The Future of Coffee Roasting: Innovation Over Incremental Gains
Coffee roasting is undergoing a silent revolution—here’s how it’s redefining the craft. For decades, drum roasters have operated on 20th-century engineering principles, their designs unchanged despite rising climate risks, price volatility, and shifting consumer demands. Yet the industry is at a tipping point. As green coffee prices swing and sustainability becomes non-negotiable, roasters and manufacturers are confronting a stark reality: without reimagining roasting technology, the specialty coffee world risks stagnation. The shift began with third-wave coffee’s emphasis on precision. In the late ’90s, roasters demanded consistency, pushing manufacturers to adopt automation and advanced sensors. Today’s machines collect data, replicate roast…
