training sessions, classes, and workshops. Roasters can learn from experts or share knowledge with others. Some even exchange roasting notes, helping beginners and professionals grow together in a supportive environment.

Quality Control and Labs

Access to cupping labs and quality testing tools is often included. These resources help roasters evaluate their beans, refine roasting profiles, and ensure their coffee reaches the highest quality standards.

Community and Co-Working

Most co-roasting spaces also provide shared work areas. Roasters can use these spaces for admin tasks, meetings, or collaborations, making the facility not just a roasting site but a community hub.

Green Bean Savings

Some co-roasting groups offer co-op pricing for green beans. It means members can buy beans at lower costs, connect with importers, and access a wider variety of coffees from around the world.

Toll and Ghost Roasting

Some co-roasting spaces offer toll roasting or ghost roasting services. In these setups, trained staff roast coffee on your behalf or roast under your brand. So, it can offer you flexibility to scale production without being on-site.

Membership Costs

Membership pricing varies. A regular six-hour roasting shift per week can cost $1,000 to $3,500 per month, depending on equipment and location. Hourly rates are usually between $60 - $400. So, it is cheaper than starting your own shop.

Coffee Roasting Facility Requirements

If you’re planning to start a coffee roasting facility or join a co-roasting space, it’s important to know what a good facility should offer. A co roasting space near me needs to provide professional equipment, safety, and support for all roasters.

Essential Equipment and Tools

A co-roasting space should have high-quality coffee roasting tools like commercial roasters, grinders, sample roasters, cupping tools, and storage for green beans. These tools let coffee roasters experiment, learn, and maintain consistent quality.

Space and Layout

The facility should have enough room for multiple coffee roasters to work safely. It includes proper ventilation, fire safety measures, and clean areas for cupping, packaging, and storage. A good layout helps smooth operations for shared roasting schedules.

Additional Amenities

Many co-roasting spaces include extra features to support roasters, like the following ones:

• Training and educational workshops.
• Shared workspaces for planning and admin tasks.
• Retail areas to sample or sell roasted coffee.
• Connections to coffee importers and co-op pricing for beans.

A well-equipped co-roasting space provides the right coffee roasting tools. Also, it offers a supportive environment for learning and growing your coffee business.

Co-Roasting Benefits The Coffee Industry Too

Co-roasting doesn’t just help individual roasters; it also brings big benefits to the coffee industry as a whole. From supporting small producers to helping businesses adapt during COVID, co-roasting has made a real impact.

More Opportunities for Coffee Producers

Traditionally, small cafés that couldn’t roast in-house had to buy coffee from big national brands. Co-roasting changes that by giving them access to roasting equipment. It lets them buy beans directly from small farmers worldwide. Also, it supports fairer trade and recognition.

Safe and Flexible Roasting Spaces

Co-roasting facilities are usually large warehouses, which helped during the pandemic. They could easily implement social distancing with staggered schedules, spaced-out machines, and existing sanitation systems. So, it could keep the roasters safe while continuing operations.

Co-Roasting Compatibility: 3 Things To Consider

Co-roasting brings many benefits, but it’s still a new model and may not be the perfect fit for everyone. Before joining, it’s important to look at a few major factors to see if it works for your needs.

Roasting Flexibility: Size and Schedule

Every roaster has different needs. Small-batch roasters may need sample machines, while larger companies may require more time on bigger equipment. Before joining, check if the facility has the right machines and if the roasting schedule matches your production goals.

Financial Commitment

Co-roasting is cheaper than setting up your own facility, but it’s still an investment. Monthly memberships often cost $1,000 to $3,500, while hourly rates can range from $60 to $400. Do the math first to make sure the costs align with your budget and business growth.

Access to Amenities

The value of co-roasting goes beyond roasting machines. Many facilities include extras like training, cupping labs, co-op pricing for green beans, and even retail cafés to showcase your coffee.

Before committing, you should check what amenities are offered so you get the most out of your membership.

CoffeeTec’s Co-Roasting Directory

Finding the right co roasting space can be challenging, especially if you’re searching for a shared roasting facility near you. As of now, we know of about 15 co-roasting operations worldwide, and this number is growing quickly.

For example, we know that the KW Coffee Collective in Ontario, Canada, is set to open soon. These facilities give roasters access to professional equipment, training, and community support without the large costs of setting up their own roastery.

CoffeeTec’s Connection To Co-Roasting

At CoffeeTec, we work closely with co-roasting facilities and independent roasters to help them grow. Some roasters use co-roasting memberships to learn and practice their craft before opening their own roasteries.

For example, we helped Shared Roasting in Brooklyn, NY, sell one of their roasters to make space for a larger machine that could handle more production. We’ve also supported roasters at other facilities who later launched their own operations successfully.

We supply high-quality equipment to co-roasting spaces, including the California Roasting Collective. Also, we understand the unique needs of shared roasting environments.

Whether you’re a facility owner looking for more roasting equipment or an individual roaster ready to start your own shop, we can guide you.

CoffeeTec offers roaster consulting and Coffee Industry education services to help you make smart decisions about equipment, layout, and production design. We also provide financing options through our Roaster’s Choice Lending Program or help you find high-quality used roasting equipment. No matter where you are in your coffee journey, we’re here to support you. Explore our FAQs or contact us directly; we’ll help you build the coffee roastery of your dreams.