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Coffee Roaster Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

coffee roaster business plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their coffee roaster businesses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a coffee roaster business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your coffee roaster business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan

If you’re looking to start a coffee roaster business, or grow your existing coffee roaster business, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your coffee roaster business in order to improve your chances of success. Your coffee roaster business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Coffee Roaster Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a coffee roaster business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings is the other most common form of funding for a coffee roaster business.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

If you want to start a coffee roaster business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. Below are links to each section of your coffee roaster business plan template:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your coffee roasting business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of coffee roaster business you are operating and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a coffee roaster business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a coffee roaster business in multiple markets or regions?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the coffee roaster industry. Discuss the type of coffee roaster business you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of coffee roaster business you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types of coffee roaster businesses:

  • Retail Coffee Roastery : this type of roastery sells roasted coffee to individual consumers, either online or through a brick-and-mortar storefront.
  • Wholesale Coffee Roastery: this type of roastery sells roasted coffee to other businesses, such as grocery stores, restaurants, hotels and resorts.

In addition to explaining the type of coffee roaster business you will operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

  • When and why did you start the business?
  • What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of customers served, number of positive reviews, total number of bags of coffee sold, etc.
  • Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the coffee roaster industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the coffee roaster industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy, particularly if your research identifies market trends.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your coffee roasting business plan:

  • How big is the coffee roaster industry (in dollars)?
  • Is the market declining or increasing?
  • Who are the key competitors in the market?
  • Who are the key suppliers in the market?
  • What trends are affecting the industry?
  • What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
  • What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your coffee roaster business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your coffee roaster business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individual consumers, grocery stores, restaurants, hotels and resorts.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of coffee roaster business you operate. Clearly, individual consumers would respond to different marketing promotions than grocery stores, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most coffee roaster businesses primarily serve customers living in their same city or town, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.  

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other coffee roaster businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes coffee shops and grocery stores. You need to mention such competition as well.

With regards to direct competition, you want to describe the other coffee roaster businesses with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be roasteries located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

  • What types of customers do they serve?
  • What types of coffee do they sell?
  • What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
  • What are they good at?
  • What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

  • Will you provide better roasted coffee?
  • Will you provide features or services that your competitors don’t offer?
  • Will you provide better customer service?
  • Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a coffee roaster business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of coffee roaster company that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, in addition to selling roasted coffee, will you sell brewed coffee, sell teas, provide barista event services, or provide any other products or services?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your coffee roaster company. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your coffee roaster business located in a busy retail district, shopping plaza, mall, etc. Discuss how your location might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your coffee roaster marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

  • Advertising in local papers and magazines
  • Reaching out to local websites
  • Social media marketing
  • Local radio advertising

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your coffee roaster business, including purchasing supplies, performing inventory, marketing, roasting coffee, and selling and/or delivering coffee.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to sell your 1,000th bag of coffee, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your coffee roasting business to a new city.

Management Team

To demonstrate your coffee roaster business’ ability to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing coffee roaster businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing coffee roasteries or successfully running small businesses.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement : an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you gain one new customer per month or per quarter (as a wholesaler), or will you sell 100 bags of coffee per day or per week (as a retailer)? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your coffee roaster business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement : Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a coffee roaster business:

  • Location build-out including design fees, construction, etc.
  • Cost of equipment and supplies
  • Payroll or salaries paid to staff
  • Business insurance
  • Taxes and permits
  • Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your roastery location lease or descriptions of roasts you are working on.

Putting together a business plan for your coffee roaster is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will have an expert coffee roasting business plan; download it to PDF to show banks and investors. You will really understand the coffee roaster industry, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful coffee roaster business.

Coffee Roaster Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my coffee roaster business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Coffee Roaster Business Plan.

What is the Goal of a Business Plan's Executive Summary?

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of coffee roaster business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have a coffee roaster business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of coffee roaster businesses?

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Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to see how Growthink’s business plan writers can create your business plan for you.  

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How to Start a Coffee Roasting Business: 9 Steps to Success

Coffee beans are actually the pit of coffee cherries. They’re green, hard and un-brewable in their raw state. A coffee roasting business roasts green coffee beans to light (city), medium (full city) and dark (full city+) roast levels so that they can be brewed. Roasters may sell their roasted coffee directly to individuals, or through coffee shops, grocers and other retailers. If you want to find out how to start a successful coffee roastery business, this article covers the basics you'll need to know, from crafting a business plan, to startup costs, to common business licenses required in the coffee industry.

Recommended : Read our full, in-depth  How to Start a Coffee Shop Business guides, inspired by coffee professionals, they will help make your coffee dreams real, from sourcing beans to hiring baristas, choosing the best POS system , forming an actual company, and everything in between.

Learn how to start your own Coffee Roasting Business and whether it is the right fit for you.

Ready to form your LLC? Check out the Top LLC Formation Services .

Coffee Roasting Business Image

Start a coffee roasting business by following these 10 steps:

  • Plan your Coffee Roasting Business
  • Form your Coffee Roasting Business into a Legal Entity
  • Register your Coffee Roasting Business for Taxes
  • Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  • Set up Accounting for your Coffee Roasting Business
  • Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Coffee Roasting Business
  • Get Coffee Roasting Business Insurance
  • Define your Coffee Roasting Business Brand
  • Create your Coffee Roasting Business Website
  • Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your coffee roasting business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas .

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

What will you name your business?

  • What are the startup and ongoing costs?
  • Who is your target market?

How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Coffee Roasting Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship , you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name , we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state's business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability .

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Want some help naming your coffee roasting business?

Business name generator, what are the costs involved in opening a coffee roasting business.

The startup costs associated with opening a coffee roasting business are significant. In addition to commercial space, business owners must also purchase:

  • A coffee roaster, which can cost up to $25,000 or more
  • Green coffee, which usually costs ~$3.00 to $4.50 per pound but is bought in large bags (e.g. 50-kilogram (110-pound) sacks)
  • Packaging supplies (a few cents per bag or box)
  • A POS system
  • Labels (a few cents each)
  • A heat sealer, which may cost anywhere from $30 to $300 or more
  • A coffee grinder, which might cost between $500 and $1,000

Businesses will also need a computer and internet access to accept orders, and a vehicle to make deliveries.

There are two ways that business owners who have limited capital can significantly reduce their startup costs.

First, business owners can “contract roast.” In contract roasting, a business pays a rental fee to use a more established roaster’s facilities. The roaster of the established company may also be involved in the roasting process. The roasted coffee is sold under the renting roaster’s brand, regardless of whether another roaster is involved. This solution not only greatly reduces startup expenses, as there’s no need to purchase a roaster, heat sealer or coffee grinder, and it lets inexperienced business owners lean on the expertise of more experienced roasters.

Alternatively, roasters can start with lower-priced equipment. Driftaway Coffee is an established commercial roaster that roasted its first commercial batches with a Behmor 1600 -- a roaster that’s marketed to hobbyists and typically sells for far less than $1,000. Businesses can also purchase less-expensive grinders and heat sealers.

What are the ongoing expenses for a coffee roasting business?

The ongoing expenses for a coffee roasting business include:

  • Purchasing green coffee
  • Purchasing fuel for the roaster (which may use propane, natural gas, electricity or another fuel source)
  • Buying packaging supplies
  • Rent and utility costs
  • POS System monthly/annual fee
  • Employees’ wages
  • Shipping and delivery costs
  • Equipment service calls

Who is the target market?

A coffee roasting business’ ideal customer is a business that sells a lot of specialty coffee. Coffee shops, certain grocery stores and a few boutiques may go through a lot of coffee. While these types of wholesale customers won’t pay as much as individuals who pay retail prices, wholesale customers provide a more stable income stream.

How does a coffee roasting business make money?

A coffee roasting business makes money by selling roasted coffee to individuals (retail) and businesses (wholesale).

Retail prices for roasted coffee are often between $12 and $20 for 12-ounce bags. Wholesale prices are often $6 to $12 per pound. The quality of coffee is one of the main factors that determine where within these ranges a roaster’s prices fall. (A few roasters have prices outside of these ranges.)

Lots of roasters offer retail bags in sizes other than 12 ounces, but most roasters use 12-ounce bags as their main retail package. They do this because about 25 percent of green coffee’s weight is lost in the roasting process, so 1 pound of green coffee becomes approximately 12 ounces of roasted coffee. Prices can be varied based on the reports generated by the POS system . If there is a significant demand for a product, the price may be increased. 

How much profit can a coffee roasting business make?

A coffee roasting business’ profit potential depends on how many outlets into which it can get its coffee. A roaster that has coffee in lots of retail locations may earn hundreds of thousands of dollars, or more, each year. However, many don’t make quite this much, but bring in closer to tens of thousands of dollars annually.

How can you make your business more profitable?

A coffee roasting business can increase its coffee sales and add additional revenue streams by opening up its own coffee shops. 

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship , partnership , limited liability company (LLC) , and corporation .

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your coffee roasting business is sued.

Form Your LLC

Read our Guide to Form Your Own LLC

Have a Professional Service Form your LLC for You

Two such reliable services:

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services . You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website . If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil .

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

  • Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
  • Build your company's credit history , which can be useful to raise money later on.

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Establishments that prepare or work with food are randomly inspected by the local health department on a regular basis. These inspections will check for compliance with local health laws, typically related to prevention of contamination. Here are some tips for faring well on a health inspection .

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses .

Certificate of Occupancy

A coffee roasting business is generally run out of a regulated location (e.g. Any location that passes a local health Inspection). Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location for Coffee Roasting
  • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
  • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a coffee roasting business.
  • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.

Fair Trade Certification

In order to be qualified under an Fair Trade certification , the company must submit to fair trade supply chain audits as well as paying fair trade price premiums for the quality of bean supplied.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance . This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance . If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

FInd out what types of insurance your Coffee Roasting Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Coffee Roasting Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners , we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended : Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker .

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator . Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a coffee roasting business

One of the most effective ways of marketing a coffee roasting business is by offering cuppings. Cuppings are professional coffee tastings, and they provide a great opportunity for potential customers to connect with a roaster and learn more about their coffee.

How to keep customers coming back

A coffee roasting business must be able to differentiate itself from other coffee roasters. A business might do this by:

  • Specializing in a certain roast level or coffee from a specific region
  • Purchasing coffee via direct trade and sharing the stories of farmers who grew the coffee
  • Supporting initiatives by providing exclusively Fair Trade, Organic Certified or Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee

In addition to these strategies, coffee roasting businesses should also emphasize providing freshly roasted coffee. Coffee loses aroma and flavor over time, so freshly roasted coffee tastes better than older, stale coffee. Many roasters state the roast date on their bags to show that the coffee inside has been recently roasted.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business .

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended : Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders .

Other popular website builders are: WordPress , WIX , Weebly , Squarespace , and Shopify .

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

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Welcome to the Startup Savant podcast , where we interview real startup founders at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey, from launch to scale.

Is this Business Right For You?

People who are considering opening a coffee roasting business should be creative, and also passionate about coffee. Creativity helps when coming up with new blends, which requires combining different coffees in unique ways and also inventing blend names.

Additionally, roasters should be comfortable with basic scientific concepts. Roasters don’t need a formal degree in science, but they should be comfortable with biology, physics and chemistry because roasting coffee involves each of these fields:

  • Choosing good coffees requires a knowledge of growing conditions, cultivars and varieties of coffee beans (biology)
  • Selecting and setting up a roaster requires an appreciation for thermodynamics (physics)
  • Deciding which roast profiles are suitable for each coffee requires an understanding of how the heat applied in roasting affects the chemical structure of coffee beans (chemistry)

It’s also helpful if roasters are comfortable multitasking. Roasting a single batch of coffee takes between 10 and 15 minutes. In order to maximize efficiency, roasters often complete other tasks while batches are roasting -- but they must still keep an eye on any coffee that’s roasting to ensure it’s roasted properly.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

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What happens during a typical day at a coffee roasting business?

As a coffee roasting business owner, you’ll spend a lot of time roasting and packaging coffee. In a typical day, you may:

  • Sort and weigh green (unroasted) coffee out into batches (often 5 to 20 pounds)
  • Roast batches of coffee
  • Sort and weigh roasted coffee into retail and wholesale packages (often 12-ounce and 5-pound bags)
  • Accept and fulfill orders using a POS system
  • Clean the roastery

Deliveries to wholesale customers are often made weekly.

At least monthly, and perhaps more often, you’ll receive shipments of green coffee and send invoices to wholesale customers.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful coffee roasting business?

Roasting coffee requires a lot of knowledge about coffee and the roasting process. Roasters should be familiar with everything from the cultivars of coffee and growing regions to how to cup coffee and when to increase heat during roasting.

Both the Roasters Guild and the Specialty Coffee Association of America offer classes on coffee and roasting.

Business owners who want to learn to roast coffee without paying for formal classes can apply to work as a profile roaster at an area coffee roasting company. Profile roasters don’t come up with new roasts, but they roast coffee according to the parameters set forth by a head roaster. This can be a good introduction to the fundamentals of roasting, especially if the head roaster is willing to teach and answer questions.

Sweet Marias , an online retailer of green coffee, also has a lot of free resources. These are targeted toward home roasters, but can also be beneficial to novice roasters who are exploring opening a commercial roastery.

What is the growth potential for a coffee roasting business?

A coffee roasting business can be a small, local business or it can be a large national company. Two large companies that both started as small roasteries include Starbucks, which sells its roasted coffee through its cafes and retailers, and Green Mountain Coffee, which doesn’t have cafes.

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Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor.

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

How and when to build a team

As a coffee roasting business grows, there are four key positions to hire people for:

  • Sales and marketing, which grows a roastery by seeking new customers
  • Packaging, which packages up roasted coffee
  • Delivery and customer service, which delivers packaged coffee and answers customers’ inquiries
  • Profile roasting, which roasts coffee according to set parameters

The first three positions let you focus on finding new coffees, developing new blends and growing the business. Hiring a profile roaster ensures coffee will still be roasted if you become sick and provides you with an opportunity to take a vacation.

Useful Links

Industry opportunities.

  • Solar Roast Coffee Roasting Franchise Opportunity
  • Coffee Roasting franchise
  • Franchise Opportunities

Real World Examples

  • A Pioneer within the Coffee Roasting Industry
  • How 3 Coffee Roasters Got Their Start
  • Successful Small Batch Coffee Roasters

Further Reading

  • To Roast or Not to Roast
  • How to Start a Coffee Shop Business
  • How to Break into the Coffee Roasting Business
  • Making a Career in Coffee Roasting
  • Tips When Starting a Coffee Roasting Business
  • Tips from Professionals on Growing Your Coffee Roasting Business

Entrepreneur Interviews

Greg Stivers, Stivers Coffee

Read Interview

Have a Question? Leave a Comment!

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Coffee Roaster Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Coffee Roaster Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Coffee Roaster business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Coffee Roasting businesses.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Coffee Roaster business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Cosmopolitan Coffee is a premium coffee house that serves the finest organic coffee sourced from sustainable growers around the world. Our name, Cosmopolitan Coffee, represents our global search for coffee beans that not only satisfy every coffee aficionado, but also allow us to serve our world by being mindful in our sourcing of those coffee beans.

From sweet and smooth-bodied Brazilian coffee beans to the fruity, berry notes of African coffee beans, we select and roast only those beans that will offer the highest degree of rich coffee results. Our coffee roasters produce small batches of freshly-roasted coffee beans on a regular basis and we produce holiday coffee flavors during special seasons of the year.

We will primarily sell our coffee blends through our website or wholesale retailers (i.e. grocery stores). However, we will also operate a small café where we will sell several coffee drinks so customers can try out our premium blends before buying our beans in bulk.

Cosmopolitan Coffee is led by José Fernandes who immigrated to America as a teen. Throughout his whole life, he has had a passion to create the perfect coffee, a passion that was started and fueled by family tradition. He moved to America several decades ago, bringing with him the coffee bean roasting methods created by his grandfather in Brazil. Now he is finally starting his own business where he can share his family recipes and his love for premium coffee.

Product Offering

The following freshly-roasted coffees are served at Cosmopolitan Coffee:

  • Light, floral coffee flavors – African or Costa Rican coffee beans
  • Medium, nutty coffee flavors – South American coffee beans
  • Dark, fragrant and rich coffee flavors – Vietnamese coffee beans

Holiday/seasonal coffees include:

  • Light, cinnamon coffee notes – South African coffee beans
  • Medium, chocolate coffee notes – Papua New Guinea coffee beans
  • Dark, spicy coffee notes – Southeast Asian coffee beans

We will sell these blends on our website, in our café, and in local grocery stores. We will also operate a café that sells several coffee drinks that use our blends and recipes including:

  • Iced coffee

Customer Focus

Cosmopolitan Coffee primarily serves the residents living and working in the Chicago, Illinois area. However, we will also serve anyone who comes across our website after hearing about us or coming across our marketing efforts. Our café serves the immediate community within a two mile radius of our location.

Management Team

José began working in a Chicago coffee roasting company ten years ago, where he acquired operations, marketing and management skills during the years of his employment. José also graduated from North Central College, where he majored in culinary services.

Success Factors

Cosmopolitan Coffee will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

  • Ingredients and menu: Our coffee beans are freshly-roasted for optimal flavor, resulting in premium coffees. Traditional coffee flavors are always on the menu, including light, medium and dark coffees. In addition, unique holiday flavors, such as spicy, chocolate, or fruity coffee bean flavors are offered as seasonal specials. No other coffee roaster company offers the wide variety and flavors as does our company.
  • Management: The unique family coffee-roasting heritage of José Fernandes guarantees that each batch of coffee beans are roasted to perfection. José is also highly-experienced in the operations and management of a coffee roasting company and brings a warm and welcoming atmosphere to the neighborhood.
  • Certified organic and sustainable: Only certified organic coffee beans are roasted at Cosmopolitan Coffee. All coffee beans are grown on sustainable farms to avoid damaging the crops or harming the farmland on which the beans are grown. No direct competitor offers organic or sustainable products.
  • Location: Our location is perfectly suited to neighborhood residents who walk or drive to our coffee house. Additionally, professionals and executives who work nearby can easily locate our company. Drivers who commute can also find our location with ease, as we are located directly off the speedway. Each of the customer segments create advantageous opportunities for strong company growth within the next three to five years.
  • Relationships: José welcomes the community by using our location as a gathering place for customers, friends and families to relax, converse and enjoy one another’s company.

Financial Highlights

Cosmopolitan Coffee is currently seeking $500,000 to launch. The funding will be dedicated for overhead, build out and design, working capital, marketing expenses, and inventory. The breakout of the funding is below:

  • Café/Roastery Build Out: $200,000
  • Marketing and Advertising: $50,000
  • Inventory and Supplies: $50,000
  • Three Months Of Overhead Expenses (Rent, Salaries, Utilities): $100,000
  • Working Capital: $100,000

The following graph outlines the pro forma financial projections for Cosmopolitan Coffee.

Cosmopolitan Coffee Financial Projections

Company Overview

Who is cosmopolitan coffee.

  From sweet and smooth-bodied Brazilian coffee beans to the fruity, berry notes of African coffee beans, we select and roast only those beans that will offer the highest degree of rich coffee results. Our coffee roasters produce small batches of freshly-roasted coffee beans on a regular basis and we produce holiday coffee flavors during special seasons of the year.

Cosmopolitan Coffee History

Cosmopolitan Coffee is led by José Fernandes, who immigrated to America as a teen, bringing with him the coffee bean roasting methods created by his grandfather in Brazil. José learned how to roast beans to the perfect point of flavor perfection. After immigrating, he worked in a coffee roasting company, where he learned how to manage, market and successfully operate a coffee roasting business before he started Cosmopolitan Coffee.

José incorporated Cosmopolitan Coffee as an S-Corporation on May 1st, 2023. The company is currently being run out of José’s home office but will move to a commercial location once the lease has been finalized.

Since incorporation, Cosmopolitan Coffee has achieved the following milestones:

  • Found a location for the roastery and signed a letter of intent to lease it.
  • Developed the company’s branding image, social media, and website.
  • Began recruiting key staff.

Cosmopolitan Coffee Services

Industry analysis.

The coffee roaster industry has been rapidly growing due to increasing consumer demand for fresh and fully flavorful coffee. Consumers crave more than packaged coffee beans, packaged ground coffee, or individual coffee pods; they are seeking coffee that is the savory result of freshly-roasted coffee beans. Coffee made from freshly-roasted coffee beans carries a distinctive aroma, smooth and full-bodied flavor, and, surprisingly, offers nutritional value, as well. Antioxidants and nutritional compounds within the beans are carried into coffee, adding healthful benefits that contribute to the increasing consumer demand for coffee made from freshly-roasted coffee beans.

According to Grand View Research, the market trends for coffee roasting companies is predicted to grow at a strong CAGR rate of 6.3% from now until 2030. Freshly roasted coffee beans, when brewed soon after roasting, produce premium coffees that are especially appealing to those consumers who have a discretionary income level. The higher price of premium coffee has led to a new demographic of coffee consumers: those who don’t view price as the primary factor of their purchases, but view flavor as the primary driver for coffee selection. As prices rise in the future, the premium coffee prices will maintain their hold on coffee aficionados who insist on their daily coffee pleasure.

As consumers look for organic foods in the next five years, certified organic coffee will be sought and the purchase of organic coffees is expected to continue to grow. Consumers will also continue to seek coffee beans that have been hand-picked in sustainable coffee farms to ensure the land will be safe from overuse or damage as the coffee beans are harvested.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

The demographics of the area are as follows:

Customer Segmentation

Cosmopolitan Coffee will primarily target the following customer profile:

  • Pedestrians
  • Coffee aficionados

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Cosmopolitan Coffee will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Whole Bean Roasting Company

Whole Bean Roasting Company is a direct competitor, however it is seven miles away from our location. The coffee roasting company has only one coffee bean roaster and serves mild to dark freshly-roasted coffees. The company has no stated emphasis on serving certified organic coffee or using coffee beans from sustainable farm sources. Whole Bean Roasting Company sells breakfast and lunch items in addition to coffee, such as breakfast rolls, donuts, muffins, sandwiches and wraps.

Go Coffee Go

As part of a family-owned, city-wide chain of ten coffee shops, Go Coffee Go is located three miles from Cosmopolitan Coffee. The coffee shop offers no indoor seating, with a focus on serving walk-up customers only. Go Coffee Go sells blended brands of coffee at low prices for light, medium and dark coffees. Coffee is sold in medium, large and extra-large coffee cups with plastic coffee cup lids. Although this coffee outlet is nearby, the competitor sells generic coffee bean blends that do not compare to the coffee flavors of our company. There is no emphasis on organic coffee or sustainable growing methods.

Le Entourage Bistro

This small, French-themed restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and is located four miles from Cosmopolitan Coffee. An extensive menu features French and American foods in a romantic atmosphere. Premium coffees and espresso drinks are offered on the menu; however, no coffee beans are roasted on-site. Prices for coffees and espresso drinks are priced at higher levels and served in china cups or espresso shot glasses. Although this indirect competitor serves primarily as a restaurant, customers are within the demographics of Cosmopolitan Coffee.

Competitive Advantage

Cosmopolitan Coffee offers several advantages over its competition. Those advantages are:

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Cosmopolitan Coffee will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

  • Offering premium coffees made from coffee beans freshly roasted in-house.
  • Located in an optimal community for residents, commuters and workers.
  • Offering certified organic coffee beans harvested on sustainable farms.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Cosmopolitan Coffee are as follows:

Social Media

José Fernandes will create the company’s social media accounts and invest in ads on all social media platforms. The company will use targeted marketing to appeal to our target demographics.

Cosmopolitan Coffee will create a website that includes a splash page, directing customers to interactive pages. One page will demonstrate the process of coffee bean roasting, and one will contain a video from José discussing his background and family history. Seasonal coffee flavors and specials will also be introduced.

Partnerships with Local Businesses

Cosmopolitan Coffee will align with businesses in the area to introduce the coffee experience at our company. This marketing strategy will include free coffee tastings for employees during breaks, “Coffee Talks” by José, and free-coffee vouchers for employees who visit our company for the first time.

Pre-Opening Events

During the month prior to our launch, names of commuters will be collected for a drawing to be held on our opening day. Seven winning names will be drawn by José to receive free coffee at Cosmopolitan Coffee for one full year.

Cosmopolitan Coffee’s pricing will be appropriate for the high-quality coffee and level of service associated with a premium coffee bean roasting experience. Customers will feel they have received great value and a superior product.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Cosmopolitan Coffee. Operation Functions:

  • José Fernandes will be the Owner of Cosmopolitan Coffee. He will oversee the general operations of the roastery and café and help roast the premium blends until he has a full team of baristas and roasters on staff.
  • Max Smith will be the Café Manager and will focus on training staff and serving customers.
  • José will hire an administrative team to help with the administrative, accounting, and marketing aspects of the business.
  • José will also hire several baristas and roasters to make premium coffee for our customers.

Milestones:

Cosmopolitan Coffee aims to achieve the following goals in the next six months.

  • 6/1/202X – Finalize Lease Agreement
  • 7/1/202X – Design and Build Out Underway
  • 8/1/202X – Design and Build Out Completed
  • 9/1/202X – Hire and Train Staff
  • 10/1/202X – Grand Opening
  • 11/1/202X – Reach break-even

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The key revenues for Cosmopolitan Coffee will come from the sales of our premium blends (through our website, café, and partner grocery stores) and coffee drinks in our café.

The major costs include labor expenses, rent, marketing expenses, and the cost of inventory.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following table outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and pay off the business loan.

  • Number of Customers Per Day: 50
  • Average café Menu Item Cost: $5.00
  • Average Order per Customer: $10.00
  • Average Coffee Bean Order per Customer: $25.00
  • Annual Lease: $60,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, coffee roaster business plan faqs, what is a coffee roaster business plan.

A coffee roaster business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your coffee roaster business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Coffee Roaster business plan using our Coffee Roaster Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Coffee Roaster Businesses?

There are a number of different kinds of coffee roaster businesses , some examples include: Retail Coffee Roastery and Wholesale Coffee Roastery.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Coffee Roaster Business Plan?

Coffee Roaster businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Coffee Roaster Business?

Starting a coffee roaster business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Coffee Roaster Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed coffee roaster business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your coffee roaster business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your coffee roaster business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Coffee Roaster Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your coffee roaster business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your coffee roaster business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Coffee Roaster Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your coffee roaster business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.

8 . Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your coffee roaster business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Perfect Daily Grind

business plan coffee roastery

Roaster Life: How to Market YOUR Coffee and Define a Business Plan

So you’ve been dreaming of setting up your own artisan coffee roastery – of a life full of that rich coffee aroma, of cupping specialty beans, of deciding exactly what kind of coffee you want to create, and getting paid for it .

Lee este artículo en español Tostadores: Cómo Comercializar Café & Definir un Plan de Negocios

Welcome to the final part of our series on how to do just that. We’ve taken you through the basic questions, we’ve given you advice on selecting your roaster, and now we’re ready to begin looking at the finer details of becoming a professional specialty coffee roaster. Of course, by this point you should have all your equipment set up and have sourced excellent coffee roasters beforehand.

1. Blends, Single Origins, or Something in Between?

If Hamlet were a coffee roaster, he may have said something like:

“To blend or not to blend – that is the question:

Whether ’tis nobler to pursue the single origin

Avoiding generic blends and lure of outrageous fortune

Or to take arms against the high street chains

And by opposing them – open minds to great coffee”

Yet there’s also a practical aspect to consider (and let’s be fair, things didn’t turn out too well for Hamlet in the end).

If you’re in a major urban area, with a developed third wave coffee culture, then you might get away with being a single-origin-only roaster. All those independents that pop up in big cities will be regularly seeking guest roasts so as to differentiate themselves. The single origin approach should also work great for online sales, markets, and food fairs.

roasted coffee beans

Single origin or a blend? Both can have some unique characters.

However, for many roasters, market demands will probably leave you no choice but to offer a couple of blends . There are a lot of independent coffee shops out there who want a good, dependable, consistent blend that punches through milk – and you need to be able to accommodate that. We find that about 90% of our business is blends.

Blending is a huge area in itself. Be prepared to spend a lot of time developing your blends, including tasting samples of other blends you’ve ordered in; assembling different bean combinations; testing different roast degrees; and getting feedback from friends, family members, and potential customers.

cupping

Why not organize a cupping for friends, family, and coffee lovers? You might get valuable feedback on your roasting.

Offering a blend also has some drawbacks. You’ll need to secure a supply of coffee that keeps your blend tasting consistent. This means you’ll need to stay on top of coffee offer lists and utilise that research you did in part 1 ( you did do it, didn’t you? ) about the timing of coffee harvests. You will also need to make a financial commitment to contract the coffee, maybe looking as far ahead as 12 months. This is not for the faint-hearted.

SEE ALSO: How to Become an Artisan Coffee Roaster: The Basics

Now, there is a middle ground between single origin roasts and blending: seasonal blends . You might rotate three or four different blends over the course of a year. These have become increasingly popular with coffee shops, since it makes their offerings look fresh and their customers will appreciate this. It also keeps your contracting under control and will satisfy your need, as an artisan, to explore different coffees.

2. What’s Your Market Strategy?

The appetite for good-quality coffee continues to grow globally. This is great news for roasters, but it also comes with increased competition. So how will you be different? Where will your customers come from? And how will you persuade them to buy your coffee?

In other words, who are you targeting and what’s your USP?

You need to know this, and consistently convey your message across all mediums, right from the start. For example: Bean Smitten are dedicated to making speciality coffee more accessible, both at home and to independent coffee shops . That’s our message. And whatever you opt for, be unique, be unwavering, and be passionate. Get it right and people will identify with you and your brand – giving you that loyal following you need.

Bean Smitten

What’s your brand? Define your message and stick to it!

Let me just emphasise one part of that again: be consistent . Having made your pitch, stay true to it. If you claim to make the best espresso blend, you’d better make sure it really is the best. If you’re 100% Single Estate, then you need to select your coffees very carefully. Otherwise, you lose that all-important authenticity that people flock to.

3. Will You Partner with an Espresso Machine Supplier?

One of the things you’ll learn early on is how challenging it can be to sell to a business with an established coffee supply. It’s highly likely that they will have bought a package which included the machine, grinder, servicing, and a contract to supply coffee.

Now, personally, I don’t believe in contracting a customer into buying your coffee. It’s my opinion that an artisan coffee roaster should focus on the coffee and the customer should stay with that roaster because the coffee is good and the service is second to none. However, I did work in finance for many years and I know that the commercial reality can be quite different – especially because people like a “deal”.

You’ll soon realise that you need to capture prospective coffee shop and cafe owners when they’re formulating their plans. If you partner with a machine supplier, then you can offer them the full package of a coffee machine, servicing, and coffee. And if you think they’re going to sell a lot of coffee, maybe you can give them a discount on that machine.

espresso machines

What else do you want to offer? Or do you want to focus on roasting only?

It’s not enough to just offer a package, though. It has to be a competitive package. Remember that coffee machines represent a big investment for a coffee shop owner and so they will be looking at all the brands and all the options. Make sure you can offer some kind of leasing or rental option.

However, you may spend a lot of time chasing a deal that doesn’t come off. Be prepared for that and the inevitable question: would that time have been better spent canvassing for coffee sales? You’ll need to weigh this up for yourself.

4. What’s Your (Contingency) Plan?

In the beginning, you’ll need to be everyone: the marketer, the salesperson, the production controller, the administrator, the accountant, and the web designer. Make sure you’re both capable of and willing to do this. No matter what happens, there will be some late nights and early starts.

Also, make sure that you have a plan and a contingency plan. Schedule all your activities. Work out how you can fit them all into your day (and remember, there might be 24 hours in a day but you can’t work all of them).

And remember, your time is valuable. You want to be working on developing the business as much as possible and as effectively as possible. That means you being selective about how much time you spend on each task.

My tip for the early stages is to outsource at least one or two aspects. The key to this is choosing those areas where someone else is clearly better than you at it. For me, this was design and personal taxation matters. Then as the business develops you can outsource more.

organizing

Write down your daily schedule and make sure it’s backed up in case you need someone else to take over for a few days. Credit: kaboompics.com

Put some contingency plans in place, just in case you get ill. Create an emergency file containing all the important information, and start documenting your daily tasks in the form of procedure notes or flow charts. Get someone else trained up on the roaster as soon as possible, and carry a small reserve of coffee should your machine be out of action for a few days.

Finally, if you’re going solo on this, consider taking small steps rather than one giant leap. See if you can start your roastery business whilst still working at your old job; it will be tiring, but will offer you financial security and peace of mind.

Yet if we’ve made this sound impossible, don’t give up. With the right support from family, friends, and colleagues, you really can do it.

SEE ALSO: Micro Roaster: 7 Items to Consider When Choosing YOUR Roaster?

Becoming an artisan coffee roaster is a dream shared by many of us. The difference between dreaming of it and doing it is a little bit of a self-confidence, a lot of dedication, and a serious amount of preparation. While our three-part series won’t cover everything you need to know, it will help you through the major decisions. You’ll be informed, well-prepared, and ready to face most of your challenges.

So what are you waiting for?

Edited by T. Newton .

Perfect Daily Grind.

business plan coffee roastery

He used to count beans. Now he roasts them. Former finance exec is founder and head roaster at Bean Smitten.

business plan coffee roastery

Perfect Daily Grind Ltd, Webster Griffin, Brooklands Park, Farningham Road, Crowborough, East Sussex TN6 2JD United Kingdom

[email protected]

Company registration no. 9673156

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How to start a coffee roastery on a budget

specialty coffee roastery

Starting a roasting business can be a challenging, yet exciting, step in a coffee professional’s career. The idea of owning a roastery, selecting your own coffees, and supplying shops with your branded bags of freshly roasted beans is one that many coffee enthusiasts have dreamed about at least once.

However, it’s not as simple as shopping around for green beans and choosing decor. Equipment, location, and permits are just a few more of the obstacles you’ll face, while the list of expenses is likely to be significantly more than you first thought.

To find out more about starting a roastery on a budget, I spoke with 2019 World Cup Tasters Champion and founder of Sumo Coffee Roasters, Daniel Horbat .

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specialty coffee roaster

Nailing the basics

You might think that the first thing on your shopping list would be a location, or perhaps even a roasting machine. However, there are a couple of other things you need to master first: knowledge and sensory skills.

A good level of coffee knowledge is key to starting a roasting business. You need to be equipped with the skills to operate equipment and manage a business. You also need to have mastered all sorts of brewing methods, and you’ll have to identify quality suppliers and partners.

Entrepreneurial knowledge is crucial. Being able to write an excellent business plan, identify your target market, and develop strategies to get a strong customer base are all skills that will help kickstart and maintain your business.

Knowledge can be developed with experience and built on over time – but if you’re lacking knowledge to start with, you might want to consider attending professional courses on both coffee and marketing.

“By investing in training for yourself and your employees, you make sure everyone will be more productive.”

Daniel Horbat is a World Cup Tasters Champion and founder of Sumo Coffee Roasters in Dublin, Ireland. For him, having plenty of coffee knowledge is key to cutting costs at the start of your journey.

“Instead of hiring people with knowledge in these areas at the beginning – people that you usually pay higher salaries – you’ll be able to do it yourself and get the roastery off the ground while also making sure you’ll offer the best quality possible,” he explains.

“By investing in training for yourself and your employees, you make sure everyone will be more productive, perform better, and deliver work of a higher quality which will create more opportunities for your roastery and potentially increase your revenue over time.”

A sensory skills course will help you to recognise both green and roasted coffee defects, as well to identify characteristics like sweetness, acidity, and bitterness.

The SCA sensory skill module is a good place to start, but make sure you taste loads of coffee on your own time, too – preferably together with coffee enthusiasts or professionals you can share and compare results with. 

roasting equipment and software

What equipment do you need when starting a roastery?

Once you’ve finessed your coffee roasting skills and built up some good business knowledge, it’s time to think about the coffee roasting equipment you’ll need.

Several types of roasters are in use today: classic drum roasters, indirectly heated drum roasters, fluid bed roasters, and recirculation roasters. Each of them has distinct advantages and disadvantages.

Depending on the type of roaster you opt for, roasting can take place in several different ways. Modern roasters use mechanisms such as convection, conduction, and radiation. The way a roaster transfers heat to the beans can dramatically change the outcome.

The choice of roasting machine should be driven by material quality, cost, after sales service, capacity, and the ability of the machine to connect with roast profile software.

For a new, small roasting business, a classic drum roaster with a 5kg capacity is a good place to start. Most models allow you to play with batches of between 2 to 5kgs and are compatible with software like Cropster or Artisan.

Artisan is open-source software that can be applied to more than 30 types of roasting machines and more than 50 associated devices. It works on four different operating systems, with more than 30 languages available. 

Because it’s free to use, Artisan is an incredibly powerful tool for coffee professionals just beginning to experiment with roasting.

Cropster, meanwhile, is a more complex software solution that includes tools for monitoring inventory, green coffee management, production planning, quality control, and online green coffee buying and selling. Unlike Artisan, however, it’s not free to use.

coffee packaging sealing machine

Other items

Roasting machines are expensive toys that will undoubtedly form the centrepiece of any roasting facility. However, you’ll also need smaller pieces of equipment like sample roasters, coffee bag sealers, humidity readers, and colour meters.

Daniel explains why it is important for any new roaster to have these pieces of equipment. He says that investing in them will help you to master consistency and quickly improve quality.

“I think there are a few instruments you should think of investing in,” he says. “For starters, a sample roaster — how else would you judge a coffee’s quality level, its sweetness, brightness, and body, and whether any defects are present when purchasing green coffee beans?”

A sample roaster will help you choose the best green coffees on offer, as it allows you to roast smaller amounts at a time. Exploring different origins and varietals will open more possibilities for your business.

Daniel adds: “I find it important to have a moisture reader because it tells you about how a coffee was prepared and how the quality might change over time. Also because it gives you clues as to how that coffee will behave in the roaster. 

“And as for the colour meter, I think it is the most effective tool in analysing the degree of roast, especially for consistency.”

shelf lined with sustainable coffee bags

Where does packaging come in?

You might not think of packaging as a priority for your new business, but it’s crucial in many ways. The right packaging preserves your coffee’s freshness and flavour, and ensures that people sit up and take note of your roastery.

As Daniel says, it’s possible to start small, investing in basic types of packaging that will still give you quality and marketing value.

“Until you build some cash flow, and can afford customised coffee bags, I think a good starting point would be buying plain, recyclable coffee bags in bulk,” he says. “MTPak Coffee has a wide offering ranging from different colours and materials to different components, such as recyclable degassing valves and resealable zippers.”

He says that initially, you can save costs by printing your own labels and sealing and weighing bags manually. “Even though I think these are important things to have at the roastery,” he says, “one can do without them in the beginning.”

rave recyclable coffee bag

MTPak Coffee stock bags are available in sizes ranging from 20g all the way up to 10kg, making them perfect for any roaster’s needs. This comes in very handy in the early phases of your business, when you might want to send samples to prospective buyers.

Packaging plays a key role in the image of your brand and it’s one of the most important factors to consider when looking at the flavour conservation of roasted coffee over time.

At MTPak Coffee, we believe it’s possible to start a roastery on a budget with a few accurate choices, ranging from professional training, to choosing the right equipment including, and selecting the best packaging for your budget and needs.

For information about our sustainable coffee bags, contact our team.

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MTPak recommends

coffee roasting equipment

How to Start a Profitable Roasting Business | Bellwether Coffee

business plan coffee roastery

Is Coffee Roasting Profitable? How to Start a Coffee Roasting Business and Make a Profit

  • Research on average profit margins for roasters vs cafes
  • What to expect for startup costs (+ how to save big in the beginning)
  • Reasonable expectations for coffee roasting ROI
  • How to start a coffee roasting business

A Breakdown of Coffee Roasting Profit Margins

  • Coffee retailers (shops and cafes) have a solid average gross margin on each item sold (54%), but the added expenses of operating a retail location make it the least profitable business model of the bunch (6.86% profit).
  • Roaster retailers roast and serve their own brand of coffee, naturally giving them the highest gross margin on each item sold (65%) and a relatively high profit margin (8.79%).
  • Wholesale‑focused roasters have the lowest gross margin (44%), but they also experience significantly higher sales ($750,000 annual) due to large, frequent, and long‑term customer relationships.
  • At the end of the day, roasters who offer both wholesale and retail locations fared the best when it comes to business profit margins‑by a wide margin‑at 11.92%.

Startup Costs: How Much Does a Coffee Roaster Cost?

Training, waste, and hidden costs of roasting, coffee: how much do green coffee beans cost, how to price roasted coffee beans, cost breakdown: wholesale coffee per pound, cost breakdown: retail coffee per 12 oz bag, traditional vs bellwether roasters: a profitability comparison.

  • All electric, no gas. The Bellwether coffee roasting machine plugs directly into a standard outlet. No gas line installation means you can put it anywhere (no extra warehouse space needed!).
  • No ventilation required. You can start roasting without installing ventilation and an afterburner, or waiting on permits from local health departments.
  • Create revenue before you train. Coffees sourced in the Green Coffee Marketplace come with roast profiles created by our in‑house industry veterans that you can download and use right out of the box. Rather than needings months of training and waste, you can start selling high‑quality coffee immediately, then learn to develop your own roast curves over time (while you're already generating revenue).
  • Risk‑free green buying. Don't spend months figuring out how to even evaluate and purchase unroasted beans. Our green coffee team has decades of experience sourcing quality beans from reputable farm partners. Each coffee includes transparent reporting, quality assurance, and marketing materials.

The Verdict: Is Coffee Roasting Profitable?

How to start a coffee roasting business, create a business plan, define your coffee roaster brand and target audience, prepare to launch your coffee roasting business, market your roasting business, sign up for our newsletter.

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How to Start a Coffee Roasting Business in 2024: 5 Expert Tips

coffee-roast beans pixabay

Starting a coffee roasting business is a big undertaking and not something you should decide to do lightly, but it might not be as daunting as it sounds. We know roasters who started in their backyards roasting for friends and family. We’ve even heard about a college student running a roasting business out of their dorm with a custom-made roaster.

We’re not suggesting it’s an easy thing to do, but there are actually relatively few essential pieces to starting a roasting business compared to starting some other kinds of businesses. It’s even feasible – although not recommended – to run a roasting business as an individual. In this guide, we’re going to go through the steps required and teach you how to start a coffee roasting business. You won’t be gunning for Starbucks’ market share any time soon, but you have to start somewhere! Let’s dive right in:

  • Before You Start Your Coffee Roasting Business…

Before we get into the specific details, we think it’s a good idea to take a step back and set a few things straight. First of all, there are many paths to success in most endeavors, and a roasting business is no exception. We don’t claim that this is the only way to do it, but we think, for most people, the steps we put forth here are a reasonable start.

Second, there is a huge range of scales that a roasting business could operate on. The college student we mentioned in the beginning certainly had his own roasting business, but he sold less than 100 pounds of coffee a month. A professional scale roaster with a 25-pound roaster could surpass 100 pounds in a single day.

Top 5 Tips For Starting a Coffee Roasting Business:

  • 1. Make a business plan

This is an essential step, and “start a coffee roasting business” doesn’t count as a business plan. You need to figure out how much money you will need and how much you’re willing to invest.

  • Green coffee
  • A heat sealer

This is the absolute bare minimum and doesn’t cover regulatory fees or licensing fees that vary tremendously depending on where you’re located.

The two biggest cost items on that list are the roaster and the premises. Coffee roasters can be very expensive if you want a professional scale machine. San Franciscan is a manufacturer of professional-grade coffee roasters, and their 1 lb roaster costs about $11,000! That is far too low of a capacity to produce any serious amount of coffee, and a 25 lb roaster is proportionally more expensive.

Many people get started with cheap roasters since the barrier to entry is so much lower. It is tempting to purchase a relatively cheap roaster, but know that you pay more for a smaller sized roaster in the long run. More roasting capacity means you will reach break-even sooner even though the initial cost of a large roaster is higher. Read our guide to choosing a home coffee roaster here !

The second-largest cost is the location where you will do the actual roasting. Rent prices vary depending on where you live, but there are also the costs of getting your premises inspected. Many countries and US states have different requirements, but most require you to operate out of a food-safe kitchen, and getting approval costs money.

The rest of the list is fairly cheap by comparison, but you should research the costs of the equipment you’re interested in using to get an estimate of the total startup cost. A very rough estimate that takes into account the price of green beans and all of the equipment suggests that you can expect a gross profit of $5 per pound of green coffee you purchase. Once you estimate your startup cost, you can use this profit estimate to calculate how long it will take for you to break even – assuming you can find people to buy your coffee.

And that brings us to step two.

  • 2. Build an audience

This is probably the hardest part of starting any new business, regardless of what you’re trying to sell. Starting a coffee roasting business actually has an advantage in this regard since there is already a large audience of coffee drinkers out there. The challenge is to get them to try your coffee, and that isn’t easy.

A great way to build an audience more quickly is to focus on selling your coffee wholesale to local restaurants and cafés . Using the local connection is often enough to get your foot in the door with some businesses. If you offer your coffee at a discounted rate to start, you might be able to get your coffee sold to a large audience. This is essential for growth.

Wholesale accounts are the most reliable way to generate continuing revenue because the orders will be large and consistent. On the other hand, you need to keep up with large order volumes even if you only have a single wholesale account. If you’re starting out with a small roaster, you need to consider any client’s requirements carefully. A large order from a local restaurant sounds great but won’t do you any good if you can’t meet their expectations.

It’s worth mentioning that thinking outside the box can be beneficial. When you’re looking for large clients, don’t limit yourself to restaurants or cafés only. These are great options, but hotels, office buildings, grocery stores, and local markets are all good candidates as well. Think about what businesses around you drink coffee in large volumes and reach out to them. The worst-case scenario is they decline, and it only takes one to get your business off the ground.

If you start on a roaster with under a 5-pound capacity, you probably won’t be able to sell to big clients. In this case, selling online is an option. Online sales require a website, so you’ll need to hire a developer if you’re not comfortable with technology. Modern website building tools make it very easy to create your own website with minimal knowledge required. It’s worth checking these out if you want to have an online presence.

  • 3. Leverage social media

This is related to the last step but is different enough to warrant it’s own section. Building an audience from nothing requires legwork and creating contacts in the industry, but maintaining your audience and growing it beyond your local shops requires something more. In today’s world, social media is a great tool for new businesses looking to expand their reach.

We think it is essential for an up-and-coming coffee roaster to have an Instagram account and a Facebook page. More people connect on Facebook than any other platform. If you already have local customers, having them follow you on Facebook gets them to engage with your brand and increases the visibility you have to other potential customers.

Instagram serves a similar but slightly different purpose. Coffee can be visual, and Instagram is a great way to tap into a different userbase than Facebook. Coffee has almost universal popularity across many demographics, so targeting all ages and types of coffee drinkers is possible and important.

There are so many ways to use social media to promote your new roasting business that you really are only limited by your creativity. Running giveaways in exchange for follows is a popular technique and, most importantly, gets people to try your coffee. Word of mouth is powerful, and on the back of a lively social media presence can dramatically increase your customer base.

  • 4. Perfect your craft

Until now, we’ve glossed over a rather important point: learning how to roast coffee takes time. Roasting coffee is a skill, and getting to the point where you can roast high-quality coffee consistently will take a lot of effort. It’s easy to get caught up in the logistics of running a business and forget about the core feature: the coffee.

This will sound like a cliché, but if you don’t have good coffee , the best marketing, networking, and business plan in the world won’t make you a success. The easiest way to build and keep an audience is to make stellar coffee. Most professional roasters come with automation features that help you get your roasts just right, but there is a steep learning curve. Knowing how to make changes to the roast profile is one thing, but knowing how those changes will influence the taste only comes with practice.

Another aspect of making excellent coffee is making sure people know the best way to enjoy your coffee. We think providing educational material about how to brew your coffee can go a long way to connecting with customers. Dedicating part of your website to brew guides, roast descriptions, and general information about the coffee-making process builds your authority in the coffee world and helps encourage people who visit your website to try your coffee.

  • 5. Be prepared for setbacks

This is generic advice, but it’s important enough to warrant its own number. Starting a business is all about spending long days making little money and solving big problems. Whatever the image you have in your head of what it will be like, odds are there will be things to deal with that you never anticipated. Being able to persevere and get a little closer each day to your ideal picture of a roasting business is essential.

You will have to manage your inventory, agreements with green coffee bean providers , client relationships, website management, order processing, and that’s to say nothing of the actual roasting! Just one of these tasks is enough to warrant a full-time job, and this isn’t even an exhaustive list.

If you can find a partner to start your roasting business with, your life will be much easier. A partner can take on some of the work and serve as encouragement and support when things start to go awry. Having a business partner comes with its own challenges, so choose who you work with wisely. A good partner is the easiest way to increase your chance of success.

This guide only scratches the surface of what you’ll face starting a roasting business. Our intention here isn’t to provide you with a comprehensive overview of every detail but instead to give you a sense of what goes into starting a coffee roasting business at a high level.

We hope that you have a better sense now of what it takes and some of the challenges you’ll face if you decide to start a roasting business. Roasting coffee isn’t easy by any means, but there is a relatively low barrier to entry compared to other businesses. Still, to really succeed will take hard work, people skills, and an unparalleled passion for delicious coffee .

Featured image credit: gedsarts, Pixabay

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Coffee Roasting Business

Back to All Business Ideas

How to Start a Coffee Roasting Business

Written by: Esther Strauss

Esther is a business strategist with over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur, executive, educator, and management advisor.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on April 25, 2021 Updated on February 14, 2024

How to Start a Coffee Roasting Business

Investment range

$15,250 - $80,600

Revenue potential

$280,000 - $1.7 million p.a.

Time to build

1 - 3 months

Profit potential

$85,000 - $120,000 p.a.

Industry trend

Are you a coffee fanatic? Do you love the smell of freshly roasted coffee? Then starting a coffee roasting business could be the right choice for you.

Coffee is the fourth most consumed beverage worldwide, with nearly two-thirds of American adults drinking coffee every day, according to the National Coffee Association. Millennials are willing to spend a bit more for their daily caffeine fix, with 70% of their coffee consumed being gourmet. 

But how can you start your own coffee roasting business? The answer is to start with step 1 below!

Looking to register your business? A limited liability company (LLC) is the best legal structure for new businesses because it is fast and simple.

Form your business immediately using ZenBusiness LLC formation service or hire one of the Best LLC Services .

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Before you start dreaming of coffee roasting success, it’s important to understand the industry so that you can see where you fit best. 

Pros and cons

To get a balanced view of the coffee roasting industry, let’s look at both the positives and the negatives. 

  • Growing interest in specialty drinks, brews and varieties
  • Easily scalable business model
  • Help people get going to start their day!
  • Be your own boss — choose your own beans and working hours
  • Becoming a good roaster requires training
  • Finding a suitable roasting location may be difficult due to the fumes and emissions

Coffee roasting industry trends

Coffee is popular throughout the world, but Americans are the most committed drinkers, consuming 517 million cups a day, according to the National Coffee Association.(( https://www.ncausa.org/Portals/56/PDFs/Communication/20220315_media_highlights.pdf?ver=Xz7bwWmt8eAtyGxkFp30bg%3d%3d ))

A look at Google Trends shows interest in coffee roasting has been consistent over the last five years.(( https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&geo=US&q=coffee%20roasting ))

Industry size and growth

  • Industry size and past growth – The US roast coffee market is worth $74 billion, about a fifth of global revenue, according to German data firm Statista.(( https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/hot-drinks/coffee/roast-coffee/worldwide )) 
  • Growth forecast – The global roast coffee market is expected to expand around 5% annually through 2025. Demand for coffee roasters is also predicted to grow 6% through 2026 following a pandemic-driven decline, market analyst Research and Markets says.(( https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/4602370/coffee-roaster-market-growth-trends-covid-19 ))
  • Number of businesses – There are over 2,000 coffee roasters in the US(( https://coffeebeaned.com/coffee-roaster-maps/ ))
  • Number of people employed – More than 5,000 jobs for coffee roasters are expected to be created over 10 years to 2028.(( https://www.zippia.com/coffee-roaster-jobs/ ))

coffee roasting industry size and growth

Trends and challenges

Some of the latest trends in the industry include:

  • Roasted coffee subscription model, with consumers getting high-quality beans shipped straight to their door on a regular basis.
  • Introduction of value-added coffee-based RTD and flavor-added coffee

The industry faces some challenges such as:

  • Short shelf life of roasted coffee
  • Wide use of instant coffee

coffee roasting industry Trends and Challenges

Consumer spending

  • Average consumer spend – The average person in the US consumes at least two cups of coffee a day, spending around $2,000 a year.
  • Potential customer base – 66% of Americans 18 years and older drink coffee.
  • Average prices – A cup of coffee in the US costs an average of $2.70.(( https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2015/09/29/americans-pay-an-average-270-for-coffee-while-tipping-20-percent ))

coffee roasting business consumer spending

What kind of people work in coffee roasting?

Zippia.com is useful for this section.

  • Gender – More than 75% of coffee roasters are male.(( https://www.zippia.com/coffee-roaster-jobs/demographics/#gender-statistics ))
  • Average level of education – Nearly 60% of coffee roasters have a bachelor’s degree.(( https://www.zippia.com/coffee-roaster-jobs/demographics/#degree-level-types ))
  • Average age – Almost half of coffee roasters are over 40 years old.(( https://www.zippia.com/coffee-roaster-jobs/demographics/#age-statistics ))

coffee roasting industry demographics

How much does it cost to start a coffee roasting business?

To start a coffee roasting business, you’ll need between $15,000 and $80,000, but the average investment is about $50,000.

Let’s see what your investment gets you: 

You’ll need a handful of items to successfully launch your coffee roasting business. 

Online retailer Amazon has a range of coffee roasting equipment including both basic and professional machines. Most other supplies can be found at local stores or from Amazon as well. Finding a reputable green coffee supplier is the most important part of this step. You can check out suppliers such as Benchmark and Intercontinental Coffee Trading .

How much can you earn from a coffee roasting business?

The key, of course, is how much coffee you sell and at what price. The World Economic Forum estimates that roasters typically make $0.44/lb of roasted beans. An estimated $8.73/lb cost and a wholesale selling price of $9.40/lb results in a 7% profit margin.(( https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/economics-coffee-cup-costs-break-down/ )) 

In your first year or two, you could work from home without any staff, bringing up your profit margin to around 30%. If you roast one 110-pound bag of coffee a day for five days in a week and sell your roasted coffee for $10/lb, you’d earn more than $280,000 in annual revenue and around $85,000 in profit, assuming that 30% margin.

As your brand gains recognition, you could increase your capacity to five 110-pound bags a day and extend operating hours to six days a week. At this stage, you’d rent a commercial space, hire staff and invest in a bigger roaster, reducing your profit margin to 7%. With annual revenue of $1.7 million, you’d make a tidy profit of more than $120,000.

coffee roasting earnings forecast

What barriers to entry are there?

While starting a coffee roasting business may seem straightforward, there are a few barriers that you should be aware of: 

  • Finding a suitable roasting location due to smoke and fumes
  • The initial learning curve can be steep, from sourcing beans to roasting
  • Gaining brand recognition can be difficult in a crowded market  
  • Securing relevant permits and abiding by regulations

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Step 2: hone your idea.

Now that you know a bit more about the industry let’s start refining your business idea. 

Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.

Why? Identify an opportunity

Before you become a coffee roaster, you’ll need to find out who your competition is. Are they beginning roasters like yourself, or are they an established brand? Are there a lot of local roasters in your area? Who buys their beans? 

Knowing these answers will help you find your unique value proposition that you can share with potential customers. 

You might also be able to learn about the beans they source, their roasting process, and the equipment they use. All this information will help you to capture your market share of the coffee industry. 

What? Determine your products

There are four color categories for roasted coffee beans, according to the National Coffee Association — light, medium, medium-dark, and dark. 

Light is generally preferred for milder coffee varieties, medium for stronger flavor, medium-dark for a slight bittersweet aftertaste, and dark for pronounced bitterness like espresso.

You should consider creating a niche for yourself by specializing in one or two of these roasted coffee categories. This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing within your niche market.

How much should you charge for roasted coffee?

How much you charge will depend on the products you sell and the costs involved in the process. Beans vary in price depending on their origin, weather, and supply & demand, but on average, a coffee roaster can sell a pound of beans for $10 – $15. 

Ensure that your product prices leave you with a healthy profit margin so that the fluctuations in green coffee bean prices won’t erode your profits. 

Once you know your costs, you can use this Step By Step profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify your target market

Identifying your target market is important because these are the customers to whom you will tailor your marketing strategies.

Do you want to target restaurants, cafes, or even sell directly to the public? Will you target high-end retailers, or do you want to make your coffee more affordable? These are some of the questions you can ask yourself while identifying your target market. 

By having an idea of who your customers will be, you can create a brand and marketing plan that will resonate with them. 

Where? Choose your business premises

In the early stages, you may want to run your business from home to keep costs low. But as your business grows, you’ll likely need to hire workers for various roles and may need to rent out a storefront or production facility. You can find commercial space to rent in your area on sites such as Craigslist , Crexi , and Instant Offices .

When choosing a commercial space, you may want to follow these rules of thumb:

  • Central location accessible via public transport
  • Ventilated and spacious, with good natural light
  • Flexible lease that can be extended as your business grows
  • Ready-to-use space with no major renovations or repairs needed

coffee roasting business rating

Step 3: Brainstorm a Coffee Roasting Business Name

Your business name is your business identity, so choose one that encapsulates your objectives, services, and mission in just a few words. You probably want a name that’s short and easy to remember, since much of your business, and your initial business in particular, will come from word-of-mouth referrals.

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

  • Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
  • Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better 
  • Name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
  • Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
  • Including keywords, such as “coffee” or “beans”, boosts SEO
  • Name should allow for expansion, for ex: “Bold Bean Roasters” over “Single Origin Roasters”
  • Avoid location-based names that might hinder future expansion

business plan coffee roastery

Discover over 210 unique coffee roasting business name ideas here . If you want your business name to include specific keywords, you can also use our coffee roasting business name generator. Just type in a few keywords and hit “generate” and you’ll have dozens of suggestions at your fingertips.

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

Find a Domain

Powered by GoDaddy.com

Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that set your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.

Step 4: Create a Coffee Roasting Business Plan

Every business needs a plan. This will function as a guidebook to take your startup through the launch process and maintain focus on your key goals. A business plan also enables potential partners and investors to better understand your company and its vision:

  • Executive Summary: A brief overview of the coffee roasting business, highlighting its key elements and objectives.
  • Business Overview: Detailed information about the coffee roasting business, including its mission, vision, and key values.
  • Product and Services: Explanation of the types of coffee products offered, the roasting process, and any additional services provided.
  • Market Analysis: A thorough examination of the coffee market, identifying target customers, trends, and potential growth opportunities.
  • Competitive Analysis: Evaluation of competitors in the coffee industry, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Sales and Marketing: Strategies for promoting and selling the coffee products, including target marketing and promotional activities.
  • Management Team: Introduction to the key members of the management team, outlining their roles and qualifications.
  • Operations Plan: Details on the day-to-day operations of the coffee roasting business, from sourcing beans to the roasting process and distribution.
  • Financial Plan: A comprehensive financial forecast, including startup costs, revenue projections, and profit margins.
  • Appendix: Supplementary materials such as supporting documents, market research data, and any additional information relevant to the business plan.

what to include in a business plan

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business! 

Choose where to register your company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you are planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to coffee roasting. 

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state. 

Choose your business structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your coffee roasting business will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely. 

Here are the main options:

  • Sole Proprietorship – The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
  • General Partnership – Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
  • Limited Liability Company (LLC) – Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.
  • C Corp – Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.
  • S Corp – An S-Corporation refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S-Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC , which just needs to elect to be an S-Corp for tax status. In an S-Corp, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

types of business structures

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization , and answer any questions you might have.

Form Your LLC

Choose Your State

We recommend ZenBusiness as the Best LLC Service for 2023

business plan coffee roastery

Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number , or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN. 

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

business plan coffee roastery

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist , and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you are completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

  • Bank loans : This is the most common method, but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
  • SBA-guaranteed loans : The Small Business Administration can act as guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan .
  • Government grants : A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
  • Venture capital : Offer potential investors an ownership stake in exchange for funds, keeping in mind that you would be sacrificing some control over your business.
  • Friends and Family: Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
  • Crowdfunding: Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like Fundable and WeFunder enable multiple investors to fund your business.
  • Personal : Self-fund your business via your savings, the sale of property or other assets, and support from family and friends.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best options, other than friends and family, for funding a coffee roasting business. You might also try crowdfunding if you have an innovative concept. 

types of business funding

Step 8: Apply for Coffee Roasting Business Licenses and Permits

Starting a coffee roasting business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package . They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account .

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your coffee roasting business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account. 

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

  • General liability: The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
  • Business Property: Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
  • Equipment Breakdown Insurance: Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
  • Worker’s compensation: Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
  • Property: Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
  • Commercial auto: Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
  • Professional liability: Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
  • Business owner’s policy (BOP): This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of any of the above insurance types.

types of business insurance

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business. 

Essential software and tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks.  

You may want to use industry-specific software, such as Artisan , Cropster , or DEAR   to manage your inventory, purchasing, costs, and waste management.

  • Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks , Freshbooks , and Xero . 
  • If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences for filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial.

Develop your website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.

You can create your own website using website builders . This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

They are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google. 

For your coffee roasting business, the marketing strategy should focus on highlighting the quality and uniqueness of your coffee beans, your roasting process, and the flavor profiles of your products. Emphasize your commitment to sourcing sustainable, high-quality beans and the artisanal aspect of your roasting. Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:

Kickstart Marketing

  • Professional Branding : Your branding should reflect the artisanal, premium quality of your coffee, from your logo to your packaging and overall aesthetic.
  • Direct Outreach : Network with local cafes, restaurants, and specialty food stores to introduce your products and explore wholesale opportunities.

Digital Presence and Online Marketing

  • Professional Website and SEO : Develop a website that showcases your coffee varieties, shares the story of your brand, and sells your coffee online. Use SEO best practices to optimize for search terms related to specialty coffee, artisan roasting, and online coffee sales.
  • Social Media Engagement : Utilize platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to share beautiful images of your roasting process, coffee beans, and the people behind your brand.

Content Marketing and Engagement

  • Coffee Education Blog : Share articles about coffee sourcing, the roasting process, brewing guides, and the stories behind your coffee varieties.
  • Customer Reviews and Testimonials : Feature positive feedback from customers and businesses that use your coffee.
  • Video Content : Create engaging videos that take viewers behind the scenes of your roasting process and share insights into what makes your coffee special.

Experiential and In-Person Engagements

  • Coffee Tasting Events : Host coffee tastings for the public or potential wholesale customers to sample your range of coffees.
  • Participation in Food and Coffee Expos : Attend food and coffee expos to showcase your products and connect with a wider audience.

Collaborations and Community

  • Partnerships with Local Businesses : Team up with local bakeries or restaurants for coffee pairings or collaborative products.
  • Community Engagement : Get involved in community events, sponsor local activities, and collaborate with local artisans to build brand recognition.

Customer Relationship and Loyalty Programs

  • Subscription Services : Offer a subscription model where customers can receive a regular delivery of fresh coffee.
  • Loyalty Rewards for Repeat Customers : Implement a rewards program for customers who frequently purchase your coffee.

Promotions and Advertising

  • Targeted Online Advertising : Use digital advertising platforms to target coffee enthusiasts, gourmet food lovers, and business owners.
  • Email Marketing : Keep your customers informed about new coffee releases, special events, and educational content through a regular newsletter.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that set it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your coffee roasting business meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire. 

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your coffee roasting business could be:

  • Offer unique coffee blends only found in your roastery
  • Invest in the most eco-friendly coffee roasting machine
  • Create an efficient coffee subscription plan
  • Expand your services to coffee consulting and training

unique selling proposition

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a roastery, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in coffee roasting for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in coffee. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. Online businesses might also consider affiliate marketing as a way to build relationships with potential partners and boost business.

Step 12: Build Your Team

If you’re starting out small from home, you may not need any employees and roast the coffee beans yourself. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a coffee roasting business would include:

  • Coffee Roasters – handle the roasting operations
  • Salespeople – sell to coffee shops and retailers
  • Marketing Lead – SEO strategies, social media

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need. 

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed , Glassdoor , or ZipRecruiter . Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent. 

Step 13: Run a Coffee Roasting Business – Start Making Money!

Keep in mind, not all coffee roasts are the same. It’s important that you know the difference between light and dark roasts. It’s also wise to determine from the start what kind of coffee roast you want to do and sell. You might want to do just the light roast or focus on medium-dark and dark roasts.

This is how you can set your business apart from the competition and increase your chances of success. Offering your own unique product or innovating on an existing product will help jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing. 

You’re now ready to start your entrepreneurial journey with your coffee roasting business!

  • Coffee Roasting Business FAQs

According to the World Economic Forum , a coffee roaster will typically see a net profit of roughly $0.44/lb or 7.1%. These figures are based on a cost of $8.73/lb and a wholesale selling price of $9.40/lb. The net profit margin is similar if you sell to a retail audience as well.

RK Drums , on the other hand, suggests that home-based coffee roasteries have a net profit margin closer to $7/lb.

While you can learn the process of roasting coffee in one weekend, perfecting the process will take you much longer. But like anything, the more you practice your roasting, the better you’ll get at it. It’s this process of perfecting your craft that will allow you to stand out from your competition and create a successful business.

The short answer is, it depends on your state. There are a number of licenses that your coffee company may need, which include a general business license and an EPA permit. You might be able to avoid getting an EPA permit if you’re operating at a low capacity, but it’s best to make sure what your local limits are.

The most popular coffee roast can vary based on regional preferences and individual taste. However, medium roast coffee is often considered the most popular choice among coffee drinkers worldwide. Medium roast strikes a balance between preserving the coffee’s inherent flavors and developing the roasty, caramelized notes associated with darker roasts.

Several factors influence the flavor and aroma of roasted coffee beans. These include the coffee bean’s origin, variety, and processing method. Roasting profile, including temperature, duration, and degree of roast, plays a significant role. Additionally, factors such as the roast level, moisture content, and even the brewing method impact the final taste and aroma of the brewed coffee.

Coffee roasters use a range of temperatures during the roasting process. The initial stage involves gradually raising the temperature, typically starting around 180-200°C (356-392°F) and progressing to higher temperatures. The specific temperatures and duration depend on the desired roast profile and the characteristics of the beans being roasted.

Yes, coffee typically benefits from a resting period after roasting, known as degassing or off-gassing. During roasting, carbon dioxide gas builds up within the coffee beans. Allowing the roasted beans to rest for a period of 12 to 48 hours allows the excess gas to escape, resulting in a smoother and more balanced flavor. 

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  • Decide if the Business Is Right for You
  • Hone Your Idea
  • Brainstorm a Coffee Roasting Business Name
  • Create a Coffee Roasting Business Plan
  • Register Your Business
  • Register for Taxes
  • Fund your Business
  • Apply for Coffee Roasting Business Licenses and Permits
  • Open a Business Bank Account
  • Get Business Insurance
  • Prepare to Launch
  • Build Your Team
  • Run a Coffee Roasting Business - Start Making Money!

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Coffee Roaster Business Plan

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Is the aroma of freshly roasted coffee your favorite? Then starting a coffee roasting business might be the best course of action for you.

According to the National Coffee Association, about two-thirds of American people drink coffee every day, making it the fourth most popular beverage in the world.

However, how do you launch your own coffee-roasting company? The solution is, to begin with, writing a business plan.

Need help writing a business plan for your coffee roaster business? You’re at the right place. Our coffee roaster business plan template will help you get started.

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Free Business Plan Template

Download our free business plan template now and pave the way to success. Let’s turn your vision into an actionable strategy!

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How to Write a Coffee Roaster Business Plan?

Writing a coffee roaster business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section planned to offer an overview of the entire business plan. However, it is written after the entire business plan is ready and summarizes each section of your plan.

Here are a few key components to include in your executive summary:

Introduce your Business:

Start your executive summary by briefly introducing your business to your readers.

Market Opportunity:

Products and services:.

  • For instance, you may include roasted coffee beans and private labeling as products & services and mention custom blends as USP.

Marketing & Sales Strategies:

Financial highlights:, call to action:.

Ensure your executive summary is clear, concise, easy to understand, and jargon-free.

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business plan coffee roastery

2. Business Overview

The business overview section of your business plan offers detailed information about your company. The details you add will depend on how important they are to your business. Yet, business name, location, business history, and future goals are some of the foundational elements you must consider adding to this section:

Business Description:

  • Specialty coffee roaster
  • Artisanal coffee roaster
  • Wholesale roaster
  • Contract roaster
  • Retail roaster
  • E-commerce roaster

Describe the legal structure of your coffee roaster business, whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or others.

Mission Statement:

Business history:.

  • Additionally, If you have received any awards or recognition for excellent work, describe them.

Future Goals:

This section should provide a thorough understanding of your business, its history, and its future plans. Keep this section engaging, precise, and to the point.

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should offer a thorough understanding of the industry with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. You should include the following components in this section.

Target market:

  • For instance, cafes, coffee shops, restaurants, hotels, or offices would be an ideal target audience for a coffee roaster business.

Market size and growth potential:

Competitive analysis:, market trends:.

  • For instance, sustainability and ethical sourcing has a growing market now; explain how you plan on dealing with this potential growth opportunity.

Regulatory Environment:

Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your coffee roaster business plan:

  • Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data.
  • Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible.
  • Illustrate your points with charts and graphs.
  • Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind.

4. Products And Services

The product and services section should describe the specific services and products that will be offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

Describe your products:

Mention the coffee roaster products your business will offer. This may include products like,

  • Single-origin beans
  • Unique blends
  • Flavored coffee
  • Decaffeinated coffee

Describe each product:

Provide a detailed description of each product you provide.

Quality measures:

Additional services:.

In short, this section of your coffee roaster plan must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

Unique Selling Proposition (USP):

  • For example, single-origin focus, ethical sourcing, or customization could be some of the great USPs for a professional coffee roaster business.

Pricing Strategy:

Marketing strategies:, sales strategies:, customer retention:.

Overall, this section of your coffee roaster business plan should focus on customer acquisition and retention.

Have a specific, realistic, and data-driven approach while planning sales and marketing strategies for your coffee roaster business, and be prepared to adapt or make strategic changes in your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section of your business plan should outline the processes and procedures involved in your business operations, such as staffing requirements and operational processes. Here are a few components to add to your operations plan:

Staffing & Training:

Operational process:, equipment & machinery:.

Include the list of equipment and machinery required for coffee roasters, such as coffee roasters, green coffee storage, cooling tray, grinding equipment, etc.

Adding these components to your operations plan will help you lay out your business operations, which will eventually help you manage your business effectively.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of your coffee roaster business’s management team. This section should provide a detailed description of each manager’s experience and qualifications, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

Founders/CEO:

Key managers:.

Introduce your management and key members of your team, and explain their roles and responsibilities.

Organizational structure:

Compensation plan:, advisors/consultants:.

  • So, if you have any advisors or consultants, include them with their names and brief information consisting of roles and years of experience.

This section should describe the key personnel for your coffee roaster business, highlighting how you have the perfect team to succeed.

8. Financial Plan

Your financial plan section should summarize your business’s financial projections for the first few years. Here are some key elements to include in your financial plan:

Profit & loss statement:

Cash flow statement:, balance sheet:, break-even point:.

  • This exercise will help you understand how much revenue you need to generate to sustain or be profitable.

Financing Needs:

Be realistic with your financial projections, and make sure you offer relevant information and evidence to support your estimates.

9. Appendix

The appendix section of your plan should include any additional information supporting your business plan’s main content, such as market research, legal documentation, financial statements, and other relevant information.

  • Add a table of contents for the appendix section to help readers easily find specific information or sections.
  • In addition to your financial statements, provide additional financial documents like tax returns, a list of assets within the business, credit history, and more.These statements must be the latest and offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.
  • Provide data derived from market research, including stats about the coffee roaster, user demographics, and industry trends.
  • Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
  • Include any additional documentation related to your business plan, such as product brochures, marketing materials, operational procedures, etc.

Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the necessary information.

Remember, the appendix section of your coffee roaster business plan should only include relevant and important information supporting your plan’s main content.

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This sample coffee roaster business plan will provide an idea for writing a successful coffee roaster plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready business plan to impress your audience, download our coffee roaster business plan pdf .

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Frequently asked questions, why do you need a coffee roaster business plan.

A business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful coffee roaster business. It helps to get clarity in your business, secures funding, and identifies potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your coffee roaster company.

How to get funding for your coffee roaster business?

There are several ways to get funding for your coffee roaster business, but self-funding is one of the most efficient and speedy funding options. Other options for funding are:

  • Bank loan – You may apply for a loan in government or private banks.
  • Small Business Administration (SBA) loan – SBA loans and schemes are available at affordable interest rates, so check the eligibility criteria before applying for it.
  • Crowdfunding – The process of supporting a project or business by getting a lot of people to invest in your business, usually online.
  • Angel investors – Getting funds from angel investors is one of the most sought startup options.

Apart from all these options, there are small business grants available, check for the same in your location and you can apply for it.

Where to find business plan writers for your coffee roaster business?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and ideas better than you, so we recommend you write your coffee roaster business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind.

What is the easiest way to write your coffee roaster business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of any coffee roaster business plan example and edit it as per your need. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our business plan software .

About the Author

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Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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How To Write a Business Plan for Coffee Roastery and Tasting Room in 9 Steps: Checklist

By alex ryzhkov, resources on coffee roastery and tasting room.

  • Financial Model
  • Business Plan
  • Value Proposition
  • One-Page Business Plan

Looking to start a coffee roastery and tasting room? You're in the right place! With the coffee industry booming, now is the perfect time to establish your own unique brand in the US market. According to recent statistics, the coffee industry in the US has experienced steady growth, with retail coffee sales reaching $81 billion in 2020. But how do you get started?

The first step is to conduct market research to understand the current landscape and identify potential opportunities for your business. This involves analyzing consumer preferences, local demographics, and market trends. By gaining insights into the demand for specialty coffee and the preferences of your target audience, you can create a tailored offering that sets you apart from the competition.

Next, it's crucial to identify your target audience and develop a deep understanding of their needs and preferences. This will allow you to tailor your coffee offerings and marketing strategies to attract and retain loyal customers. Are you targeting busy professionals looking for a quick caffeine fix, or are you catering to coffee connoisseurs who appreciate the art and craft of specialty coffee? Knowing your target audience is essential for creating a brand that resonates with them.

Speaking of competition, it's important to analyze your competitors . Identify other coffee roasteries and tasting rooms in your area and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. By understanding what sets your business apart and how you can differentiate yourself, you can position yourself as a unique and desirable option for coffee lovers in your community.

Once you've done your research, it's time to determine the best business structure for your coffee roastery and tasting room. Will you operate as a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a limited liability company? It's important to consider the legal requirements and implications of each option and choose the structure that aligns with your long-term goals.

To stand out in a competitive market, you need to develop a unique selling proposition (USP) . What will make customers choose your coffee over others? Whether it's your commitment to sustainability, your distinct flavor profiles, or your inviting atmosphere, your USP should highlight what sets your coffee roastery and tasting room apart from the rest.

A financial plan is crucial for any business venture. Determine your start-up costs, projected revenue, and operating expenses to create a comprehensive business plan. This will not only guide your decision-making process but also be essential when seeking funding or investment.

Speaking of funding, securing adequate financial support is often necessary to get your coffee roastery and tasting room off the ground. Options include traditional small business loans, crowdfunding, or seeking investment from private individuals or venture capitalists. A solid business plan and compelling pitch will greatly increase your chances of securing the funds you need.

Once your doors are ready to open, it's time to develop a marketing and advertising strategy that will attract customers to your coffee roastery and tasting room. Utilize social media, local advertising, and partnerships with other businesses to create awareness and generate interest.

Last but not least, it's important to set goals and milestones to keep your business on track and measure your progress. Whether it's aiming for a certain number of daily sales or expanding your product offerings, setting clear objectives will help you stay focused and motivated on your entrepreneurial journey.

Now that you're equipped with these 9 essential steps, it's time to turn your coffee roastery and tasting room dream into a reality. With careful planning, dedication, and a passion for coffee, you're well on your way to building a successful business in the exciting and ever-growing coffee industry.

Conduct Market Research

Market research is an essential step in starting a coffee roastery and tasting room business. It involves gathering and analyzing data to understand the target market, competition, and industry trends. This information will help you make informed decisions and develop a successful business strategy.

Why is market research important?

  • Identify your target audience: Market research helps you understand the preferences, needs, and demographics of your potential customers. This knowledge will guide your branding, product offerings, and marketing efforts.
  • Analyze competition: Researching your competitors will give you insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and market positioning. This understanding will help you differentiate your business and develop a unique selling proposition.
  • Understand industry trends: By staying updated on coffee industry trends, you can identify potential opportunities and adapt your business strategy accordingly. This knowledge also helps you stay ahead of changes that may impact your business.

Tips for conducting market research

  • Utilize online resources: Take advantage of free resources like industry reports, market research websites, and social media platforms to gather data and insights about the coffee industry.
  • Survey potential customers: Create online surveys or conduct focus groups to gather direct feedback from your target audience. This will provide valuable insights into their preferences and expectations.
  • Visit local coffee shops: Study existing coffee shops in your area to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and customer base. Take note of what they are doing well and areas where you can differentiate your business.
  • Study consumer trends: Keep an eye on coffee consumption trends, popular brewing methods, and consumer preferences for specialty or sustainably sourced coffee. This understanding will guide your product offerings and marketing strategies.

By conducting thorough market research, you will have a solid foundation for developing your business plan and making informed decisions that will set your coffee roastery and tasting room apart in the highly competitive coffee industry.

Identify Target Audience

To successfully operate a coffee roastery and tasting room, it is crucial to identify the target audience you will be catering to. Understanding your audience's preferences and demographics will help you tailor your products, services, and marketing strategies to meet their specific needs.

1. Define demographics: Start by identifying the demographic characteristics of your target audience. Consider factors such as age, gender, income level, and occupation. This will help you determine the type of coffee blends, flavors, and pricing that will appeal to them.

2. Assess preferences: Research and analyze the preferred coffee tastes and trends within your local community. Find out if there is a preference for single-origin coffees, flavored coffees, organic options, or specialty blends. Use this information to curate your coffee selections and develop unique offerings that differentiate your business from competitors.

3. Consider location: Take into account the location of your roastery and tasting room. Is it in a vibrant urban area with a younger population, or a suburban neighborhood with families and professionals? Understanding the local community will provide insights into the type of atmosphere and coffee experience that will resonate with your target audience.

Tips for Identifying Target Audience:

  • Engage with local coffee enthusiasts and gather their feedback on taste preferences and coffee experiences.
  • Conduct surveys or focus groups to gather data on customer preferences and expectations.
  • Observe customer behavior at existing coffee shops in the area to identify potential gaps or opportunities.
  • Connect with local businesses and organizations to understand their coffee needs for potential partnerships or catering opportunities.

Identifying your target audience is a crucial step in developing a successful business plan for a coffee roastery and tasting room. By understanding your audience's demographics, preferences, and location, you can create a unique brand that resonates with the local community and sets you apart from competitors.

Analyze Competitors

When starting a coffee roastery and tasting room business, it is crucial to analyze your competitors to gain a better understanding of the market landscape and identify opportunities for differentiation. Here are some key steps to help you analyze your competitors:

  • Identify your direct competitors: Research other coffee roasteries and tasting rooms in your target area. Look for businesses that offer similar products and services, attract a similar target audience, and operate in a similar price range.
  • Study their offerings: Take a close look at your competitors' coffee offerings, including the variety of beans they source, the roasting techniques they use, and any unique flavors they offer. Pay attention to the quality, presentation, and packaging of their products.
  • Assess their branding and marketing strategies: Analyze your competitors' branding, including their logo, website design, social media presence, and overall brand messaging. Look for ways to differentiate your business and establish a unique brand identity that resonates with your target audience.
  • Visit their tasting rooms: Experience firsthand what it's like to visit your competitors' tasting rooms. Observe their ambiance, customer service, menu options, and pricing. Take note of anything that stands out or could be improved upon in your own establishment.
  • Monitor customer reviews: Read online reviews and testimonials about your competitors to understand what customers like and dislike about their experiences. Pay attention to any gaps or pain points that you can address to better meet customer needs.
  • Look beyond local competitors: Research coffee roasteries and tasting rooms in other cities or regions to get a broader perspective on industry trends and innovative ideas.
  • Stay updated: Continuously monitor your competitors' activities, such as new product launches, marketing campaigns, and special events. This will help you stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions for your own business.
  • Embrace collaboration: Consider reaching out to complementary businesses, such as local bakeries or specialty food stores, to explore potential partnerships or cross-promotion opportunities.

Determine Business Structure And Legal Requirements

When starting a coffee roastery and tasting room business, it is important to carefully consider the business structure that best suits your goals and legal requirements. The most common business structures include sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation. Each structure has its pros and cons, so it's essential to consult with a legal professional to determine the best fit for your specific circumstances.

Once you have decided on a business structure, you must fulfill the legal requirements necessary to operate your coffee roastery and tasting room. This typically includes obtaining the necessary permits and licenses, registering your business with the appropriate authorities, and complying with health and safety regulations. Research the specific legal obligations for starting a coffee business in your state or city to ensure compliance.

  • Consult with an experienced attorney or business advisor to understand the legal implications and requirements for your specific business structure.
  • Research the zoning regulations in your area to determine if there are any restrictions on where your coffee roastery and tasting room can be located.
  • Obtain the necessary permits and licenses, such as a food service license, health department permits, and any other local requirements.
  • Consider obtaining insurance coverage to protect your business and assets from potential risks and liabilities.
  • Create clear policies and procedures for your employees to ensure compliance with labor laws and regulations.

By taking the time to determine the appropriate business structure and fulfilling the necessary legal requirements, you can set a solid foundation for your coffee roastery and tasting room business. This ensures that you are operating within the boundaries of the law, protecting your business, and positioning yourself for long-term success.

Develop A Unique Selling Proposition

Developing a unique selling proposition (USP) is essential for standing out in the competitive coffee roastery and tasting room industry. Your USP is what differentiates your business from others and attracts customers to choose your offerings over those of your competitors. Here are some important considerations in developing your USP:

  • Identify your target market's needs and preferences: Understanding the specific tastes and preferences of your target audience will help you tailor your USP to meet their expectations. This could include offering a wide range of coffee flavors, providing ethically sourced and sustainable beans, or creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere that aligns with their lifestyle.
  • Highlight your unique offering: Determine what sets your coffee roastery and tasting room apart from others in the industry. This could be a signature blend or roasting technique, exclusive access to rare coffee beans, or a unique twist to the coffee experience that customers can't find elsewhere.
  • Showcase your commitment to quality: Emphasize the superior quality of your coffee beans, the expertise of your roasters, and the meticulous attention to detail in every cup served. Communicate your passion for providing the best coffee experience to your customers, ensuring they can taste the difference.
  • Provide exceptional customer service: Make customer satisfaction a top priority by training your staff to deliver friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive service. Create an environment where patrons feel valued and welcome, fostering loyalty and positive word-of-mouth.

Tips for Developing Your Unique Selling Proposition:

  • Stay informed about the latest trends and innovations in the coffee industry to find inspiration for your unique offerings.
  • Consider conducting surveys or focus groups to gather insights from your target audience and incorporate their preferences into your USP.
  • Regularly assess your competitors' USPs to ensure yours remains distinct and appealing to customers.
  • Continuously innovate and adapt your USP based on customer feedback and changing market dynamics.

Remember, your unique selling proposition should be authentic and aligned with your brand values. It should resonate with your target audience and give them a compelling reason to choose your coffee roastery and tasting room over others. Developing a strong USP will help you attract and retain loyal customers, ultimately leading to the success of your business.

Create A Financial Plan

Creating a financial plan is a crucial step in starting a coffee roastery and tasting room business. It involves thoroughly analyzing the various financial aspects of your venture and ensuring that you have a clear understanding of your financial goals and projections. Here are some key points to consider:

  • Determine startup costs: Calculate all the expenses involved in launching your business, including equipment, lease or purchase of a space, permits and licenses, initial inventory, marketing materials, and personnel costs.
  • Estimate ongoing expenses: Consider all the regular expenses you will incur to keep your business running smoothly, such as rent, utilities, payroll, coffee bean procurement, packaging, marketing and advertising, insurance, and maintenance.
  • Create revenue projections: Based on your market research and target audience analysis, forecast your potential sales and revenue streams. Consider factors such as average customer spending, number of daily customers, and seasonal variations.
  • Develop a pricing strategy: Determine how you will price your coffee offerings to ensure profitability while remaining competitive in the market. Consider factors such as the cost of coffee beans, labor, overhead expenses, and desired profit margins.
  • Explore funding options: Identify potential sources of funding or investment to cover your startup and ongoing expenses. This could include personal savings, loans from financial institutions, grants, or seeking investors.
  • Consult with a financial advisor or accountant who has experience in the coffee industry to assist you in creating a comprehensive and realistic financial plan.
  • Consider creating different financial scenarios to evaluate the potential outcomes of best-case and worst-case scenarios.
  • Regularly review and update your financial plan as your business grows and evolves.

Secure Funding or Investment

Securing funding or investment is a crucial step in starting a coffee roastery and tasting room business. It can provide the necessary capital to cover expenses such as equipment, inventory, lease payments, and marketing costs. Here are some important considerations when seeking funding or investment for your business:

  • Business Plan: Create a comprehensive and well-researched business plan that outlines the potential profitability and growth opportunities of your coffee roastery and tasting room. This will help attract potential investors and lenders by showcasing the viability of your business.
  • Financial Projections: Develop detailed financial projections that demonstrate a clear understanding of your expected revenues, expenses, and profitability over a specific period of time. This will provide potential funders with an understanding of the return on investment they can expect.
  • Explore Funding Options: Research various funding options, such as traditional bank loans, small business administration loans, lines of credit, angel investors, and crowdfunding platforms. Each option has its own criteria, terms, and requirements, so consider which option aligns best with your business's needs and goals.
  • Networking: Build relationships within the coffee industry and local business community. Attend industry events, join professional associations, and connect with potential investors and lenders. Networking can help you find individuals who are interested in supporting your business financially.
  • Pitch Your Business: Perfect your elevator pitch to effectively communicate the unique selling proposition and potential of your coffee roastery and tasting room. Be prepared to present your business plan and financial projections to investors or lenders in a clear, concise, and compelling manner.
  • Partnerships: Consider forming strategic partnerships with individuals or businesses that can provide financial support. These partnerships could involve co-investing or collaborative funding efforts, potentially reducing the financial burden on your business.

Tips for Securing Funding or Investment:

  • Research different funding options to find the one that best fits your business's needs and goals.
  • Prepare a strong business plan and financial projections to showcase the potential profitability of your coffee roastery and tasting room.
  • Network within the coffee industry and local business community to build relationships with potential investors and lenders.
  • Practice and refine your elevator pitch to effectively communicate the unique selling proposition and potential of your business.
  • Consider forming strategic partnerships to share the financial burden and increase your chances of securing funding.

Develop A Marketing And Advertising Strategy

Once you have established your coffee roastery and tasting room, it is essential to develop a strong marketing and advertising strategy to promote your brand and attract customers. This strategy will help you reach your target audience and differentiate yourself from your competitors in the highly competitive coffee industry.

Identify your target market: Before diving into marketing and advertising, it is crucial to identify your target audience. Understand their preferences, demographics, and behavior to tailor your messaging effectively.

Create a strong brand identity: Your coffee roastery and tasting room should have a unique brand identity that resonates with your target market. Develop a compelling brand story, logo, and visual elements that reflect your mission, values, and quality offerings.

  • Utilize social media platforms to engage with your audience, share updates, and promote your products and services. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are ideal for visually showcasing your coffee and inviting customers to visit your tasting room.
  • Consider partnering with local businesses or influencers who align with your brand to increase your reach and credibility in the community.
  • Offer loyalty programs or referral incentives to encourage customer retention and word-of-mouth marketing.

Utilize online platforms: In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is paramount. Create a professional website that showcases your offerings, provides information about your tasting room, and enables online ordering. Optimize your website for search engines to improve visibility.

Invest in targeted advertising: Identify the most effective channels to reach your target audience and allocate a budget for targeted advertising campaigns. This may include social media ads, Google AdWords, and local publications.

Participate in local events and collaborations: Engage with the local community by participating in events, festivals, and collaborations with other businesses. This will not only raise awareness about your brand but also build relationships and foster loyalty among potential customers.

Analyze and measure your marketing efforts: Regularly analyze the effectiveness of your marketing and advertising campaigns. Monitor key metrics such as website traffic, social media engagement, and sales conversions to make informed decisions and optimize your strategy.

Developing a comprehensive marketing and advertising strategy is crucial for the success of your coffee roastery and tasting room. By understanding your target audience, creating a unique brand identity, utilizing online platforms, investing in targeted advertising, participating in local events, and continuously analyzing your efforts, you can effectively promote your business and attract a loyal customer base.

Set Goals and Milestones

Setting goals and milestones is crucial for the success of your coffee roastery and tasting room business. It helps you stay focused, motivated, and provides a roadmap for measuring your progress. Here are some important steps to consider when setting goals and milestones:

  • Identify your long-term vision: Start by defining your long-term vision for the business. What do you want to achieve in the next five or ten years? Having a clear vision will guide your goal-setting process.
  • Break it down into short-term goals: Once you have your long-term vision in place, break it down into short-term goals. These are the actionable steps you need to take to reach your long-term vision. Make sure these goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
  • Set milestones: Along with your goals, set milestones to track your progress. Milestones are specific points of achievement that indicate you are on the right track. For example, opening your coffee tasting room, reaching a certain number of monthly sales, or expanding your customer base.
  • Review and adjust: Regularly review your goals and milestones to assess your progress. It's important to be flexible and adjust your goals as needed. As your business evolves, you may need to revise your goals to align with new opportunities or challenges.

Tips for Setting Goals and Milestones:

  • Involve your team in the goal-setting process to foster a sense of ownership and commitment.
  • Make sure your goals are realistic and attainable. Setting unrealistic goals can lead to frustration and demotivation.
  • Track your progress regularly and celebrate small wins along the way. Recognizing achievements boosts morale and keeps you motivated.
  • Consider using technology tools or project management software to track your goals and milestones more effectively.

By setting clear and measurable goals, as well as defining achievable milestones, you will be able to stay focused on your vision for your coffee roastery and tasting room business. Regularly reassessing and adjusting your goals will help you navigate challenges and seize new opportunities, ultimately leading to the success and growth of your business.

In conclusion, starting a coffee roastery and tasting room requires careful planning and strategy. By following the nine steps outlined in this blog post, you can create a solid business plan that will set you up for success. From conducting market research and analyzing competitors to developing a unique selling proposition and securing funding, each step is crucial in ensuring a strong foundation for your coffee business.

Remember to always keep your target audience in mind and create a welcoming atmosphere that caters to their taste preferences. Utilize marketing and advertising strategies to promote your brand and set achievable goals and milestones to track your progress. With the right plan in place, your coffee roastery and tasting room can become a thriving business that not only generates revenue but also fosters community engagement and education.

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How to Grow Your Coffee Roasting Business: 27 Tips from Coffee Pros

business plan coffee roastery

Coffee roasters like to think the key to success is simply roasting the best coffee beans out there. It’d be great if success was that straightforward, but the coffee business is a bit more complicated than that.

The problem with this business plan is that EVERYONE else is following the same one. Coffee shops have more options for high quality coffee than ever before, and even more shops are taking up the craft of roasting for themselves.

Quality is just the foot in the door for coffee roasters, as one coffee shop owner put it. What else can coffee roasters do to stand out from the crowd?

We recently conducted a survey with the help of Barista Magazine to learn more about coffee shop and customer habits. Along with learning a lot about consumer preferences, we also learned what coffee shops look for when choosing a roasting partner. The most important qualities for a coffee roaster are:

  • Consistency
  • Unique flavors
  • Being local

But when we asked coffee shops to explain in more detail, there seemed to be other strong factors that played a role in how coffee roasters earned their business. We picked out the best pieces of advice from coffee shops and list them below. Scroll through the 4 main categories and find the advice that resonates with you. You have our permission to steal it and turn it into a booming business. Happy roasting!

Coffee Shop Education

1. offer to run cuppings for coffee shops.

“Go above and beyond for your shops. If they want to do cuppings, send them free samples or offer to come down and teach! Your shops are a direct influence on the image of your roastery.” - Devin Parham, Head Barista at The Coffee Cup , Poteau, OK, USA

2. Provide Training to coffee shops

“Offer flexibility within roasts and support your vendors with training. It helps the cafe and ensures that your coffees are being brewed and served the way you intended when you roasted them.” - United By Blue Coffeehouse & Clothier , Philadelphia, PA, USA

“Offering trainings and being available are some things that I appreciate most about my roaster. They anticipate our needs and follow through. They do an amazing job.” - Tina Contes, Dough , Tampa FL, USA

3. Understand what it takes to be a good barista

“Be familiar with skills needed to be a good barista first. if you cannot connect the two, how can you know what your customers want. Make it a point to connect with people purchasing beans from your shop, or the shops where your beans are being sold.”

- Matthew Lynch, Street Bean Coffee , Seattle, WA, USA

4. Choose coffee shop partners who care about the product

“Display prudence when selecting a shop to prepare your coffee and oversee their procedures to ensure a proper representation of your brand and product.” 

- Zachary James, Peddler Coffee , Philadelphia, PA, USA

5. Provide detailed information about the coffees

“For a roaster, having highly detailed information about the beans you're sourcing, tasting notes, the ability to host baristas on site and to articulately conduct trainings and coffee cuppings are all critical to success in the industry. This is particularly relevant if your clientele is local and actively pursuing education and transparency about their buying practices in their shops.” 

- Ryan Barker, Bourbon Coffee , Washington, DC, USA

6. Be a resource to wholesale customers

“Be a resource! Offering classes, equipment, technical support, and being a familiar face adds value to your brand.” - Doug Stone, Corvus Coffee Roasters , Denver, CO, USA

Creating Quality Coffee

Corvus Coffee Roasters in Denver, CO

7. Take coffee roasting classes

“If you want to roast your own coffee you must know how to do it. You can ruin a great coffee if you don´t. Begin with the courses and then buy your roaster machine. Create a profile as so you can always roast the coffee the same way as before to have a consistent product.” - Dri Menezes,  Blueberry Pie Café , Niterói, Brazil

8. Create custom blends for wholesale customers

“Listen to your client. Our roaster was very open to creating our custom blends, and roasting the single origins to our specifications.” 

- Lyndsey Lee, Coffee Studio

9. Take risks with unique coffees

“Take risks. Do new things and pull in obscure coffees. Never compromise the craft of coffee roasting for profit. Remember why your coffee is special and always do your best to honor the hard work of coffee farmers.” 

- Ben Hernandez, Oak Lawn Coffee , Dallas, TX, USA

10. Be transparent in sourcing

“We absolutely point blank refuse to serve coffee from roasters who aren't absolutely transparent about sourcing and blends. Put the name of the producer on the bag. Tell us what's in a blend. Source ethically and advertise that.” 

- Alex Evans, M5 Espresso, Cincinnati, Ohio , USA

Building Relationships

11. relationships and trust win over customers.

“In our region, we have at least 25 fantastic roasters within two hours of our shop. Our decision came down to relationship and trust. Messenger Coffee (our primary roaster) has taken a personal interest in our business and has gone out of their way to help us grow and reach our goals. As a result, we have grown into one of their largest accounts. We couldn't have reached that without them!” 

- David Adkins, Arrow Coffee Company , Manhattan, KS, USA

12. Be the “One Stop Shop” for cafes

“Be proactive. Build a full service business that consults, installs and finances equipment.” 

- Avery's Coffee Roasters, Las Vegas, NV, USA

13. Build a strong relationships with local shop owners

“Build personal connections with shop owners and management--it goes a long way! We've been so lucky to forge a strong bond with our roaster. Happy to keep this going for years to come.” 

- Mike Balderrama, The Potter's House , Washington, DC, USA

14. Take on small coffee shop accounts and grow with them

“Our [coffee] order was very small at the beginning but we had roasters who worked with us and helped us grow. Because of this positive relationship we are very active about promoting our roasters to our customer base.” 

- Kim Wilson, Commissary Cafe , Portland, Oregon, USA

Commissary Cafe in Portland, OR

15. Communicate constantly

“Constantly checking in and sending samples to existing accounts really shows you care and will help them to grow sales, gaining you more business.” 

- Michael Hoshstrasser, University Book Store Cafe , Seattle, WA, USA

16. Don’t forget about customer service

“Customer service is key. That can easily be lost when your product becomes the primary focus. If there's no customer to by the coffee, then the coffee's not worth anything. If people feel valued by you as a roaster, then they'll value your product.” - Seth Enos, Copper Kettle Coffee , Colorado Spring, CO, USA

17. Keep up with your customer’s taste preferences

“Keep your clients engaged and constantly communicate with them to ensure the product you're delivering is keeping up with their tastes as preferences change over time and if you don't reach out to them in time, they may switch roasters.” 

- Minnie Antonio, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

18. Actually visit the local shops

“Visit your local shops more. It's easy to stay in the roastery all day, and neglect the shops around you. But making a dual-effort to serve excellent coffees to the community around you goes a long way. Local partnerships speak volumes in communities where coffee isn't yet being fully appreciated.” 

- Jared H., Java Jolt , Jacksonville, AL, USA

19. Turn relationships into repeat business

“Focus on quality, and focus on building relationships with wholesale accounts. For us, quality is the foot in the door, the relationship is what gets us to order again.” 

- Justin Carpenter, Foolish Things Coffee Company, Tulsa, OK , USA

20. Offer free samples to consumers at partner coffee shops

“Be involved in the cafes that carry your brand. Offer cupping nights for the cafes patrons. Maybe more small free samples of beans to customers.” 

- Kelly Fennell, Cool Beans Coffeehouse & Cafe , Madison, WI, USA

Outreach and Marketing

21. build relationships with the baristas, not just the owners.

“Don't underestimate the power of the waitstaff. Drop samples and free coffee cards w/ them so they are familiar w/ your product and will recommend and sell. (and make sure it gets reordered)” 

- Sondra Powell, Red Hot Roasters , Louisville, KY, USA

22. Start with samples, follow up with a personal connection

“Drop off samples, follow up, make a personal connection, don't get discouraged if you don't wind up getting my business--at least you've made a friend!” 

- Josie Hunckler, Rabble Coffee , Indianapolis, IN, USA

23. Do not make brand and marketing an afterthought

“I'm the roaster too. I will say, quality is as important as brand image. Working on branding and marketing should not be an afterthought.” - Daniel Noguera, Urbana Cafe , Cincinnati, OH, USA

Urbana Coffee in Cincinnati, OH

Urbana Coffee  in Cincinnati, OH

24. Be proactive about seeking new customers

“Approach new places that are looking for coffee - take the work away from them.” 

- Avocado Cafe , CA, USA

25. Be active on social media

“Be consistent in their marketing to shops, be respectful to smaller shops (don't become inconsistent when you start getting bigger purchases), be accessible for questions, have an active social media so we can point to you (social media means a lot to small shops and it helps if we can highlight what you are doing).” - Renee Blanchard, Church Alley Coffee Bar , New Orleans, LA, USA

26. Provide pricing and wholesale information for prospects

“Clearly communicate information on pricing, the coffee, and other services you offer. I shouldn't have to look for it or ask.” - Matthew Scott

27. Make Your Website User Friendly

“For me an inviting website is always a plus for me. Something not to complicated to find out about the business and the coffees they offer.” - Victor Hodgson, Sonoma, CA, USA

Earning more business as a coffee roaster isn’t difficult; it just takes time. Being proactive about marketing will help roasters find new prospects, but business always boils down to the same three things: quality, relationships, and going above and beyond for customers.

It’s easy to get caught up in the act of roasting and forget there’s a whole wide world out there to explore. Don’t do that. Be active in the community and coffee shops will reward you with their business.

business plan coffee roastery

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Coffee Roasting Business Plan Example

JUL.17, 2018

Coffee Roasting Business Plan Example

Do you want to start a coffee roasting business?

Starting a coffee roasting business is one of the best decisions you can ever make given the increasing popularity of coffee uptake. According to statistics from the National Coffee Association, the number of Americans consuming coffee has reached the peak since 2012. Figures indicate over 64% of Americans aged 18 and above have a cup of coffee on a daily basis with a further increase expected which is attributed to the popularity of gourmet drinks. A business  plan coffee roaster is a superb business idea that is poised for success so long you plan adequately. Coffee roasting is more than just a business, it’s an art. Being passionate about your craft and having a good business plan coffee roaster is the secret to succeeding in this business.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

The coffee roasting business will be registered as Blonch Coffee and will be located in Harlem neighborhood of New York City. The business will be managed by Maria Rodriguez who is a professional and licensed Q Grader.

2.2 Management Team

Maria Rodriguez, Owner and Proprietor of Blonch Coffee is a licensed and experienced Q Grader with extensive experience in the U.S coffee industry. Prior to starting coffee roasting business , Maria worked for high profile coffee brands across the United States and participated in numerous local, regional and international coffee tasting events.

2.3 Customer Focus

In order for the business plan coffee roaster to succeed, Maria has carefully studied the market and relied on her vast industry experience to come up with an appropriate approach that Blonch Coffee will use to reach out to the target market.

2.4 Business Target

Before starting her own business plan coffee roaster , Rodriguez did extensive market research coupled with her intricate knowledge of the business to identify the right business target. The key is to find creative marketing approaches to effectively reach out to the customer target.

Coffee Roasting Business Plan - 3 Years Profit Forecast

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

Maria Rodriguez is an experienced Q Grader whose successful career in the coffee making and tasting industry spans over two decades. Having worked for various top brands across the U.S. and participated in high profile events, Maria definitely has what it takes and hands-on skills of how to start a coffee roasting business .

3.2 Aim of Starting the Business

The coffee culture is constantly evolving for this reason, the demand for roasted coffee has increased significantly. Not only is coffee taken as a daily beverage, specialty coffees have now become the norm. Discerning coffee lovers are keen on quality coffee which lays a huge emphasis on how people drink and perceive coffee. To be part of this new exciting culture change, Maria Rodriguez thought of starting a coffee bean business that adopts a unique and transformational approach of coffee roasting.

3.3 How the Business will be Started

With over 20 years of experience in the coffee industry, Maria Rodriguez has a deep understanding of emerging coffee roasting trends and customer expectations. Given her involvement in the industry on a day-to-day basis, she knows what is required to start a successful business plan coffee roaster . To actualize her plan, Maria has worked closely with a team of experienced financial experts to formulate a comprehensive financial analysis and business plan coffee roaster that will guide the entire setup and operation of the business.

Coffee Roasting Business Plan - Startup Cost

Services for Customers

Blonch Coffee has specialized in sourcing, roasting, packaging and organizing delivery for uniquely customized and specialized coffee products. The business offers a wide array of blended and roasted coffees which have been prepared from different kinds of coffee beans. Starting a coffee roasting company poised for success depends on how well blending is done for various kinds of beans.

Blonch Roasters intends to offer a wide range of coffee specialties which include:

  • Bistro Blend
  • Espresso and Decaf Espresso
  • African Roast
  • French Roast

Marketing Analysis of Coffee Roasting Business

Coffee is the second most popular traded commodity in the world after oil. The worldwide coffee retail market is a whopping $56 billion industry. Nowadays, coffee consumers prefer taking high-grade coffees with increased focus on quality and unique blending of beans. In the U.S. the coffee market industry has reached unprecedented levels of growth and for this reason, Blonch Coffee plans to rely on an objective coffee roasting business plan to set up its operations. To succeed in this business plan coffee roaster , extensive market analysis has been carried out to identify opportunities available to support business growth. Studying local trends and having a deep understanding of the local coffee roasting market will help Blonch to strategically position its brand.

5.1 Market Segment

In order for Blonch Coffee to achieve its targets, the coffee roasting business will focus on offering various kinds of products and services. Identifying the targeted customer segments is an important step Blonch Coffee has to deal with before as part of the plans to start coffee roasting business . After identifying the right market segment, the business plan coffee roaster can then come up with creative marketing strategy for business in order to woo customers.

Coffee Roasting Business Plan - Market Segmentation

5.1.1 Coffee Brewing Premises

One of the largest potential customers for Blonch Coffee is coffee brewing facilities which heavily rely on coffee products on a daily basis to serve their customers. These customers buy roasted coffee beans for the purposes of preparing and selling coffee and espresso drinks. This category includes Coffee Shops , Restaurants, drive-through and Bakeries. With the increasing uptake of coffee, selling directly to various coffee businesses is a sure way of boosting revenues for the coffee roasting business. Because these businesses require coffee products on a daily basis, this is a lucrative market Blonch Coffee must make an effort to reach out to.

5.1.2 Corporates

To start a successful coffee roasting business, you cannot afford to ignore the corporate market which is one of the biggest consumers of coffee products. New York City is a corporate and financial hub with thousands of organizations plying their trade in the city. Office coffee is a popular trend in offices and Blonch Coffee is positioned in a strategic New York neighborhood with easy connections to New York’s Financial District whether a majority of corporates have their offices. Aside from catering for offices, other institutions include schools, hospitals and factories among others.

5.1.3 Retail Specialty Shops

Coffee is a popular item that is stocked in various gourmet and gift shops. People nowadays love and appreciate coffee products as gifts which creates a great opportunity for Blonch Coffee to make unique products that are attractive to retailers focusing on selling specialty and gourmet coffee.

5.1.4 Mail Order

Mail Order coffee is increasing in popularity as many people now order for coffee online. This is an incredible way of boosting revenue for Blonch Coffee as the business can produce coffee for shipping to various places across the U.S. and worldwide. When you start your own coffee roasting business , you must be willing to go beyond the traditional market.

5.1.5 Grocery Stores

Grocery stores buy beans from coffee roasters in bulk for the purposes of resale or prepackaging to their customers. Unlike coffee shops, grocery stores don’t prepare coffee drinks for their customers.

5.2 Business Target

Blonch Coffee has an excellent opportunity to offer its services in the greater New York area thanks to the changing perceptions about coffee. New York is a large city with many coffee bean roasting business establishments, but that doesn’t prevent Blonch Coffee from making an impact.  Using a diversified product range and a good business plan coffee roaster , the business hopes to realize an annual sales increase of 20-30% per annum.

5.3 Product Pricing

Before coming up with product prices, Blonch Coffee has carried out an extensive market research that takes into account the prices of competitors. In order to stay afloat, the business has carefully priced its products to compete favorably.

With the right marketing strategies in place, Blonch Coffee has an exceptional chance to appeal to customers and consistently grow revenue margins. Each marketing strategy is aimed at reaching the target customers with awesome products that exceed client expectations. When planning how to start coffee roasting business , there must be an effective marketing strategy in place in order to remain relevant in a fast growing industry.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

Blonch Coffee plans to come up with a business model that will effectively guide its day-to-day operations and ensure customer expectations are fully met. Even though there are numerous coffee roasting businesses in New York, Maria Rodriguez knows how to start a coffee roasting business and put in place the right mechanisms to remain ahead of competitors.

6.2 Sales Strategy

For Blonch Coffee to meet its sales and revenue goals, the following strategies will be implemented to help advertise the business.

  • Print Advertising Campaigns is one of the most effective sales strategies that reaches out to a mass target audience. The business intends to print brochures and put advertisements in local dailies as well as local coffee trade publications and journals. By doing this, the local community is made aware about the coffee roasting business.
  • Get the word out and organize an opening party to introduce the business to customers and industry stakeholders. A cupping event is ideal as it allows guests to taste, compare and analyze different varieties of coffee. This is a perfect opportunity for prospective customers to sample what Blonch Coffee has to offer.
  • Digital advertising is the new kid on the block. Social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram among others are excellent ways of sending out word about the coffee roasting business. Online advertising such as Google Ads allow for localized advertising which is aimed at the local target.
  • Attend industry related trade shows and exhibitions with an aim of marketing the coffee roasting business. This is an effective sales strategy that connects the business with right people who will be instrumental in growing revenue margins.

6.3 Sales Forecast

To achieve its goals, Blonch Coffee has come up with a sales forecast to show the coffee roasting business intends to meet its financial goals. Using a comprehensive business plan coffee roaster , the business knows which areas to focus on to achieve financial success.

Coffee Roasting Business Plan - Unit Sales

Personnel Plan

In order to realize its goals, Blonch Coffee intends to hire a team of qualified and experienced staff to manage day-to-day operations of the business. How to start a coffee roasting company and run it successfully depends on the caliber of staff hired. A good business plan coffee roaster should incorporate a personnel budget to enable the business plan coffee roaster know how much will be spent on salaries.

7.1 Personnel Plan

To effectively run business operations, Maria Rodriguez who is the Owner and Proprietor of Blonch Coffee will be in charge of running the coffee roasting business on a daily basis. To ensure smooth running of the business plan coffee roaster , the following staff will be employed in various departments.

  • Business Development and Sales Manager
  • 2 Support Staff
  • 1 Admin Assistant
  • 1 Shipping Executive

Successful applicants will undergo training to familiarize themselves with business plan coffee roaster operations.

7.2 Average Salaries

Blonch Coffee plans to pay its staff the following salaries within the first three years of operation.

Financial Plan

Blonch Coffee has come up with a comprehensive financial plan that will be instrumental in driving success and business growth. In this business plan coffee roaster of how to start coffee roasting , Maria Rodriguez will use her savings to start the business but will be assisted by two investors. In addition, a business plan for a bank loan will be secured to help finance the budget deficit to meet expenses. For a business to be successful, there must be a good plan to guide operations and finances. Below is key financial data for Blonch Coffee.

8.1 Important Assumptions

The financial forecast for Blonch Coffee is based on the assumptions below.

8.2 Brake-even Analysis

Blonch Coffee Brake-even analysis is illustrated in the graph below.

Coffee Roasting Business Plan - Brake-even Analysis

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

Profit and Loss information for the coffee roasting business is calculated on a monthly and annual basis as shown below.

8.3.1 Monthly Profit

Coffee Roasting Business Plan - Profit Monthly

8.3.2 Yearly Profit

Coffee Roasting Business Plan - Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Monthly Gross Margin

Coffee Roasting Business Plan - Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Yearly Gross Margin

Coffee Roasting Business Plan - Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

Below is a summary of Pro forma cash flow, subtotal cash spent, subtotal cash received, subtotal cash spent on operations and subtotal cash from operations.

Coffee Roasting Business Plan - Projected Cash Flow

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

Below is a Projected Balance Sheet for Blonch Coffee that shows capital, assets, liabilities, current liabilities and long term assets.

8.6 Business Ratios

The following is the Ratio Analysis, Business Ratios and Business Net Worth for Blonch Coffee.

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Coffee Roaster Business Plan

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ProfitableVenture

Coffee Bean Roasting Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business Plans » Food Sector » Food Processing

Do you want to start a coffee bean business and need to write a plan? If YES, here is a sample coffee bean roasting business plan template & feasibility report.

A coffee roasting business is a business that roasts green coffee beans to light (city), medium (full city) and dark (full city+) roast levels so that they can be brewed. These businesses may decide to sell their roasted coffee directly to individuals, or through coffee shops, grocers and other retailers.

Anyone looking to start this business is expected to be creative, and also passionate about coffee. Creativity helps when coming up with new blends, which requires combining different coffees in unique ways and also inventing blend names. Also, to-be roasters should be comfortable with basic scientific concepts.

Roasters don’t need a formal degree in science, but they should be comfortable with biology, physics and chemistry because roasting coffee involves each of these fields. For instance, choosing good coffees requires a knowledge of growing conditions, cultivars and varieties of coffee beans (biology).

Choosing and setting up a roaster requires an appreciation for thermodynamics (physics), knowing the exact roast profile that suits each coffee requires an understanding of how the heat applied in roasting affects the chemical structure of coffee beans (chemistry).

It’s also helpful if roasters are comfortable multitasking. Roasting a single batch of coffee takes between 10 and 15 minutes. In order to maximize efficiency, roasters often complete other tasks while batches are roasting – but they must still keep an eye on any coffee that’s roasting to ensure it’s roasted properly.

In this business, you’ll spend a lot of time roasting and packaging coffee. In a typical day, you may: Sort and weigh green (unroasted) coffee out into batches (often 5 to 20 pounds), roast batches of coffee, sort and weigh roasted coffee into retail and wholesale packages (often 12-ounce and 5-pound bags), accept and fulfill orders, clean the roaster and deliver to wholesale customers.

At least monthly, and perhaps more often, you’ll receive shipments of green coffee and send invoices to wholesale customers.

A Sample Coffee Bean Roasting Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

According to industry reports, the coffee roaster market is expected to register a CAGR of 3.2 percent, during the forecast period (2019 – 2024). Meanwhile, roasting coffee transforms the chemical and physical properties of green coffee beans into roasted coffee products.

The roasting process is what produces the characteristic flavour of coffee by causing the green coffee beans to expand and to change colour, taste, smell, and density. Green coffee is more stable than roasted, so the roasting process tends to take place close to where it will be consumed. It reduces the time that roasted coffee spends in distribution, giving it longer shelf life.

Note that innovation and do-it-on your own are trending concepts in coffee; for instance, nitrogen-infused coffee is cold coffee brew (similar to beer). Companies like Starbucks are experimenting with nitrogen-infused coffee in the United States and the concept is gaining popularity in the United Kingdom as well.

According to reports, the key driver for the coffee roaster market is the consumer preference for fresh, flavourful, and aromatic coffee. The vast majority of coffee is roasted commercially on a large scale, but small-scale commercial roasting has grown significantly with the trend toward single-origin coffees served at specialty shops.

The restraints for coffee roaster industry are the low shelf-life of roasted coffee, as it loses the flavour due to the onset of staleness. Moreover, wide usage of instant coffee powders limits the market growth, as they reduce the time of roasting and grinding.

Opportunities in the coffee roaster market include the introduction of new blends of coffee flavours by global brands and advancement in the coffee equipment technology. Coffee roasters have a wide opportunity in houses/drive thru/espresso carts, restaurants, grocery stores, etc.

Coffee beans are a global commodity. There are many different types of beans, distinctive in the genre of plant that the bean comes from, as well as the region that the bean is grown. Note that blending different types of beans makes huge differences.

While the coffee industry as a whole has been stagnated for a while, the high-end gourmet coffee market is still growing. This can be attributed to a number of factors, including the maturing and increased sophistication.

2. Executive Summary

Green Coffee, LLC is a coffee roasting and distributor business that will offer green and roasted coffee to clients and customers in Honolulu, Hawaii. By specializing on high-quality, organic, and fair- trade green Coffee, we at Green Coffee will strive to ensure the best coffee reaches the cups of consumers.

We also offer a platform for smaller roasting operations to be able to afford a constant flow of beans by being able to negotiate fair prices and provide coffee to roasters with contracts for deferred payment or contract roasting.

By contract roasting, we can sell coffee roasted by the same experts to which we are selling our green coffee. We believe that our small scale contract roasting agreements will help us appeal to a wide variety of consumers while also keeping costs operation minimal.

The benefits will not only extend to us. We also hope to position our distribution centres to help decrease lead times for the roasters and allow them to move capital out of inventory and decrease their need for space by buying green coffee from us as needed.

At Green Coffee, we hope to make it easier for established small scale roasters to grow by assisting in negotiating lower prices and helping to advertise for them. Coffee is something that should be shared, and if a business can support roasters, importers, and farmers that agree with the mission of sustainability, then it makes sense for us to support them.

Green Coffee is being led by Lincoln Danby. Lincoln possess a strong educational background and a wealth of applicable industry experience. He received his Bachelor degree and MBA from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. He has worked at several coffee shops, and also as a coffee roaster under the wing of a master roaster.

Through a combination of a solid Business model, strong educational credentials, and proprietary coffee roasting techniques, Lincoln possesses the requisite skills and knowledge to build Green Coffee into a significant market player in the high-end coffee market.

Sales for year two are forecasted to be $2,187,000 rising to $3,556,000 in year three. Net profit is projected to be 7.09 percent for year two and will jump to 9.21 percent in year three. The company will be structured as a Limited Liability Company and registered for Business in the state of Hawaii. The management will be composed of a single member for the time being, and the entity will be treated as a sole proprietorship under federal taxation.

3. Our Products and Services

At Green Coffee, we will offer a wide range of specially blended and roasted coffees. Our products are made up of two segments one is green coffee and the other is roasted coffee. Each coffee will be available in one pound and five pound packages, in both whole bean and ground versions.

Every product we produce will compete as the best in its respective product category based on quality and taste. The key to a wonderful bag of roasted beans is the blending of different coffee beans. Coffee beans are a global commodity.

There are many different types of beans, distinctive in the genre of plant that the bean comes from as well as the region that the bean is grown. Beyond these distinctions, beans are still a commodity. We also believe that blending different types of beans make huge differences and the roasting technique also plays a role in the taste of the coffee. Our product line will include;

  • Hawaiian Roast
  • Italian Roast
  • French Roast
  • Columbian Dark
  • African Roast
  • Bistro Blend
  • Decaf Roasts

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

  • At Green Coffee LLC, our vision is to build brand awareness and customer service excellence, while increasing sales.
  • Our mission is to offer the finest selection of coffees. All our products will surpass all of its competition.
  • A strong customer service ethic will support the fantastic product.

Our Business Structure

Lincoln Danby, the founder and driving force of Green Coffee will be the main component of the management team. Lincoln received his Bachelor of Arts and MBA from the University of Hawaii. He has worked at several coffee shops, and also as a coffee roaster under the wing of a master roaster.

Through a combination of a solid Business model, strong educational credentials, and proprietary coffee roasting techniques, Lincoln possess the requisite skills and knowledge to build Green Coffee into a significant market player in the high-end coffee market.

We plan to establish three functioning units within Green Coffee: Production, Sales and Marketing, and General and Administrative. Green Coffee Production unit will involve our Customer Service Specialists, who will be attending to the needs of our customers.

Our Sales and Marketing will take care of the promotion of our business and services, as well as the promotion of the Drive-through and the Community Contribution program. General and Administrative will take care of the facilities, equipment, inventory, payroll, and other basic, operational processes. Below are the portfolios we plan to establish;

Chief Executive Officer

  • Chief operating officer
  • Chief financial officer
  • Chief information officer
  • Director of marketing
  • District and facilities managers
  • Warehouse manager /store manager

Customer Service Specialists

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

  • Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counselling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results
  • Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
  • Tasked with fixing prices and signing business deals
  • Tasked with providing direction for the business
  • Tasked with signing checks and documents on behalf of the Green Coffee
  • Evaluates the success of the organization

Chief Operating officer

  • Tasked with overseeing the smooth running of the business
  • Leads the producing of all business products
  • Make lists and budget for all supplies
  • Tasked with training new staff
  • Makes sure that quality in maintained at all times
  • Map out strategy that will lead to efficiency amongst workers in the venture
  • Ensures that the facility meets the expected safety and health standard at all times.

Chief Financial officer

  • Tasked with preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
  • Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports
  • Tasked with financial forecasting and risks analysis.
  • Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting
  • Tasked with developing and managing financial systems and policies
  • Tasked with administering payrolls
  • Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
  • Handles all financial transactions for the organization
  • Serves as internal auditor for the organization

Chief Information officer

  • Provide technological guidance within an organization.
  • Supervise information system and communications network.
  • Develop and implement a customer service platform to serve the organization in every aspect.
  • Design, establish, and maintain a network infrastructure for local and wide area connectivity and remote access.
  • Consult with administration, department managers, and manufacturing representatives to exchange information, present new approaches, and to discuss equipment/system changes.
  • Participate in vendor contract negotiations for all new computer equipment and software purchased for the corporation.
  • Create a cost-benefit analysis as well as supporting a detailed definition of data requirements and departmental workflows.
  • Oversee Internet and computer operations.
  • Assess and anticipate technology projects and recommend appropriate action and resources.
  • Establish and direct the strategic and tactical goals, policies, and procedures for the information technology department.
  • Propose hardware/software solutions to accomplish the Green Coffee’s business objectives.
  • Identify user needs and resolve problems.

Director of sales and marketing

  • Takes care of external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
  • Model demographic information and analyse the volumes of transactional data generated by customer purchases
  • Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new partners, and business opportunities
  • Tasked with supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with customers
  • Documents all customer contact and information
  • Represents the Green Coffee in strategic meetings
  • Helps increase sales and growth for the Green Coffee

District and facilities manager

  • Tasked with outlining a comprehensive recruiting and training program for warehouse managers to follow
  • Monitor the P&L reports for each store and develop effective ways to fill in any gaps between actual performance and Green Coffee projections
  • Prioritize store performance issues to make certain that the issues most directly affecting profitability are addressed first
  • Immediately address any lapses in compliance with corporate policies or local, state and federal laws
  • Act as a coach to the store managers and as a resource to each store employee to help inspire the success of each store

Warehouse manager/store manager

  • Maintains receiving, warehousing, and distribution operations by initiating, coordinating, and enforcing program, operational, and personnel policies and procedures.
  • Safeguards warehouse operations and contents by establishing and monitoring security procedures and protocols.
  • Controls inventory levels by conducting physical counts; reconciling with data storage system.
  • Maintains physical condition of warehouse by planning and implementing new design layouts; inspecting equipment; issuing work orders for repair and requisitions for replacement.
  • Ensures that all contacts with customer (e-mail, walk-In centre, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
  • Through interaction with customers on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the Green Coffee ’s products and services
  • Takes care of administrative duties assigned by the store manager in an effective and timely manner
  • Consistently stays abreast of any new information on Green Coffee, promotional campaigns etc. to makes sure accurate and helpful information is supplied to customers when they make enquiries
  • Tasked with cleaning the facility at all times
  • Makes sure that toiletries and supplies don’t run out of stock
  • Any other duty as assigned by the CEO.

6. SWOT Analysis

Our key objective at Green Coffee LLC is to develop a high-quality menu of different coffee blends and also provide an excellent service experience, while anticipating the needs of our customers and delivering the best service. At Green Coffee, we look to operate as a coffee distributor between importers and small roasters.

The business will be a seller of green unroasted beans to small and medium sized roasting operations that alone do not have economies of size.

By working closely with these roasters, we can purchase the goods they need and better understand their demand. Acting like a cooperative, we can also pool smaller roasters in Hawaii to help them, and us, get a better price from importers. Clearly summarized below is the result of our SWOT Analysis;

Our detailed SWOT analysis has identified three keys that will be instrumental to our success at Green Coffee.

  • Develop the finest product.
  • Exceed customer expectations.
  • Employ strict financial controls.

Our weakness will be the time it will take the people of Honolulu to know where we are and what we offer. People go about their daily activities and most times tend not to discover the new business in town unless the business establishes a direct marketing Plan. We plan to start advertising even before we open up our facility, at least to make sure that our brand is known.

  • Opportunities

Nothing wakes up our senses more than the freshly brewed aroma of a dark roasted, full-bodied cup of coffee. Regardless of gender, age, socioeconomic status, or location, each and every one of us loves to have a cup of coffee. From the famous espresso shot of Italy and the flat whites of Australia to the Kona coffee of Hawaii, coffee drinkers from all over the world are always searching for the latest trends that will satisfy their adventurous taste buds.

Our threat at Green Coffee is the fact that we are competing with already established facilities in Honolulu, and also there are other entrepreneurs who are likely going to launch similar business within the location of our business. But with our unique workforce and plans, we have all it takes to dominate the industry and take up enough market shares.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

Market Trend

With the constantly evolving and ever-growing coffee industry, we at Green Coffee LLC understand the need to find new ways to bring customers into our shop. The competition is tough and most coffee businesses have their own marketing gimmicks to lure in caffeine addicts.

At Green Coffee, we plan to continuously develop tailor-made ideas to better serve customers. From trying out new flavours to offering a unique ordering experience, we plan to stay ahead or in-line with coffee industry trends that will surely bring in more customers and profits to our business.

Our number one focus is on improving customer experience. From our daily operations to engaging in customer service, we plan to build our efforts to simplify the whole process. We plan to make our shops conducive enough to welcome customers.

When it comes to tracking our inventory, we plan to invest in applications that will provide real-time insights regarding our current stock level. We plan to optimize our ordering area to maximize the space for both employees and customers.

We will also consider swapping shifts and letting employees find their own replacements in case of unplanned time off. We will also develop a system that will allow online ordering and pickup to minimize the time customers spend queuing.

Meanwhile, according to reports, millennials are the largest living generation in the united states, comprising of 71 million people. Due to their ubiquitous and very active way of life, millennials value experience more than the price of their coffee.

Differing from their parents and older siblings who prefer to brew coffee at home, they prefer to drink coffee on-the-go or at a hip shop. For most millennials, drinking coffee is a lifestyle choice rather than a mandatory need to jumpstart a hectic day. They fancy drinking a cup of morning Joe in public places together with friends.

Having these in mind, we at Green Coffee hope to invest in unique and visually attractive packaging, making sure it’s social media worthy. We will also experiment with new ordering and delivery systems, because the simpler the better. We will always connect with our customers by letting them know the story behind every cup of coffee.

8. Our Target Market

Our target market at Green Coffee LLC is composed of cafes, restaurants, and individuals desiring high quality roasted coffee. The green coffee target market is composed of roasters that are running smaller operations and businesses that want to sell green coffee. Our target roaster will sell to shops using between 30 and 100 pounds of coffee a week.

The roasters will need to be skilled in roasting, or the increased quality of bean will likely be of little importance to the roaster. The beans we expect to source will be organic, fair trade, or traceable; we will appeal to these consumers. Millennials are now a larger generation than the Baby boomer Generation. They are also the largest segment in the work force.

While their earnings have not risen as quickly as past generations, they do have different trends in purchasing behaviour. People in the millennial generation are getting married and having children later in life, so they may spend disposable income on more things like coffee.

The retail locations we will sell to, like coffee shops, will desire access to artisan Coffee. If they roast at their location, the supplement of other artisan coffee can help boost revenues by providing variety to keep returning customers. The coffee may be used to supplement non-organic or fair trade coffees on the menu.

Our coffee will come from the roaster packaged and be ready for resale. The coffee will be under the label of the roaster or can be specially labelled to reflect our brand, but the focus on selling an already established brand would take precedence.

The roasters will be looking for similar qualities in their coffee to appeal to their clients. Since they operate in a market selling premium goods, they will be looking for inputs that can be paired with their expertise to give them a Competitive Advantage. While large batch roasters facilitate the fulfillment of large orders, inability to finely control the roast can cause the quality of the cup to suffer.

Our Competitive Advantage

At Green Coffee LLC, our competitive advantage is our market leading product quality. By leveraging personal relationships, we at Green Coffee have gained the recipes and knowledge of an old master roaster. Part of our secret to success is the old world roasting techniques, part of the winning formula is the art of blending different green beans to come up with special recipes.

Green coffee beans are a commodity, therefore any variations in one company’s coffee to another is based on roasting techniques if they are using the same types of beans.

We will be able to stand out among our competitors by using time tested blends of different green beans to come up with compelling final products. This competitive advantage we believe is sustainable in the sense that this information that Green Coffee possesses is a trade secret and not available to other roasters.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

At Green Coffee, our marketing strategy will communicate to our target customer segments that our entire product clearly exceeds all of the competitors. This strategy will leverage several methods to communicate the message. The first will be a print advertising campaign. We plan to make use of different sources including a local restaurant industry journal as well as a regional coffee shop trade publication.

Advertisements in these publications will be effective in reaching our target audience. Our second strategy will be the use of “get out the word” to achieve several different cuppings. Cupping is analogous to a wine tasting where many different varieties are tasted, compared, and analysed.

The cuppings will be a perfect opportunity for Green Coffee LLC to have prospective customers taste the difference between its products and the competition. We also recognize that we cannot solely compete on product alone, that much of the transaction involves excellent customer service.

Sources of Income

Our revenue drivers at Green Coffee LLC are the amount and type of coffee we sell. We are dependent on the sale of large amounts of green and roasted coffee. The sale of green coffee makes up a large portion of our sales, but roasted coffee has a higher margin. For green coffee to be our number one revenue driver, we would need to be selling almost 17 percent more green coffee to match the breakeven point of our current ratio of about 60-40 green to roasted sales.

When demand wanes, we will focus more on the sales of green coffee. The connections and accounts we will gain as we grow are the main reasons for selling the roasted coffee. As we sell a higher volume, our margins will increase with our green coffee so that we will be less reliant on our roasted coffee sales.

10. Sales Forecast

Demand for the coffee is related to per capita coffee consumption. Generally, coffee sales fall into a commodity market where the cheapest, acceptable quality product will succeed. The price is highly related to the demand of the product since there are many substitutes.

Seeing as our products are premium products, we are afforded some leeway on the pricing which is important to consumers. Demand will also follow per capita coffee consumption, but the trend of high quality, specialty coffee helps our product remain relevant and in demand. It is expected that the demand will increase in the future.

As a start-up organization, it will take time to grow our customer base so that it is at a sustainable level. Aside from our expected turbulent first year, sales for year two are forecasted to be $2,187,000 rising to $3,556,000 in year three. Net profit is projected to be 7.09 percent for year two and will jump to 9.21 percent in year three.

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategies

Our plan at Green Coffee is to gather enough brand awareness to leverage the product line into other regions and gain inquiries from potential inventors. To achieve this goal to expand and grow, we plan to do the following;

  • Green Coffee will spend $1,200 per month on Public relations services for the next year intended to build awareness of editors and product information insertions, reviews, etc. We believe that the school fundraising program or our other charity programs will generate a fair amount of publicity on its own and will, perhaps, minimize–or even eliminate–the need for a publicist.
  • Green Coffee will also spend $800 per month concentrating on drive time Radio advertising. We plan to experiment with different stations, keeping careful track of results.
  • List our business on yellow pages ads (local directories)
  • Attend relevant international and local food and entertainment expos, seminars, and fairs et al
  • Create different packages for different category of clients in order to work with their budgets
  • Leverage on the internet to promote our business
  • Engage direct marketing approach
  • Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Our pricing strategy is to use cost based pricing for our green coffee. We will use value based pricing for our roasted coffee to the extent that the product is a higher quality and certified, so people can feel good about the product and enjoy the best coffee possible.

This means that the amount we can charge for our product is based up on the perceived benefits, but it will be slightly constricted by the customers’ understanding of the relative increase in product quality or other attributes.

  • Payment Options

Our payment options at Green Coffee will be all inclusive because we understand that different people prefer different payment options as it suits them. Here are the payment options that we will make available to our clients;

  • Payment by cash
  • Payment via Point of Sale (POS) Machine
  • Payment via online bank transfer (online payment portal)
  • Payment via Mobile money

We have also chosen banking platforms that will help us achieve our plans with little or no issues.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

Based on demand projection and the expectation to outperform the current coffee Production growth expectations, we expect to grow at 25 percent a year for the first two years. To be able to meet this demand and to have the facilities, staff, and equipment necessary to operate, we will need an initial capital investment of $650,265.

This will be facilitated through loans and an Initial capital investment of $150,000 from the owner. This startup capital will be used to buy equipment, pay relevant expenses for the first six months of operation, and purchase inventory that is required to operate as a distributor.

The major cost incurred by the business is that of Inventory.  We will be operating under the expectation that we will be able to partner with small and large roasters at the beginning of operation. Our expectation is to venture into the market having already made partnerships that started at least six months prior to start of operations.

The current projections that we are using have based the expected sales on selling to 30 mediums sized, busy cafes. This number would be lower if focused on roasters, because the sales amount is coming out to be about 23 bags of coffee sold a week.

This is assuming 132 Pounds per bag. Based on demand and the size of the Hawaii market, we believe the number to be reasonable and attainable especially if the roasters or cafes rely on our warehousing for their business.

Generating Funding/Startup Capital for Green Coffee

Green Coffee will be structured as a Limited Liability Company and registered for Business in the state of Hawaii. The management will be composed of a single member (Lincoln Danby) for the time being, and the entity will be treated as a sole proprietorship under federal taxation. We hope to raise our start up fund through the following ways;

  • From personal savings and sell of stocks
  • From soft loans from family members and friends
  • From angel investors

Note: We have been able to raise $150,000 from the personal savings of our founder, $200,000 from soft loans from family members and friends, and we are almost at the verge of completing the capital from a reliable Angel investor.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

At Green Coffee LLC, we will require staff that are knowledgeable about coffee. To ensure quality products, we need to either develop relationships or hire staff that can taste special notes in coffee. Since we are focused on quality instead of quantity, we must be selective in the coffee we purchase.

This isn’t to say that we ignore turnover. Coffee has a relatively low margin, and since we are a middleman, we must have high turnover. We will need large amounts of different types of green coffee.

We will likely have to partner with a firm to help us with branding for business to business sales. We will also need to have a positive image to be able to make new relationships and grow current ones. We will need the proper equipment such as scales and containers to keep the coffee separated once out of the original bags.

We will need to have a vehicle to respond to orders where we cannot use less than truckload shipping. We will be able to combine the shipments to the warehouse from the ports, but shipping to individual locations will require more flexibility.

At Green Coffee LLC, our product will be desirable because it assists smaller roasting operations expand their client base and enables these roasters to make money on their unused capacity. By roasting for Green Coffee LLC when not fulfilling other contracts, they maximize their capacity and can cover some of their fixed costs with our arrangement.

This benefits the company by reducing the amount lost to idle equipment. The green beans will be desired by companies wishing to offer premium coffee to their customers. The purchasing arrangement between us and the roasters will help to reduce costs for all parties.

It will also allow the roasters to know what the product in stock will be like and make sure that the roasters understand that inventory is near at hand. Since we hold the beans, we will reduce the amount of space needed at the roasting operations for storage. This can help the roasters save money on fixed costs.

Our location in the supply chain also helps us to deliver fresher beans to consumers. The decreased lead time by moving the distributorship near the market means that the beans can be sitting for less amount of time. While Green coffee can have a long shelf life, the different processing methods of coffee determine how long it will take for the coffee to become stale.

Our company will try and keep the green coffee in the warehouse no longer than six months, but the beans should retain their quality for up to a year.

Checklist /Milestone

  • Business Name Availability Check : Completed
  • Business Incorporation: Completed
  • Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
  • Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
  • Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
  • Application for business license and permit: Completed
  • Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
  • Conducting feasibility studies: Completed
  • Leasing, renovating and equipping our facility: Completed
  • Generating part of the startup capital from the founder: Completed
  • Applications for Loan from our Bankers: In Progress
  • Writing of Business Plan: Completed
  • Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
  • Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
  • Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
  • Printing of Packaging and Promotional Materials: Completed
  • Recruitment of employees: In Progress
  • Purchase of software applications, furniture, office equipment, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In progress
  • Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
  • Creating Awareness for the business (Business PR): In Progress
  • Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
  • Establishing business relationship with banks, financial lending institutions, vendors and key players in the industry: In Progress

How to start a commercial coffee roasting business?

Posted by on February 14, 2017

How hard is it to roast coffee commercially? A roastery is typically easier to set up than a burger joint, but tracking down regulatory requirements can sometimes be tough because your local authorities are usually much more familiar with burger joints.

Here is a short list of things to consider:

  • Facility: Roaster set up: gas, ventilation, electrical service.
  • Food service equipment/facility: 3-compartment sink, hand wash station, slop sink; a space with walls, ceilings, and floors that can be washed; glass bulbs covered in plastic, dunnage racks for greens and storage for bulk roasted coffee and packaged coffee, and scales certified for commerce.
  • Procedures: Sanitation, personal protective equipment (PPE), pest control, etc.
  • Permitting: Local, state, and potentially federal regulations concerning food safety, environmental concerns (smoke), and employees.
  • Financial: Bank account, tax ID number, sales tax, liability insurance.

Ironically, all of this stuff is relatively easy compared to learning to source and roast greens and packaging and selling roasted coffee. For as complex as this may seem, it is a finite list of things you know about, a couple of things you will need to find out about, and then a thing or two that will take you completely by surprise.

Starting a commercial coffee roasting business from scratch is not particularly easy, but if you don’t quit, you win. It’s not enough to try. You have to try UNTIL.

Find a loose thread and keep pulling until the whole thing unravels. In the end, you’ll be the kind of person who finds ways to do things, not reasons not to do things. Along the way, you’ll probably become kind of a professional overcomer. Long hours? Frustration? Anxiety? Serial failure? Sure. Glutton for punishment? Maybe. Worth it? IMO, totally.

How much money can I make? The super simple, rough, back of the napkin calculation is a gross net of about $5 per pound.

On that basis, a 10-12 kg roaster has a potential productive capability of about 80 lbs or $400 per hour. A single owner-operator will be able to roast about 4 hours a day with the balance of the time (probably 10 or 12-hour days, btw) packaging, cleaning, delivering, and marketing. That’s about $1600 per day ($8k per week or $400k per year) and about the minimum level an owner-operator needs to take a paycheck, pay the rent, and pay taxes.

How do you get from roasting coffee in your basement part-time to roasting for a living? Most people start roasting part-time as a side hustle with a small machine just to figure out the business. Part-time operations can teach you how to source greens, produce a quality roast, and secure and retain quality accounts. Basically, it’s a case of finding out what works to generate cash flow and simply doing more of that. I’ve spoken to more than one person who started a successful roastery with a $300 Behmor.

If you’ve got the expertise and the accounts already, you either put up or borrow the money to set up shop -somewhere between $30k to $100k for a 10-12 kg based facility depending on the scope of your vision and your checking account balance or credit limit.

The primary source of capital for most people as they build their businesses is “sweat equity” and re-investment of earnings. This means starting small, working uncompensated hours, and using profits to finance the purchase of equipment and infrastructure. Ultimately, it’s a case of having the vision and courage to start at whatever level you can afford and grow from there.

How do I know if I will succeed? Obviously, not everyone will create a successful business. Certainly not the first one anyway. That’s not necessarily the end of the story, though. Remember the weird “try UNTIL” idea? If it helps, think of falling flat on your face as “paying your dues.”

Besides the intangible benefits of self-employment like self-actualization and self-determination or actually making a little money, you’ll quickly learn the lesson that people do business with people they like and trust. A guy named Zig Ziglar used to say “You’ll get everything you want in life if you help everybody around you get what they want”. If your job is to be likable and trustable enough to make a good partner, additional opportunities are likely to present themselves. Self-employment often gives you the opportunity to earn your place at the table.

Spend some time on Daily Coffee News and read about the career paths of the shops and roasteries they feature. These are success stories and you don’t get to hear about the failures, but most of them started on a small scale and expanded when someone offered them the chance to buy or partner with other businesses.

As a near-total misfit and unemployable, I’ve been doing this type of thing for over 30 years and have won some, lost some, and screwed a couple up. I’ve also sometimes been simply too stupid to give up and, although once or twice it nearly killed me, once or twice it actually paid off. Candidly, the older I get the more certain I am that most success is directly attributable to luck. But luck happens. Starting your own thing (at whatever level) is one way to make sure you are positioned to take advantage of it when it does.

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Notes from the Cupping Table: January 2024

Notes from the Cupping Table: January 2024

We cup coffee every week at Mill City Roasters. Sometimes, we cup several times in a week. These cuppings have different goals. Some are QC...

What's New in Roasting 101 for 2024?

What's New in Roasting 101 for 2024?

We kicked off the new year with a sold-out session of our popular Roasting 101 class this month. The January session was our chance to...

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business plan coffee roastery

February 11, 2024

Black Acres Roastery Brews Up Coffee And Community In Baltimore

Black Acres Roastery coffee is also found in Trader Joe's.

A Black-owned coffee shop in Baltimore is brewing up Black history and culture with every cup they serve. Black Acres Roastery takes its name from Spike Lee’s production company, 40 Acres and a Mule. The coffee shop’s owner, Travis Bell, is a huge Spike Lee fan, and his coffee shop reflects both his respect for Lee as well as the unfulfilled promise of reparations. As Bell told CBS Baltimore, “Black acres were plots of land in the south that were supposed to be provided for reparations, so that name, the farming aspect of it, the agriculture, just really sat with me, so I felt Black Acres was appropriate.”

Bell also says that his desire to open a coffee shop was born out of a want for easy access to coffee. This led him to roast his own beans. Since 2018, Bell has ethically procured and roasted coffee beans from South America and Africa, culminating in a contract with Trader Joe’s.

“We have a huge contract with Trader Joe’s, so currently, that is our biggest wholesaler right now,” Bell said. “We are in 60 stores across the Mid-Atlantic.” The shop also has a local delivery platform covering most of the city. Through the platform, orders for coffee deliveries can be placed, and it is in keeping with Bell’s desire to provide quality coffee to his community. 

Bell was formerly an occupational therapist, and before that, he did travel therapy, something which he told CBS Baltimore is a marked departure from what he is currently doing. According to the coffeehouse’s website , its mission is to bring access to quality coffee to all, as well as to build relationships and a sense of community. “Our relationships from producers to customers make us who we are. We believe that making time to engage with one another in meaningful ways is crucial for building relationships and growing communities. We aim to provide an opportunity for all to have access to great tasting coffee.”

RELATED CONTENT : A Latte Nerve: Indianapolis Coffee Shop Bum-Rushed By ‘Pop-Up’ Wedding

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JDE Peet’s and Enveritas Announce Global Deforestation-Free Plan

Nick Brown | February 13, 2024

deforestation coffee

“ Coffee Plantation ” by  borman818  is licensed under  CC BY 2.0 .

Global coffee giant JDE Peet’s says it has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with at least four coffee-producing countries for a new deforestation-free coffee initiative.

The publicly traded company announced today the completion of a pilot program in Vietnam, as well as signed MOUs with coffee sector leaders in Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, and Uganda, with more expected to come.

The JDE Peet’s deforestation-free coffee initiative comes through a partnership with the coffee-farmer-focused sustainability verification provider Enveritas . According to JDE Peet’s, the partnership will involve a combination of satellite imagery, artificial intelligence (AI) and on-the-ground verification to measure deforestation on coffee lands within the JDE Peet’s supply chain.

The company said it will allow “local operators, governments, NGOs and farmers to better mitigate their deforestation risks.”

logo-jdepeets-horizontal-holdingshape

The JDE Peet’s/Enveritas deforestation-free partnership is notably designed for compliance with the new EU deforestation-free regulations (EUDR) . Enforcement for the new law — which is designed to prevent  deforestation associated with numerous agricultural products imported in the EU, including coffee — is scheduled to begin for large companies beginning in 2025.

“I am excited that this innovative new program, which is fully aligned with the EU’s regulation on deforestation-free products, will ensure continued access to the EU market for the millions of smallholder farmers we work with around the world,” JDE Peet’s CEO Fabien Simon said in today’s announcement.

The announcement did not specify whether or how deforestation-related information will be shared with other actors in the conglomerate’s supply chain, nor whether the information would be available to other interested parties. DCN has reached out to the company for clarification.

Publicly traded, Amsterdam-based JDE Peet’s was formed through a 2019 merger  of United States-based  Peet’s Coffee  and Dutch coffee giant  Jacobs Douwe Egberts . Prior to an IPO as JDE Peet’s, both those companies were wholly owned by an investment arm of  JAB Holding Company , the German billionaire Reimann-family-owned organization that has made tens of billions of dollars worth of  investments in the coffee industry  since first acquiring Peet’s in 2012.

Comments? Questions? News to share? Contact DCN’s editors here . 

Nick Brown Nick Brown is the editor of Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine.

  • United States
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Tags: deforestation , Enveritas , environmental sustainability , Ethiopia , EUDR , JDE Peet's , legal issues , Papua New Guinea , Tanzania , Uganda , Vietnam

business plan coffee roastery

Cork coffee roastery Velo brews B Corp status

Velo Coffee Roasters is the first coffee roastery in Ireland to gain the status

  • Kathleen Gallagher
  • February 12, 2024

business plan coffee roastery

Cork-based Velo Coffee Roasters, which is stocked in Dunnes, Tesco, Supervalu and Aldi, has become the first coffee roastery in Ireland to achieve B Corp status.

Velo, which was founded by Rob Horgan, joins 30 other Irish businesses who have gained the B Corp certification, an initiative which has been around since 2006 and aims to commit businesses to high standards of social and environmental impact.

The Cork-based group which sources coffee from farms in ...

  • Sustainability

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Coffeemania

Ratings and reviews, location and contact.

Looks like a coffee shop but it's much more - excellent selection of food and drinks. When we were there there wasn't anyone who spoke English but we managed - had a lovely (recommended) ginger lemonade and a salad.

Put it simple, I reserve the hotel in proximity with this place THREE times in a row when I fly to Moscow. Its just amazing from pelmeni to potato blini with salmon .. I can go on for the whole menu list... The stuff is... just super friendly and effective. No matter what you'll try you will be back for more.. You can thank me later... More

Large indoor and outdoor seating area with friendly staff serving food from early till late. Plenty of breakfast options and great coffee to match. Thanks for the vote if you found this helpful.

Once you get to grips with Moscow you will come to realise just how stupidly expensive the Coffee Mania chain is. You can spend £4-5 just on a cup of normal tea. I wouldn't even pay that in London! When you realise that you can... get a tea in any other regular place for less than 25% of that price it makes you wonder how these places stay in business. In a Shokoladnitsa - a competitor chain, the cost is about half of this. I will not be coming back!! More

I visited it with my family for the lunch. The quality of dishes was middle, chairs was not so comfortable (I am quiet big, but it makes for children size). The cost was 8000 ruble (105 €) for 3 person without alcohol. So I could... not recommend it for the lunch, only for coffee short. More

A friend from Moscow took me there on my first visit...and now...whenever I visit Moscow, I can’t go home without at least one cake and ginger tea in this place! Highly recommend to all of you! The experience is amazing! If you’re there with friends,take... different cakes and share....try as many as you can😝 More

business plan coffee roastery

This is more than just a coffee shop, the menu is quite large, good for lunch or dinner as well. It's situated right in front of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of music. Prices are on the high side and the food is good

I used to go to coffeemania for breakfast religiously every Sunday when I lived in Moscow 10 years ago. Every time I go back to Moscow I visit it and I am glad to see it is still good. The coffee although expensive by far... the best in town. The good is delicious and atmosphere is vibrant. Love it. More

business plan coffee roastery

Trendy coffee shop, I loved the atmosphere. The food was great, the coffee too. Very expensive for breakfast.

This place has a good menu, good food and a very friendly staff. Definitely recommend for breakfast or dinner. Not cheap.

This was a convenient place for us to go, but I must say that the price was the reason I would not go back. It's just a cafe with simple meals, charging 20 dollars for a plate of plain boiled alphabet pasta and some ketchup... is not very reasonable. The coffee is good there, but there is a different coffeeshop 3 minutes away we discovered, they charge half of that for a cup of coffee just as good. So obviously it's not the location surcharge. The food was good, they have a kids menu and nice spacious seating, but like I said, I wouldn't go back there. It's not a bad place, but there are others to chose from very nearby. More

nice and fast restaurant. foor is tasty and you can get it fast. nice place is also outside. they have nice pinot grigio :) dessert 'smetannik" became one of my favourite ever

The coffeemania combines old style services with a fresh and pimped menu. The famous Russian salads underwent a makeover and it tastes well. Service is great, menu is exhaustive and the food comes fast. One can only hope that the combination of service, good food... and atmosphere will remain once Moscow is on more Tourists agenda. (there is a smoking corner) More

A great place to go for delicious desserts and coffee. Very stylish, friendly service. From what I heard from locals it's a very popular place.

There is not a massive choice of food here, but the drinks are plentiful and usually it stays open all day. Handy if you are looking for somewhere for coffee after a night out!

COFFEEMANIA, Moscow - Bldg. 1 ul. Nikitskaya B. 13/6, Boulevard Ring - Menu & Prices - Tripadvisor

  • Atmosphere: 4

Watch CBS News

Buzzing downtown Stockton coffee shop The Well provides free vocational training

By Irene Gonzalez and Hunter Sowards

February 16, 2024 / 4:51 PM PST / CBS Sacramento

STOCKTON - There's a place in downtown Stockton buzzing with excitement. It's called The Well and it first opened its doors two years ago.

"So, this is the area seating for all of the people. Awesome baristas are here Monday through Friday," said Naiah Williams, the executive director at The Well. 

When visitors walk into the white building on the corner of West Rose and North Center Streets, they'll find a trendy coffee shop with comfy chairs and its own roasting machine.

But this hidden gem in downtown Stockton is many things wrapped in one.

"We wanted to be a one-stop shop where folks can come to and know there's something inside the well for everyone to reach in and benefit from," Williams said.

The grass-roots non-profit provides free hands-on vocational training in the culinary arts, coffee roastery, photography, graphic design and a lot more. Their goal is to mentor and train others to find financial success.

"So being here hands-on with individuals is just very uplifting and it's very fulfilling to, what my purpose is," said Nathaniel Aguirre, a videographer and content creator at The Well. 

Eros Ceballos is among a handful of students taking careful notes and learning about business and marketing.

"I've been doing real estate for years, but I never learned how to run it as a business, business and this is what this class is about. That's why I decided to take it," Ceballos said.

Fernando Gapasin is another fan of The Well.

"I've been coming to The Well for well over a year," Gapasin said.

While he sharpens his technical skills in the downstairs computer lab, his family is just a few steps away.

"It's nice that my wife and my daughters can be upstairs having coffee," he said. "I can be down here working on my business plan, developing another marketing strategy so yeah, it works out nicely."

The staff running The Well take pride in knowing they're making positive changes in their own community under one roof where everyone is welcomed.

"One of the catchphrases that we have here is that everyone is seen and deserves to be loved so we make sure from the moment you cross the threshold that you're seen, that you're greeted and that we're all smiling," Williams said.

The Well was created by Restore Stockton, a local non-profit that focuses on mentoring and vocational training.

For those interested in attending classes at The Well, there's already a waiting list. For more information, click here .

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Moscow-City – The Moscow International Business Center

  • 3 years ago

The Moscow Intenational Business Center

Moscow-City is an iconic location for life and work in Russia’s capital. Enormous skyscrapers, business centers, the best restaurants and retail spaces – all this is concentrated in one place. The ultramodern Moscow-City towers are truly striking in their outward appearance, and the layout of the apartments inside and the fantastic views that can be seen from the higher floors are nothing short of impressive.

This skyscraper compound, often referred to as Moskva-City, is the Russian take on Manhattan, where businessmen strike multi-million dollar deals daily while ordinary life goes on next door. Its state of the art spaces offer the ultimate convenience. The infrastructure of this business district is so well-developed that anyone can find something interesting for themselves here: from residential apartments to boutiques, clubs, exhibitions and more.

When the foundations for the Moscow-City skyscrapers were laid, a special kind of concrete was used, the properties of which are amplified by many times compared to standard concrete. Even in the event of a plane crashing into one of the buildings, the structural integrity of the towers will be preserved.

The architects of the Moscow-City Business Center have created a unique locality that has integrated into itself the hub of the capital’s business life and a whole ensemble of historical monuments. Anyone can admire the beauty of these skyscrapers from within or without the compound. There are also a number of apartments for sale or rent available in the MIBC itself. But first, let’s have a look at some more interesting facts about the financial core of Russia’s capital.

  • 1 How It All Began
  • 2.1 Moscow-City Central Core
  • 2.2 Tower 2000
  • 2.3 Evolution Tower
  • 2.4 Imperia Tower
  • 2.5 Moscow Tower and St. Petersburg Tower
  • 2.6 Steel Peak Tower
  • 2.7 Federation Tower
  • 2.8 Mercury City Tower
  • 2.9 OKO Tower Complex
  • 3.1 Afimall City Shopping Center
  • 3.2 Bagration Bridge
  • 3.3 Expocentre Fairgrounds
  • 4 Renting and Buying Real Estate in Moscow-City

How It All Began

The history of Moscow-City goes all the way back to 1992. The government of Moscow at the time wanted to bring into existence its own skyscrapers like the ones in London or New York. And the idea caught on. In 1992 the project for the construction of the huge “Moscow-City” MIBC compound was enthusiastically approved, kick-starting the painstaking preparatory works. The original intention was that the skyscrapers would only house office space. However, as time went on, the towers began to welcome in ordinary residents who wanted to live on the territory of this business and finance hub.

Moscow-City is undoubtedly a city within a city. Its grandeur is mind-boggling. It is perfect in every way: from location to infrastructure. And today, anyone can get a feel of the atmosphere of the “capital city” of Russia’s business world – many of the apartments in Moscow-City are available for rent. Any citizen of Russia and even nationals of other countries can make use of these offers.

What It’s Like in 2021

Today Moscow-City is not just a magnificent and fascinating sight, but also a real hub for the work, life and leisure of thousands. Its infrastructure is organized in such a way that there is no need to leave the territory of the “city within a city” at all. This business district contains everything one may need for work and recreation. And if one does decide to venture out into the larger metropolis, the MIBC’s three subway stations make this remarkably simple to do.

Moscow-City stands on the Presnenskaya Embankment . Each of the buildings in the district has a name, which simplifies its identification. Some of the buildings form complexes that are united under one name, such as the Neva Towers and the Naberezhnaya Tower complex of two skyscrapers and one high rise. There are a total of 16 towers in the MIBC, of which the most popular are:

  • Moscow-City Central Core;
  • Tower 2000;
  • Evolution Tower;
  • Imperia Tower;
  • City of Capitals (Moscow Tower and St. Petersburg Tower);
  • Steel Peak Tower;
  • Federation Tower;
  • Mercury City Tower;
  • OKO Tower Complex.

Moscow-City Central Core

This is the most complex building within the MIBC compound. Its total floor area is a whopping 1 476 378 sqft (450 000 m²). It consists of two massive parts, each of which boasts a truly impressive infrastructure. The underground part includes 3 Moscow Metro stations, a parking lot for automobiles and a shopping mall. The aboveground part houses a concert hall and a hotel.

Tower 2000 is a skyscraper having 34 stories. Its total floor area is 200 318 sqft (61 057 m²), most of which is office space. The key feature of this skyscraper is its direct connection to the Bagration Bridge, which has its own shopping arcade. The tower has everything one may need while working here, including a large parking lot and several restaurants.

Evolution Tower

This elegant structure is 836 feet (255 m) high – that’s a whole 54 stories! The total floor area here is 554 462 sqft (169 000 m²). The Evolution Tower’s key feature is that it has its own Wedding Hall. This skyscraper houses large office spaces, a parking lot and several restaurants.

Imperia Tower

MIBC’s Imperia Tower is the undeniable focal point of the MIBC’s business life. Its height is 784 feet (239 m), which means one can hold conferences and resolve key business matters on the 59 th floor! And that really is amazing! The tower has everything: offices, hotels, restaurants and parking lots. But if you want a truly unforgettable experience, visit the viewing platform! It is situated on the 58 th floor and a simply astounding view of Moscow can be seen from it.

Moscow Tower and St. Petersburg Tower

The Moscow and St. Petersburg Towers are the chief representatives of the MIBC. The Moscow Tower has 76 stories and is 990 feet (302 m) high, while the St. Petersburg Tower has 65 stories and stands 843 feet (257 m) tall. Both towers offer fantastic views of the capital city.

Most of the floors of these two skyscrapers are taken up by luxurious sky apartments. There are also several recreational and entertainment centers, office spaces, restaurants, etc.

Steel Peak Tower

Also known as the Eurasia Tower of Moscow-City, this supertall skyscraper has a total of 680 912 sqft (207 542 m²) of floor space. Most of this is taken up by offices, and the rest – by residential quarters (around 65 616 sqft or 20 000 m²). The tower also houses a number of the greatest restaurants, studios and shopping centers.

Federation Tower

The Federation Tower is a complex of two skyscrapers, known as Tower East and Tower West. Tower East is the second highest building in Europe (the first is a skyscraper recently erected in the city of St. Petersburg). Its height is a colossal 1 223 feet (373 m) and that makes 95 stories! Tower West, on the other hand, is noticeably shorter at 794 feet (242 m).

The Federation Tower is a multifunctional complex.

Mercury City Tower

The Mercury City Tower skyscraper is widely known as one of the tallest buildings in Europe. Its height is 1 112 feet (339 m) and it has 75 stories. It is multifunctional by concept, holding within its walls shopping centers, offices and all kinds of other spaces. It is also possible to rent apartments here.

OKO Tower Complex

The OKO Tower Complex consists of two towers – the North Tower (49 stories and 803 ft or 245 m in height) and the South Tower (85 stories and 1 155 ft or 352 m in height).

Each of the MIBC’s tower complexes has its own recreational and entertainment areas, restaurants and parking lots. The top floors of most of these buildings contain luxurious fully-furnished apartments. At night, the towers shine with bright lights, while inside them the panoramic windows reveal astounding views of Moscow. This breathtaking view of the capital of Russia is why visiting Moscow-City is a must!

What Not to Miss

There are many interesting landmarks within the Moscow-City compound, but three of them are truly deserving of special attention:

  • The Afimall City Shopping Center;
  • The Bagration Bridge with two galleries and a shopping arcade;
  • The Expocentre Fairgrounds.

Afimall City Shopping Center

The Afimall City Shopping and Entertainment Center is located in Moscow-City’s Central Core. It is divided into 4 zones, each with its own theme – one for every season of the year. The shopping center houses the biggest indoor fountain found worldwide. The height of this watery wonder is 118 feet or 36 meters.

The shopping and entertainment center contains everything one might expect from one of the largest centers of its kind:

  • Retail brand stores;
  • Exhibitions;
  • Game rooms;
  • and Restaurants.

The main recreational space is roofed with a giant transparent dome, which is an impressive sight to behold.

Bagration Bridge

Bagration Bridge with its upper and lower galleries has a shopping center all of its own and was the first structure to be built as part of the Moscow-City business district. Its lower gallery is a shopping arcade and its upper gallery is an open-air viewing platform with a spectacular view of the MIBC and the Moskva River. The hall of the bridge houses the 23 foot tall sculpture called “Tree of Life”. Having gone through the bridge via either one of its two galleries, a pedestrian would find themselves standing right on the Kutuzovsky Prospekt.

Expocentre Fairgrounds

The Expocentre Fairgrounds exhibition venue is located at the very heart of the capital. The first exhibition held at the Expocentre happened all the way back in 1959, much earlier than the MIBC was erected. Today it is the venue of many interesting events.

Exhibitions with very diverse themes are regularly held at this complex. An up-to-date schedule can be found on the official webpage of the Expocentre. The events can be free or fixed-price entry, depending on their type.

Renting and Buying Real Estate in Moscow-City

Moscow-City is not only a work and business hub, but also a residential neighborhood. Any citizen of Russia can rent or buy apartments or elite sky lounges here. The variety of residential real estate available inside the skyscrapers is impressive, including options for any pocket. The following buildings in the MIBC contain residential blocks:

This skyscraper has a mirror glass façade which reflects the passing clouds. Just imagine how beautiful that looks! Anyone can buy an apartment in the Federation Tower. Such properties are not only a good investment, but also a mark of prestige. The average price of residential real estate here is 45 million rubles for an apartment with a total floor area of 334 sqft (102 m²). The average price of a square meter (3.28 square feet) is in the range of 650 to 700 thousand rubles. There are two- and three-room apartments available in the Federation Tower, each with its own loggia. As for rent, the minimum price of one month’s stay in a three-room apartment in this skyscraper is 300 000 rubles per month.

The Mercury City Tower skyscraper welcomes citizens from all parts of Russia. This building is no less tall than the world-famous Dubai skyscrapers. Living in its apartments is a delight. The minimum cost of an apartment in the Mercury City Tower is 75 million rubles. The average price of a square meter (3.28 square feet) is 800 thousand rubles. And for those looking for a lower price point, some of the properties are also available for rent – in this case you will pay a minimum of 250 thousand rubles per month.

The Imperia Tower is a key cluster of interesting offers. The best options for buying and renting apartments within the MIBC can all be found in this skyscraper. The lowest price of a residential apartment here is 40 million rubles. A square meter (3.28 square feet) in a luxurious apartment in the Imperia Tower currently costs 600 thousand rubles, while the price range of the listings available for rent in this skyscraper is from 350 thousand all the way up to 1 million rubles per month.

This complex, standing on a faceted or “crystal” base, is an architectural engineering project boasting spectacular design. Behind its impressive façades is an abundance of penthouses and apartments having floor areas in the range of 262 sqft (80 m²) to 984 sqft (300 m²). The minimum price of an apartment in the OKO Tower Complex is 40 million rubles (the price of a square meter (3.28 square feet) is 500 thousand rubles). You can rent an apartment here starting from 400 thousand rubles per month.

City of Capitals

The City of Capitals is an exemplary architectural complex. Its sum appearance gives the impression of a huge city. Inside its walls are spacious apartments available for purchase and rent. This complex is considered to be especially prestigious. The prices of apartments here start from 50 million rubles, while the minimum cost of renting is 400 thousand rubles per month.

Please note! The price of real estate available for purchase or rent depends on: the tower, the floor, the total floor area, the furnishings and/or interior design, and other factors.

The key advantages of buying/purchasing real estate in Moscow-City are:

  • Favorable location;
  • Convenient transportation links;
  • Well-developed infrastructure;
  • High safety level;
  • Efficient architecture;
  • Panoramic windows.

Buying real estate in Moscow-City is very much a rational decision, most appealing to those who value the ultimate level of comfort. The residential apartments here boast impressive interior design solutions executed in the contemporary style.

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Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow: The Best of Moscow!

I just got back from one week in Moscow. And, as you might have already guessed, it was a mind-boggling experience. It was not my first trip to the Russian capital. But I hardly ever got enough time to explore this sprawling city. Visiting places for business rarely leaves enough time for sightseeing. I think that if you’ve got one week in Russia, you can also consider splitting your time between its largest cities (i.e. Saint Petersburg ) to get the most out of your trip. Seven days will let you see the majority of the main sights and go beyond just scratching the surface. In this post, I’m going to share with you my idea of the perfect travel itinerary for one week in Moscow.

Moscow is perhaps both the business and cultural hub of Russia. There is a lot more to see here than just the Kremlin and Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Centuries-old churches with onion-shaped domes dotted around the city are in stark contrast with newly completed impressive skyscrapers of Moscow City dominating the skyline. I spent a lot of time thinking about my Moscow itinerary before I left. And this city lived up to all of my expectations.

7-day Moscow itinerary

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow

Day 1 – red square and the kremlin.

Metro Station: Okhotny Ryad on Red Line.

No trip to Moscow would be complete without seeing its main attraction. The Red Square is just a stone’s throw away from several metro stations. It is home to some of the most impressive architectural masterpieces in the city. The first thing you’ll probably notice after entering it and passing vendors selling weird fur hats is the fairytale-like looking Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It was built to commemorate one of the major victories of Ivan the Terrible. I once spent 20 minutes gazing at it, trying to find the perfect angle to snap it. It was easier said than done because of the hordes of locals and tourists.

As you continue strolling around Red Square, there’s no way you can miss Gum. It was widely known as the main department store during the Soviet Era. Now this large (yet historic) shopping mall is filled with expensive boutiques, pricey eateries, etc. During my trip to Moscow, I was on a tight budget. So I only took a retro-style stroll in Gum to get a rare glimpse of a place where Soviet leaders used to grocery shop and buy their stuff. In case you want some modern shopping experience, head to the Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center with stores like New Yorker, Zara, and Adidas.

things to do in Moscow in one week

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To continue this Moscow itinerary, next you may want to go inside the Kremlin walls. This is the center of Russian political power and the president’s official residence. If you’re planning to pay Kremlin a visit do your best to visit Ivan the Great Bell Tower as well. Go there as early as possible to avoid crowds and get an incredible bird’s-eye view. There are a couple of museums that are available during designated visiting hours. Make sure to book your ticket online and avoid lines.

Day 2 – Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the Arbat Street

Metro Station: Kropotkinskaya on Red Line

As soon as you start creating a Moscow itinerary for your second day, you’ll discover that there are plenty of metro stations that are much closer to certain sites. Depending on your route, take a closer look at the metro map to pick the closest.

The white marble walls of Christ the Saviour Cathedral are awe-inspiring. As you approach this tallest Orthodox Christian church, you may notice the bronze sculptures, magnificent arches, and cupolas that were created to commemorate Russia’s victory against Napoleon.

travel itinerary for one week in Moscow

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Unfortunately, the current Cathedral is a replica, since original was blown to bits in 1931 by the Soviet government. The new cathedral basically follows the original design, but they have added some new elements such as marble high reliefs.

Home to some precious collection of artworks, in Tretyakov Gallery you can find more than 150,000 of works spanning centuries of artistic endeavor. Originally a privately owned gallery, it now has become one of the largest museums in Russia. The Gallery is often considered essential to visit. But I have encountered a lot of locals who have never been there.

Famous for its souvenirs, musicians, and theaters, Arbat street is among the few in Moscow that were turned into pedestrian zones. Arbat street is usually very busy with tourists and locals alike. My local friend once called it the oldest street in Moscow dating back to 1493. It is a kilometer long walking street filled with fancy gift shops, small cozy restaurants, lots of cute cafes, and street artists. It is closed to any vehicular traffic, so you can easily stroll it with kids.

Day 3 – Moscow River Boat Ride, Poklonnaya Hill Victory Park, the Moscow City

Metro Station: Kievskaya and Park Pobedy on Dark Blue Line / Vystavochnaya on Light Blue Line

Voyaging along the Moscow River is definitely one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of the city and see the attractions from a bit different perspective. Depending on your Moscow itinerary, travel budget and the time of the year, there are various types of boats available. In the summer there is no shortage of boats, and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

exploring Moscow

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If you find yourself in Moscow during the winter months, I’d recommend going with Radisson boat cruise. These are often more expensive (yet comfy). They offer refreshments like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and, of course, alcoholic drinks. Prices may vary but mostly depend on your food and drink selection. Find their main pier near the opulent Ukraine hotel . The hotel is one of the “Seven Sisters”, so if you’re into the charm of Stalinist architecture don’t miss a chance to stay there.

The area near Poklonnaya Hill has the closest relation to the country’s recent past. The memorial complex was completed in the mid-1990s to commemorate the Victory and WW2 casualties. Also known as the Great Patriotic War Museum, activities here include indoor attractions while the grounds around host an open-air museum with old tanks and other vehicles used on the battlefield.

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The hallmark of the memorial complex and the first thing you see as you exit metro is the statue of Nike mounted to its column. This is a very impressive Obelisk with a statue of Saint George slaying the dragon at its base.

Maybe not as impressive as Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower , the skyscrapers of the Moscow City (otherwise known as Moscow International Business Center) are so drastically different from dull Soviet architecture. With 239 meters and 60 floors, the Empire Tower is the seventh highest building in the business district.

The observation deck occupies 56 floor from where you have some panoramic views of the city. I loved the view in the direction of Moscow State University and Luzhniki stadium as well to the other side with residential quarters. The entrance fee is pricey, but if you’re want to get a bird’s eye view, the skyscraper is one of the best places for doing just that.

Day 4 – VDNKh, Worker and Collective Farm Woman Monument, The Ostankino TV Tower

Metro Station: VDNKh on Orange Line

VDNKh is one of my favorite attractions in Moscow. The weird abbreviation actually stands for Russian vystavka dostizheniy narodnogo khozyaystva (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy). With more than 200 buildings and 30 pavilions on the grounds, VDNKh serves as an open-air museum. You can easily spend a full day here since the park occupies a very large area.

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First, there are pavilions that used to showcase different cultures the USSR was made of. Additionally, there is a number of shopping pavilions, as well as Moskvarium (an Oceanarium) that features a variety of marine species. VDNKh is a popular venue for events and fairs. There is always something going on, so I’d recommend checking their website if you want to see some particular exhibition.

A stone’s throw away from VDNKh there is a very distinctive 25-meters high monument. Originally built in 1937 for the world fair in Paris, the hulking figures of men and women holding a hammer and a sickle represent the Soviet idea of united workers and farmers. It doesn’t take much time to see the monument, but visiting it gives some idea of the Soviet Union’s grandiose aspirations.

I have a thing for tall buildings. So to continue my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow I decided to climb the fourth highest TV tower in the world. This iconic 540m tower is a fixture of the skyline. You can see it virtually from everywhere in Moscow, and this is where you can get the best panoramic views (yep, even better than Empire skyscraper).

top things to do in Moscow

Parts of the floor are made of tempered glass, so it can be quite scary to exit the elevator. But trust me, as you start observing buildings and cars below, you won’t want to leave. There is only a limited number of tickets per day, so you may want to book online. Insider tip: the first tour is cheaper, you can save up to $10 if go there early.

Day 5 – A Tour To Moscow Manor Houses

Metro Station: Kolomenskoye, Tsaritsyno on Dark Green Line / Kuskovo on Purple Line

I love visiting the manor houses and palaces in Moscow. These opulent buildings were generally built to house Russian aristocratic families and monarchs. Houses tend to be rather grand affairs with impressive architecture. And, depending on the whims of the owners, some form of a landscaped garden.

During the early part of the 20th century though, many of Russia’s aristocratic families (including the family of the last emperor) ended up being killed or moving abroad . Their manor houses were nationalized. Some time later (after the fall of the USSR) these were open to the public. It means that today a great many of Moscow’s finest manor houses and palaces are open for touring.

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There are 20 manor houses scattered throughout the city and more than 25 in the area around. But not all of them easily accessible and exploring them often takes a lot of time. I’d recommend focusing on three most popular estates in Moscow that are some 30-minute metro ride away from Kremlin.

Sandwiched between the Moscow River and the Andropov Avenue, Kolomenskoye is a UNESCO site that became a public park in the 1920’s. Once a former royal estate, now it is one of the most tranquil parks in the city with gorgeous views. The Ascension Church, The White Column, and the grounds are a truly grand place to visit.

You could easily spend a full day here, exploring a traditional Russian village (that is, in fact, a market), picnicking by the river, enjoying the Eastern Orthodox church architecture, hiking the grounds as well as and wandering the park and gardens with wildflower meadows, apple orchards, and birch and maple groves. The estate museum showcases Russian nature at its finest year-round.

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If my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow was a family tree, Tsaritsyno Park would probably be the crazy uncle that no-one talks about. It’s a large park in the south of the city of mind-boggling proportions, unbelievable in so many ways, and yet most travelers have never heard of it.

The palace was supposed to be a summer home for Empress Catherine the Great. But since the construction didn’t meet with her approval the palace was abandoned. Since the early 1990’s the palace, the pond, and the grounds have been undergoing renovations. The entire complex is now looking brighter and more elaborately decorated than at possibly any other time during its history. Like most parks in Moscow, you can visit Tsaritsyno free of charge, but there is a small fee if you want to visit the palace.

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Last, but by no means least on my Moscow itinerary is Kuskovo Park . This is definitely an off-the-beaten-path place. While it is not easily accessible, you will be rewarded with a lack of crowds. This 18th-century summer country house of the Sheremetev family was one of the first summer country estates of the Russian nobility. And when you visit you’ll quickly realize why locals love this park.

Like many other estates, Kuskovo has just been renovated. So there are lovely French formal garden, a grotto, and the Dutch house to explore. Make sure to plan your itinerary well because the estate is some way from a metro station.

Day 6 – Explore the Golden Ring

Creating the Moscow itinerary may keep you busy for days with the seemingly endless amount of things to do. Visiting the so-called Golden Ring is like stepping back in time. Golden Ring is a “theme route” devised by promotion-minded journalist and writer Yuri Bychkov.

Having started in Moscow the route will take you through a number of historical cities. It now includes Suzdal, Vladimir, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Sergiev Posad. All these awe-inspiring towns have their own smaller kremlins and feature dramatic churches with onion-shaped domes, tranquil residential areas, and other architectural landmarks.

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I only visited two out of eight cities included on the route. It is a no-brainer that Sergiev Posad is the nearest and the easiest city to see on a day trip from Moscow. That being said, you can explore its main attractions in just one day. Located some 70 km north-east of the Russian capital, this tiny and overlooked town is home to Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, UNESCO Site.

things to do in Moscow in seven days

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Sergiev Posad is often described as being at the heart of Russian spiritual life. So it is uncommon to see the crowds of Russian pilgrims showing a deep reverence for their religion. If you’re traveling independently and using public transport, you can reach Sergiev Posad by bus (departs from VDNKh) or by suburban commuter train from Yaroslavskaya Railway Station (Bahnhof). It takes about one and a half hours to reach the town.

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a great place to get a glimpse of filling and warming Russian lunch, specifically at the “ Gostevaya Izba ” restaurant. Try the duck breast, hearty potato and vegetables, and the awesome Napoleon cake.

Day 7 – Gorky Park, Izmailovo Kremlin, Patriarch’s Ponds

Metro Station: Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya on Circle Line / Partizanskaya on Dark Blue Line / Pushkinskaya on Dark Green Line

Gorky Park is in the heart of Moscow. It offers many different types of outdoor activities, such as dancing, cycling, skateboarding, walking, jogging, and anything else you can do in a park. Named after Maxim Gorky, this sprawling and lovely park is where locals go on a picnic, relax and enjoy free yoga classes. It’s a popular place to bike around, and there is a Muzeon Art Park not far from here. A dynamic location with a younger vibe. There is also a pier, so you can take a cruise along the river too.

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The Kremlin in Izmailovo is by no means like the one you can find near the Red Square. Originally built for decorative purposes, it now features the Vernissage flea market and a number of frequent fairs, exhibitions, and conferences. Every weekend, there’s a giant flea market in Izmailovo, where dozens of stalls sell Soviet propaganda crap, Russian nesting dolls, vinyl records, jewelry and just about any object you can imagine. Go early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds.

All the Bulgakov’s fans should pay a visit to Patriarch’s Ponds (yup, that is plural). With a lovely small city park and the only one (!) pond in the middle, the location is where the opening scene of Bulgakov’s novel Master and Margarita was set. The novel is centered around a visit by Devil to the atheistic Soviet Union is considered by many critics to be one of the best novels of the 20th century. I spent great two hours strolling the nearby streets and having lunch in the hipster cafe.

Conclusion and Recommendations

To conclude, Moscow is a safe city to visit. I have never had a problem with getting around and most locals are really friendly once they know you’re a foreigner. Moscow has undergone some serious reconstruction over the last few years. So you can expect some places to be completely different. I hope my one week Moscow itinerary was helpful! If you have less time, say 4 days or 5 days, I would cut out day 6 and day 7. You could save the Golden Ring for a separate trip entirely as there’s lots to see!

What are your thoughts on this one week Moscow itinerary? Are you excited about your first time in the city? Let me know in the comments below!

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24 comments.

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Ann Snook-Moreau

Moscow looks so beautiful and historic! Thanks for including public transit information for those of us who don’t like to rent cars.

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MindTheTravel

Yup, that is me 🙂 Rarely rent + stick to the metro = Full wallet!

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Mariella Blago

Looks like you had loads of fun! Well done. Also great value post for travel lovers.

Thanks, Mariella!

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I have always wanted to go to Russia, especially Moscow. These sights look absolutely beautiful to see and there is so much history there!

Agree! Moscow is a thousand-year-old city and there is definitely something for everyone.

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Tara Pittman

Those are amazing buildings. Looks like a place that would be amazing to visit.

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Adriana Lopez

Never been to Moscow or Russia but my family has. Many great spots and a lot of culture. Your itinerary sounds fantastic and covers a lot despite it is only a short period of time.

What was their favourite thing about Russia?

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Gladys Parker

I know very little about Moscow or Russia for the\at matter. I do know I would have to see the Red Square and all of its exquisite architectural masterpieces. Also the CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR. Thanks for shedding some light on visiting Moscow.

Thanks for swinging by! The Red Square is a great starting point, but there way too many places and things to discover aside from it!

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Ruthy @ Percolate Kitchen

You are making me so jealous!! I’ve always wanted to see Russia.

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Moscow is in my bucket list, I don’t know when I can visit there, your post is really useful. As a culture rich place we need to spend at least week.

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DANA GUTKOWSKI

Looks like you had a great trip! Thanks for all the great info! I’ve never been in to Russia, but this post makes me wanna go now!

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Wow this is amazing! Moscow is on my bucket list – such an amazing place to visit I can imagine! I can’t wait to go there one day!

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The building on the second picture looks familiar. I keep seeing that on TV.

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Reesa Lewandowski

What beautiful moments! I always wish I had the personality to travel more like this!

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Perfect itinerary for spending a week in Moscow! So many places to visit and it looks like you had a wonderful time. I would love to climb that tower. The views I am sure must have been amazing!

I was lucky enough to see the skyline of Moscow from this TV Tower and it is definitely mind-blowing.

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Chelsea Pearl

Moscow is definitely up there on my travel bucket list. So much history and iconic architecture!

Thumbs up! 🙂

business plan coffee roastery

Blair Villanueva

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business plan coffee roastery

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IMAGES

  1. 18 Business Plan Templates For Every Restaurant, Cafe, and Coffee Shop

    business plan coffee roastery

  2. Coffee Roasting Business Plan and Financial Model

    business plan coffee roastery

  3. How to create a business plan for a coffee shop

    business plan coffee roastery

  4. Business plan for cafe free template. Business plans. 2022-10-29

    business plan coffee roastery

  5. Coffee Roastery And Tasting Room Business Plan Template [2023 Created

    business plan coffee roastery

  6. Coffee Shop Business Plan Sample Pages

    business plan coffee roastery

COMMENTS

  1. Coffee Roaster Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

    Your coffee roaster business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes. Sources of Funding for Coffee Roaster Businesses With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a coffee roaster business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors.

  2. Coffee Roaster Business Plan Example

    Target Market Segments Beanisimo Coffee has identified three distinct customer segments that it will actively pursue. The first group is made up of coffee houses, drive thru establishments, and espresso carts. This customer segment has 187 potential customers and is growing at a 7% annual rate.

  3. How to Start a Coffee Roasting Business: 9 Steps to Success

    Start a coffee roasting business by following these 10 steps: Plan your Coffee Roasting Business Form your Coffee Roasting Business into a Legal Entity Register your Coffee Roasting Business for Taxes Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card Set up Accounting for your Coffee Roasting Business

  4. How to Write a Coffee Roasting Business Plan (Template)

    Coffee roasteries are personally and professionally rewarding; start your coffee roastery with this business plan template and advice from an industry insider.

  5. Coffee Roaster Business Plan Template (2024)

    Written by Dave Lavinsky Coffee Roaster Business Plan You've come to the right place to create your Coffee Roaster business plan. We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Coffee Roasting businesses.

  6. Roaster Life: How to Market YOUR Coffee and Define a Business Plan

    Define your message and stick to it! Let me just emphasise one part of that again: be consistent. Having made your pitch, stay true to it. If you claim to make the best espresso blend, you'd better make sure it really is the best. If you're 100% Single Estate, then you need to select your coffees very carefully.

  7. How to start a coffee roastery on a budget

    August 2, 2021 Starting a roasting business can be a challenging, yet exciting, step in a coffee professional's career. The idea of owning a roastery, selecting your own coffees, and supplying shops with your branded bags of freshly roasted beans is one that many coffee enthusiasts have dreamed about at least once.

  8. How to Start a Coffee Roasting Business

    Once your business is off the ground, you can bring on these staff members to lighten your load. 2. Develop Your Coffee Brand. Having a clear and definable brand for your coffee roastery attracts and retains customers. Branding is the process of communicating your values, mission, personality, and identity.

  9. How to Start a Profitable Roasting Business

    Commercial roasters range anywhere from $20,000 to $150,000. Plus there's the costs of installing ventilation, attaching an afterburner to comply with local regulation, packaging equipment, and warehouse space‑often adding another few thousand to the bill.

  10. How to Start a Coffee Roasting Business in 2024: 5 Expert Tips

    2. Build an audience. Image Credit: picjumbo_com, Pixabay. This is probably the hardest part of starting any new business, regardless of what you're trying to sell. Starting a coffee roasting business actually has an advantage in this regard since there is already a large audience of coffee drinkers out there.

  11. How to Start a Coffee Roasting Business

    Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You Before you start dreaming of coffee roasting success, it's important to understand the industry so that you can see where you fit best. Pros and cons To get a balanced view of the coffee roasting industry, let's look at both the positives and the negatives. Pros

  12. Coffee Roaster Business Plan [Free Template

    Download Template Learn more How to Write a Coffee Roaster Business Plan? Writing a coffee roaster business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan: 1. Executive Summary

  13. Crafting a Winning Coffee Roastery Business Plan: 9 Essential Steps!

    By Alex Ryzhkov Resources On Coffee Roastery and Tasting Room Financial Model Business Plan Value Proposition One-Page Business Plan SWOT Canvas Looking to start a coffee roastery and tasting room? You're in the right place! With the coffee industry booming, now is the perfect time to establish your own unique brand in the US market.

  14. How to Start a Coffee Roasting Business

    Use branded media. Focus on branding your roastery by creating a logo, social media banners, themes, color schemes, slogans, and other branded media to help your business stand out. Hire a graphic designer to create a complete package of branded media as you launch your company. Write a blog.

  15. How to Grow Your Coffee Roasting Business: 27 Tips from Coffee Pros

    Community How to Grow Your Coffee Roasting Business: 27 Tips from Coffee Pros Coffee professionals share their advice on finding new customers, building relationships, and roasting coffees people love Coffee roasters like to think the key to success is simply roasting the best coffee beans out there.

  16. Coffee Roasting Business Plan Example

    A business plan coffee roaster is a superb business idea that is poised for success so long you plan adequately. Coffee roasting is more than just a business, it's an art. Being passionate about your craft and having a good business plan coffee roaster is the secret to succeeding in this business. Start your Business Plan Now Start My Business Plan

  17. Free Coffee Roaster Business Plan Template + Example

    1 million businesses. Download a free coffee roaster business plan template with SBA-approved format. Includes pre-filled examples and step-by-step guides for a successful start.

  18. Coffee Bean Roasting Business Plan [Sample Template]

    1. Industry Overview According to industry reports, the coffee roaster market is expected to register a CAGR of 3.2 percent, during the forecast period (2019 - 2024). Meanwhile, roasting coffee transforms the chemical and physical properties of green coffee beans into roasted coffee products.

  19. How to start a commercial coffee roasting business?

    On that basis, a 10-12 kg roaster has a potential productive capability of about 80 lbs or $400 per hour. A single owner-operator will be able to roast about 4 hours a day with the balance of the time (probably 10 or 12-hour days, btw) packaging, cleaning, delivering, and marketing. That's about $1600 per day ($8k per week or $400k per year ...

  20. Black Acres Roastery Brews Up Coffee And Community In Baltimore

    A Black-owned coffee shop in Baltimore is brewing up Black history and culture with every cup they serve. Black Acres Roastery takes its name from Spike Lee's production company, 40 Acres and a ...

  21. Are these the most beautiful coffee shops in the world?

    See inside "Designing Coffee: New Coffee Places and Branding," a coffee table book that — no pun intended — puts the world's most photogenic, eccentric cafés and roasters on display.

  22. JDE Peet's and Enveritas Announce Global Deforestation-Free Plan

    Global coffee giant JDE Peet's says it has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with at least four coffee-producing countries for a new deforestation-free coffee initiative.. The publicly traded company announced today the completion of a pilot program in Vietnam, as well as signed MOUs with coffee sector leaders in Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, and Uganda, with more expected ...

  23. Cork coffee roastery Velo brews B Corp status

    Cork-based Velo Coffee Roasters, which is stocked in Dunnes, Tesco, Supervalue and Aldi, has become the first coffee roastery in Ireland to achieve B Corp status. Velo, which was founded by Rob Horgan, joins 30 other Irish businesses who have gained the B Corp certification, an initiative which has been around since 2006 and aims to commit ...

  24. COFFEEMANIA, Moscow

    Share. 600 reviews #414 of 11,094 Restaurants in Moscow $$ - $$$ Cafe International European. Bldg. 1 ul. Nikitskaya B. 13/6 Conservatory Building, Moscow 125009 Russia +7 499 495-15-74 Website Menu. Open now : 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM.

  25. Buzzing downtown Stockton coffee shop The Well provides free vocational

    The grass-roots non-profit provides free hands-on vocational training in the culinary arts, coffee roastery, photography, graphic design and a lot more. Their goal is to mentor and train others to ...

  26. Business Licensing

    An eating and/or drinking establishment within the Central Business Zoning District wishing to serve on public right-of-way adjacent to their business is required to apply for a Sidewalk Cafe License. An application is required and includes a site plan, insurance coverage, and a fee. Additional information may be required.

  27. Moscow-City

    The Afimall City Shopping and Entertainment Center is located in Moscow-City's Central Core. It is divided into 4 zones, each with its own theme - one for every season of the year. The shopping center houses the biggest indoor fountain found worldwide. The height of this watery wonder is 118 feet or 36 meters.

  28. Fuel startup to receive $7M tax credit from St. Louis agency

    The cost or timeline of the industrial project weren't disclosed. As a startup company, Terra plans to create 20 positions at the site with pay ranging from $45,000 to $100,000 annually and health ...

  29. Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow

    Day 6 - Explore the Golden Ring. Creating the Moscow itinerary may keep you busy for days with the seemingly endless amount of things to do. Visiting the so-called Golden Ring is like stepping back in time. Golden Ring is a "theme route" devised by promotion-minded journalist and writer Yuri Bychkov.

  30. Redevelopment plan for Mayor Wright Homes approved

    According to a Feb. 15 announcement, the existing 70-year-old community — which consists of 364 public housing residences — will become an affordable, mixed-income and mixed-use transit ...