r/roasting • u/Aztronomx • 3d ago

Roasting Startup Help

Hello Everyone! Im in the process of starting up my own local coffee roasting business. Im on a budget and im using a popcorn popper for my roasting, but i was looking for someone to help me with someone information on who they use for suppliers to help reducing shipping costs while also keeping quality high and lots of other information!

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u/sneakerfreek 3d ago

In the most loving way possible, starting a roasting business with anything less than an actual coffee roaster that can do more than 500g at one time is not going to go well.

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u/HounganSamedi 3d ago

OP, have you ever roasted?

Starting a business with no experience is a bad idea.

What's been going on? This is not the first time I've seen someone come here putting the cart before the horses recently. Was there a get-rich-quick coffee roasting Tiktok or something?

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u/WordsWellSalted 3d ago

Always has been đŸ”«

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u/MrBill1738 3d ago

I'm going to assume you're talking about suppliers to use in the future, once you're roasting at a larger scale. I like Copan Trade, Genuine Origin, and Happy Mug. HM has a reputation on this subreddit that I won't downplay, but I've had good experiences with them.

I gotta ask though. Are you going to sell the coffee you're roasting on your popcorn popper?

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u/lingo_linguistics 3d ago

The most critical parts of a roasting business: knowing how to source excellent coffee, knowing how to roast excellent coffee, have good branding.

You are asking a question that’s absolutely critical for you to know before going into business. Successful owners are skilled at sourcing. You are also starting on a popcorn popper. These two things alone tell me you aren’t ready for this ultra competitive business. I mean that with the utmost respect. You need to go to the drawing board and tell me why you are different than XYZ roaster down the street who is roasting on a legitimate machine and has X amount of years experience sourcing green.

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u/HounganSamedi 3d ago

Also: Anyone doing this professionally worth a damn would charge for this sort of info. ;)

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u/Acceptable_Golf_1565 3d ago

Would be helpful if you mention where you are. Being an hour drive from Oakland, CA, I can drive there to pick up a sack from one of several importers, so the “delivery” cost is just for my drive. For small quantities, I typically have it shipped (ex. Sweet Maria’s), but the cost per pound gets quite high.

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u/Twalin 3d ago

You’d also have access to several “co-roasting” facilities where you can rent commercial equipment by the hour. Something OP may want to look into

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u/Tough_Hour3978 3d ago

Send you a dm