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Bellwether Coffee Unveils New Shop Roaster

In a bold move to support cafés and coffee shops, Bellwether Coffee has launched its latest product, the Shop Roaster, which promises to revolutionize the coffee roasting landscape. This new device is stronger, easier to set up, and simplifies the roasting process, allowing small businesses to take control of their coffee production.

Recent research highlights the significant cost savings that can be realized by in-house roasting. Currently, many cafés spend an average of $14.80 per pound on wholesale roasted specialty coffee, with over 30% paying as much as $18 per pound. By roasting coffee on-site, businesses can potentially reduce this expenditure by nearly half. A comforting statistic shows that the median payback period for investing in a roaster is just five months.

A survey conducted with Bellwether’s clients revealed that those who transitioned to using the Shop Roaster can save approximately $2,000 monthly by eliminating the need to buy roasted beans. Moreover, 93% of these businesses have begun selling their coffee under their own brand, while 72% reported additional revenue from retail coffee bag sales. Bellwether's founder, Ricardo Lopez, emphasizes that in-house roasting not only lowers operational costs but also helps brands create new market opportunities.

Real-World Impact: Mission House Coffee

One standout example is Mission House Coffee in Lynchburg, Virginia, which has embraced the benefits of in-house roasting, producing over 200 pounds of coffee each week. The business claims to save over $5,000 monthly, reinforcing the notion that roasting coffee on-site provides multiple advantages, including savings, new sales channels, and a unique brand identity.

Tommy Clark, owner of Mission House Coffee, shared, "Roasting in-house creates three opportunities you wouldn't have otherwise: saving money, opening sales avenues, and developing an identity."

Features of the New Shop Roaster

In addition to economic benefits, the new Shop Roaster is designed with aesthetics and functionality in mind. Here are some of its primary features:

• - Durable Design: Crafted with a strong metal enclosure, it’s suitable for bustling coffee shop settings. It comes in two finishes – classic white and a new deep bronze – to accommodate various interior designs.
• - Easy Installation: The Shop Roaster operates electrically without the need for gas lines, ductwork, or venting, shipping fully assembled and ready for use.
• - User-Friendly Operation: The innovative Bellwether app allows users to customize and adjust roasting profiles, track coffee inventory, and reorder green coffee effortlessly.

Every Shop Roaster can be paired with Bellwether’s curated coffee program, featuring over 50 different coffee choices available across the U.S. and European markets. Each roaster comes pre-set with four roasting profiles and includes coffee advisors to assist with retail packaging.

The Shop Roaster is set to make its debut at Coffee Fest Dallas on October 17-18, 2026, and is available for order with deliveries anticipated in early 2027.

For more information on this revolutionary product, visit bellwethercoffee.com.

About Bellwether Coffee

Bellwether Coffee is known for creating the world’s only smokeless commercial coffee roaster, revolutionizing how cafés roast coffee while maintaining a full-service approach complete with a curated green coffee marketplace. Since its inception, Bellwether has helped businesses across 26 countries and 40 U.S. states, processing millions of pounds of coffee in over a decade of operating experience. The company is headquartered in Berkeley, California.