A Guide to Probat Coffee Roasters From Germany

If you’ve ever wondered how professional coffee roasters maintain consistency, avoid defects, and scale production without sacrificing quality, the answer often starts with the roaster itself. German-made Probat roasters have been a backbone of the global coffee industry for over a century, combining durability, precision, and user-friendly design to meet the demands of both large-scale commercial operations and specialty micro-roasters.

In short: Probat offers six dedicated coffee roaster series, ranging from compact 1kg machines ideal for lab or single-origin development, up to industrial 640kg drum and centrifugal roasters for mass production. Over 80% of their equipment is exported globally, with models designed to minimize human error and support repeatable, defect-free roasts.

Who Is Probat and Why Does It Matter?

Probat is a German manufacturer specializing in coffee roasting and food processing equipment, also producing machinery for cacao, malt, and nuts. Founded in 1868, the company has focused exclusively on developing and building complete coffee processing and roasting systems. With distributors in Italy, the United States, and Brazil, Probat exports around 80% of its products to Europe, North America, and Central and South America. Their roasters are known for solid construction, distinctive engineering, and an interface that reduces operator error during the roast.

Probat’s Commercial Coffee Roaster Series

Probat manufactures several distinct lines of coffee roasters, each engineered for specific production scales and roasting methods:

• PROBAT SATURN Series: Centrifugal roasters with capacities from 32kg to 640kg per batch.
• PROBAT JUPITER Series: Tangential (or tangential airflow) roasters offering 50kg to 750kg per batch.
• PROBAT NEPTUNE Series: Traditional drum roasters ranging from 80kg to 640kg per batch.
• PROBAT COLOMBO NOVA Series: Drum roasters with batch sizes from 120kg to 500kg.
• PROBAT BASIC Series: Entry-level drum roasters suitable for mid-volume production, with 150kg to 450kg capacity.
• Specialty/Small-Batch Roasters: Precision drum roasters scaled down to 1kg to 50kg per batch, ideal for single-origin exploration or lab use.

Among these, even the 5kg model (pictured as

Notable Probat Models by Size

Specific models highlighted include:

• Probat 5kg Roaster: Compact enough for lab settings or boutique roasting, with PC connectivity for curve logging and automated control ( ).
• Probat 12kg Roaster: A step up in capacity while retaining precision engineering.
• Probat 50kg Roaster: Suitable for growing specialty roasteries needing moderate batch sizes without compromising on build quality.

The brand also produces the Probatino 800-1200g (not pictured here), a true small-batch desktop roaster for specialty applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of coffee roasters does Probat manufacture?

Probat makes six main series of coffee roasters: SATURN (centrifugal, 32–640kg), JUPITER (tangential, 50–750kg), NEPTUNE (drum, 80–640kg), COLOMBO NOVA (drum, 120–500kg), BASIC (drum, 150–450kg), and a specialty series for 1–50kg batches. They also offer the Probatino for ultra-small-batch roasting (800–1200g).

Which Probat roaster is best for a small specialty roastery?

For small-scale or single-origin-focused roasting, Probat’s specialty series (1–50kg) or the 5kg and 12kg models are ideal. The 5kg model can be computer-controlled for precision, as shown in .

Are Probat roasters used globally?

Yes, 80% of Probat’s production is exported, with strong distribution in Europe, North America, and Central and South America. Their roasters are trusted by commercial and specialty roasters worldwide.

What makes Probat roasters different from other brands?

Probat roasters are known for their robust construction, ergonomic designs that reduce human error, and intuitive controls. Many models support automated roast profiling to ensure consistency and avoid common roast defects.

Does Probat make anything besides coffee roasters?

Yes, Probat also manufactures processing equipment for cacao, malt, and nuts, though coffee roasting remains its primary focus.

Can I control a Probat roast with a computer?

Yes, certain models—including the 5kg roaster (shown in )—can connect to a computer to log roast curves and enable automated roasting.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee for Probat Roasters

For roasters using Probat equipment—whether a 5kg lab roaster or a 50kg production drum—try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for bright floral and citrus notes, or PWN Golden Mandheling for classic heavy body and low acidity. Both single origins highlight the clarity and control that Probat machines are known for. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.