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Roast for Profit

Roast Coffee For Profit With RK Drums

Become A Microroaster - Roast Coffee For Profit!

Roasting coffee is a profitable business with low startup costs. Go all-in and create a full-time business or run a side hustle for extra money.

How Profitable Is Roasting Coffee?

Roasting coffee is very profitable either as a side or full-time business. You can quickly pay off the investment in roasting equipment, even if you decide to roast only once a week.

A reasonable side hustle example would be roasting only in the evenings for a total of 8 hours a week, and selling coffee on the weekends. Assuming $7 per pound profit and using the 6lb RK Drum, you could roast and sell 144 lbs to make $1,000 in just one week.

still printing $$$

By the end of a phone call I was a lot more confident and proficient. NOW I can roast with my eyes closed. Sold my 8#'er after shoulder challenges, but am still "printing $ with my 6#'er.

Glenn Secola

Owner of a Cottage Roasting Business

Do I Need Roasting Experience?

Roasting coffee is one of the few businesses you can start with absolutely no experience required. You can learn to roast in a day, (we help with that!), and get started selling your product in no time.

developed our business from a to z

RK Drums helped us develop our roasting business from a to z. It's been 10 years now; we roasted 2800 lbs last year. RK Drums is the best for all things coffee.

Steve Gilchrist Owner: Green Truck Coffee

Is It Hard To Find Customers?

One of the most intimidating aspects of starting any business is finding customers. But, since about 2/3 of Americans drink coffee, almost anyone you know or meet is a potential customer.

The trick is getting folks to try your coffee. Freshness is the key to blowing away the competition and getting repeat business. Fresh coffee is truly much better tasting, with none of the bitterness and acidic aftertaste that are associated with typical store-bought coffee.

many satisfied customers

My company, Berries To Beans Coffee Company, has many very satisfied customers. I would put my RK drum roasted coffee against ANY other coffee.

Bill S.

Owner: Berries To Beans Coffee Company

How Much Time Is Required To Run A Microroastery?

Running a microroastery is suited to both smaller side hustles, as well as full-time businesses. The more time you put into the business, the more money you can make. But even if you do a weekend-only side gig, you’ll still make plenty of money and pay off the initial investment very quickly.

What Are The Startup Costs?

To start your microroastery, you’ll need roasting equipment, cooling equipment, bulk green coffee, packaging supplies, a grill and propane. On the low end, you can start selling coffee for as little as $1500.

an RK drum is the way to go

I’ve had people do taste comparisons against some pretty high caliber companies, and my roasts have won out. If you want to roast excellent coffee without spending 10k to get in the door, an RK drum is the way to go.

Matt C.

Owner: Deacon Coffee Company

How Long Will It Take To Get My Business Going?

Starting a microroastery requires no experience and has a short return on investment. In most cases, you can order the RK Roaster, bulk coffee and packaging, buy the grill and propane, setup or buy a cooling solution, and have everything read-to-go within 2 weeks.

ready to go in a weekend

Got to do my burn-in over the weekend, and roasted two 2lb batches to get a feel for the setup and a 10lb batch in about an hour!

Kevin C.

Owner of a Coffee Roasting Company

Why Use RK Drums?

No other roasting equipment manufacturer has as much experience with helping microroasters get started. RK Drums sells high quality, indestructible steel drums that a professional microroaster needs, but at an accessible price. On top of the quality roasting drum, you’ll gain access to invaluable roasting instruction, coffee expertise and business know-how.

  • Invaluable resources on roasting instruction and starting a microroastery

  • Be a part of the RK Community where you can learn and share with other microroasters

  • Produce amazing fresh-roasted coffee that your customers can't resist

Explore RK Drums Professional Roasting Kits

6LB RK Drums Everything Kit (7.5LB Max)

Interested in roasting coffee for friends and family or perhaps you’d like to start a side business roasting coffee on a budget? Then our 6LB RK Everything Kit is the one for you.

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8LB RK Drums Everything Kit (10LB Max)

Want to start a small business roasting coffee? The 8LB RK Everything Kit allows you to produce up to 30lbs of roasted coffee an hour. Begin your new venture and start producing the freshest, best-tasting coffee.

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12LB RK Drums Everything Kit (14LB Max)

Fully committed to to starting a micro roasting business? Want to start roasting as much as possible? The 12LB Everything Kit is capable of roasting up to 45 lbs of coffee an hour. Start roasting at a fraction of the cost of a commercial unit with the same or better roast quality.

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