Why We Chose the IMF Coffee Roaster: A Roastery Owner's Perspective

As a roastery owner, choosing the right coffee roaster is one of the biggest and most important decisions you'll make. It’s a huge investment, and the machine you choose will directly impact the quality of your coffee, your operational efficiency, and your bottom line.

Here at Artisti Coffee Roasters in Toormina, we get asked all the time why we chose to purchase an IMF roasting plant. After extensive research and a four-year history of using the roaster, I'm here to break down the five key factors that led us to this decision.

1. Compact Size

One of the most striking features of the IMF roaster is its incredibly compact footprint. While other equivalent roasters can take up to four times the space, our entire roasting area—including the roaster, destoner, blender, and packing station—fits into a 6.5m x 6.5m area.

This was a major selling point for us. Our initial plan was to install the roaster in a smaller facility with a low roof height of only 3.4 meters. The IMF's design, which integrates the roaster, destoner, and afterburner into a single, compact unit, meant it would fit perfectly. This compact design saves a significant amount of money on rent and allows for a more efficient layout in any space.

2. Exceptional Quality

Is the IMF roaster built to last? The simple answer is yes. The engineering that has gone into refining all this technology into such a small space is truly impressive. We've been using our roaster for four years and have only encountered two minor issues, both of which were easily resolved. The build quality, durability of the panels, and attention to detail are outstanding. The reliability of this machine has given us peace of mind and allowed us to focus on what we do best: roasting great coffee.

3. High Performance

Performance is about more than just a quick roast time; it’s about the entire process. The IMF's system is incredibly well-timed. The green bean loader and destoner work seamlessly, with no delays between each stage. We can comfortably achieve roast times between 13 and 17 minutes, depending on the bean.

The heat on this roaster is what truly sets it apart. I liken it to a Formula One car; there is an astounding amount of controlled heat on tap. Even though it's a 30kg roaster, we can comfortably roast up to 33kg batches without sacrificing our desired roast time. The ability to precisely control this immense power allows us to achieve exceptional results with every roast.

4. Advanced Control

The IMF roaster is controlled by a Siemens PLC, a system widely used in manufacturing businesses worldwide. This robust and user-friendly system makes it easy to control every aspect of the roast, from motor speeds to fan settings. The best part? The PLC is connected to the internet, allowing for remote diagnostics. When we had a minor software bug, a technician in Italy was able to dial in and fix the issue remotely—a service that is invaluable to any business.

5. Overall Price & Value

When we compared the total package, the IMF was the most cost-effective solution. This includes not only the roaster but also the blender, destoner, and green bean loader. Unlike other setups where these are costly add-ons, the IMF plant comes as one integrated system.

Another significant cost-saving factor is the one heat source for both the roaster and the afterburner. This "vortex" system uses far less gas than roasters with two separate heat sources, resulting in substantial long-term savings. The quick installation—just 8 hours to get up and running—also saved us weeks of build time and avoided the high cost of flying technicians out for an extended period.

In the end, the IMF roaster offered the best overall value, combining initial cost savings with ongoing operational efficiency. It's a high-performance, reliable, and compact machine that has been a fantastic investment for our business.

Disclaimer: We were not paid by IMF, nor did we receive any incentives for this review. This is our honest opinion, based on our experience as a roastery.

Have you used an IMF roaster or are you considering a new one? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!