Choosing a Coffee Roaster for Your Coffee Shop – It's More Than Buying Beans

our production roaster

Choosing a coffee roaster shouldn't simply be about finding someone who sells coffee.

You're potentially going to work with them every week.

Possibly every day.

So the relationship matters.

Start with the coffee

Obviously.

Taste the coffee.

Try it as espresso.

Try it with milk.

If you offer filter coffee, taste that too.

Ask yourself whether the coffee fits what you want your coffee shop to be.

Don't choose something because the packaging looks fantastic.

And don't choose it because someone told you that it's the “best coffee”.

Taste it.

You are the one serving it.

Then look beyond the bag

What happens when your espresso suddenly doesn't taste right?

Can you call someone?

Can they help you dial it in?

Can they train your staff?

What happens if your machine has a problem?

What happens if you need more coffee than expected?

These things matter.

A coffee roaster supplying a coffee shop can be much more than a delivery service.

At Al-Gharb, for example, our B2B service includes barista training, equipment support and consulting around workflow, bar layout and menu guidance.

That kind of support can be particularly useful when you're starting out.

Training can make a huge difference

You can buy fantastic coffee and still serve disappointing espresso.

Not because the coffee is bad.

Because the grinder isn't dialled in.

Or the recipe isn't understood.

Or the machine isn't being cleaned properly.

Or nobody knows what to do when the coffee changes.

A good roaster should be able to help your team understand the coffee they're serving.

Equipment support matters too

Coffee equipment is expensive.

When something goes wrong at 8:15 on a Saturday morning, you probably don't want to discover that your coffee supplier has absolutely no interest in anything that happens after the beans leave their warehouse.

Ask about service.

Ask about maintenance.

Ask what happens when something goes wrong.

Ask who you actually call.

These aren't glamorous questions.

They are useful ones.

And finally, talk to them

Coffee is a relationship business.

Talk to the roaster.

Explain your concept.

Tell them what you want to achieve.

Tell them what isn't working.

Ask questions.

The right coffee supplier shouldn't simply want to sell you another bag of beans.

They should want your coffee shop to succeed.

Because when your coffee shop does well, everyone involved in that relationship has a reason to be happy.

And that's a much better relationship than simply putting a box in the post every Tuesday.

— Henning  Al-Gharb Coffee Roasters, Algarve

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