Are you exploring the world of coffee roasting or planning to set up your own roastery? We’ve been down that road ourselves, and after years of experimentation, upgrades, and countless test roasts, we thought it was time to share what we’ve learned. Let’s start with one of the most important choices you’ll make: your roasting equipment.
Where It All Began
We started small, learning the ropes on a modest sample roaster. Over time, we scaled up with our dependable Probat drum roaster, a true workhorse that has helped shape countless beautiful coffees.
But running a roastery means constantly keeping pace with change, as technology never stops evolving. In recent years, we’ve stepped into a new chapter of that journey: air roasting.
We Switched to Air Roasting, Here’s What Happened
We spent months researching, testing, and tasting before finally bringing home our first IMF air roaster. The results were a revelation. This machine unlocked a new dimension of clarity and sweetness in our coffees like Raxidi Lobo Estate, Ratnagiri Estate YC01.
So, what makes it different? Let’s take a closer look.
Roasting Tech 101
Traditional drum roasters rely on conduction, where the beans roast through direct contact with a hot metal drum heated by a flame. It’s a tried-and-tested method that gives depth and character to many classic coffee profiles.
Air roasters, on the other hand, work through convection. Instead of a hot surface, they use a carefully controlled stream of heated air that suspends the beans, roasting them evenly from all sides. The result is smoother heat transfer, reduced risk of scorching, and a cleaner flavour profile that highlights each bean’s natural character.
Under the Hood
In simple terms, the system is ingenious. A single burner heats the air, which is then circulated through a perforated drum. What we particularly like is how the vortex system blends this hot air with cooler ambient air to reach the ideal roasting temperature. The equaliser system ensures consistent airflow across every bean, eliminating hot spots and uneven roasting.
Speed Without the Haste
The air roaster helps us reach target temperatures quickly and hold them with precision. That means shorter warm-up times, faster roast cycles, and greater responsiveness to every small tweak in the roast curve.
In practice, it’s not just about speed; it’s about control. The kind that allows you to tune flavour expression with pinpoint accuracy.
More Flavour, Less Waste
Efficiency is another win. Air roasters don’t just move heat; they use it wisely. By recirculating hot air and managing energy use intelligently, they reduce both fuel consumption and emissions. The process is not only more sustainable but also remarkably consistent, keeping every roast stable from start to finish.
Consistency, Every Single Time
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned over the years is that great coffee isn’t about one perfect roast; it’s about being able to repeat that roast flawlessly.
IMF air roasters make that possible. Intelligent heating and semi-automatic systems keep each batch true to profile, ensuring every coffee you brew tastes just as it should.
So, Are Air Roasters the Future?
The technology you choose should always match your needs. We still trust our Probat drum roaster for bold, full-bodied blends. It’s a classic for a reason.
But when it comes to delicate, high-end lots that demand nuance and precision, the IMF air roaster has taken us to new heights for quality and consistency.
At the end of the day, the best roaster is the one that helps you express your coffee exactly the way it’s meant to be.