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Permalink Reply by Daniel Williamson on January 14, 2011 at 11:37am

I work at a shop very similar to what you are describing.  I'm coming up on 4 years working there, and I am our shop's roaster.  In-house roasting can be done (and perhaps should be done), but I would strongly suggest NOT roasting your own at the beginning unless you have a trained roaster at the start of the operations.  I am all for roasting your own (great marketing, perhaps higher quality control, lower costs per pound, etc. etc.), but it is a serious investment both in time and money right at the beginning.  I would suggest getting to know a good local roaster and working with them for the beginning stages especially if you don't have an experienced employed roaster from the beginning.  As you get more experience under your belt and learn how your shop functions (probably at least a year) without roasting your own, then re-evaluate the situation and see if you can really make it worth your while. 

 

There are plenty of great roasting companies out there and there is much to learn about roasting your own.  I assume that you, without saying it, are telling your customers, "Trust us, we're professionals," hence them coming to you rather than brewing all their coffee at home.  Why would you not have the same philosophy towards yourself?  Trust the professional roasters, and develop a profitable business first before you add roasting to your line up.

 

Bottom line, I would simply suggest not biting off more than you can chew.  If you've got the ability to buy the equipment and pay a trained roaster, then go for it and good luck to you! But if you can't do that right from the beginning, it doesn't make too much sense to me to take on a challenge like that right when you are in the critical stage of just opening the shop.  Make the cafe as profitable as you can make it, then worry about adding to your shop's character by roasting your own in-house. 

Great question, btw, and good luck in your business!

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Permalink Reply by Jackie Mulvihill on January 14, 2011 at 12:04pm

Thank you Daniel - I appreciate your input. Stay tuned (til May) to hear how the opening goes!

 

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Permalink Reply by Jay Caragay on January 14, 2011 at 1:42pm

I think it's best to focus on core competencies before moving into other realms.  However, I have met operators who started off with a roastery cafe and had no experience so it can be done.  You just have to dedicate yourselves to the tasks at hand.

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