Inside Kickapoo Coffee’s Award-Winning Roastery

Kickapoo Coffee isn’t just another Wisconsin roaster. In 2010, they made national headlines by winning Roast Magazine’s prestigious Roaster of the Year competition—an achievement that put them on the map for specialty coffee professionals and enthusiasts alike. But what happens after you win the top prize? For Kickapoo, it meant growing their capacity, refining their craft, and moving into a larger space built for serious production.

Kickapoo now operates a Probat G30 drum roaster and has relocated to a bigger facility, where they roast over 1.7 metric tons of coffee each week. That’s a major leap from their early days, reflecting both their technical upgrade and expanded market reach.

The Roaster Behind the Win

Kickapoo Coffee’s 2010 Roast Magazine Roaster of the Year win wasn’t just recognition—it was validation. The competition judged roasters on green coffee sourcing, roast quality, customer experience, and community impact. Winning meant Kickapoo had already mastered the fundamentals of specialty coffee roasting long before scaling up.

Why the Move to a New Roastery?

As demand grew, so did the need for more space and better equipment. The old setup couldn’t keep up with both the volume and the precision required for their expanding lineup. The new facility was designed from the ground up to support larger batches while maintaining the control needed for high-quality roasting.

The relocation also allowed Kickapoo to improve workflow, increase efficiency, and create a better environment for their team—critical factors when you’re roasting nearly two tons of coffee weekly.

Meet the Probat G30

The heart of Kickapoo’s new operation is the Probat G30 drum roaster. This commercial-grade machine is built for consistency and precision, capable of handling larger batches without sacrificing the nuanced control that specialty roasters demand.

The G30 gives Kickapoo the ability to roast more coffee while fine-tuning profiles for different origins and processing methods. It’s a critical tool in scaling quality alongside quantity.

How Production Scale Changed Their Game

Roasting over 1.7 tons per week means Kickapoo is serving a lot more customers—but they haven’t sacrificed their hands-on approach. The new setup allows them to maintain relationships with coffee producers while meeting broader distribution needs, from local cafés to national retailers.

This scale also supports experimentation. With more throughput, Kickapoo can allocate small batches for R&D without disrupting their core offerings, ensuring innovation continues even as they grow.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Kickapoo Coffee win Roast Magazine’s Roaster of the Year?

Kickapoo Coffee won Roast Magazine’s Roaster of the Year competition in 2010, earning national recognition for their green coffee sourcing, roast quality, customer relations, and community involvement.

What roaster does Kickapoo use now?

Kickapoo currently uses a Probat G30 drum roaster, a commercial-grade machine designed for consistent, high-volume roasting with precise control over roast profiles.

How much coffee does Kickapoo roast each week?

Kickapoo roasts over 1.7 metric tons (more than 1,700 kilograms) of coffee every week at their new, larger facility.

Why did Kickapoo move to a new roastery?

The move was driven by the need for more space and better equipment to handle increased production while maintaining quality control and improving workflow for their team.

Does Kickapoo still focus on specialty coffee after scaling up?

Yes, despite scaling to roast over 1.7 tons weekly, Kickapoo maintains a hands-on approach to sourcing, roasting, and quality, ensuring specialty standards are upheld across all their coffees.

What role does the Probat G30 play in their operation?

The Probat G30 is central to Kickapoo’s ability to roast larger batches consistently while still allowing for profile adjustments, supporting both volume and quality as they’ve expanded.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Home Roasters

FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Huakui offers bright citrus, floral notes, and juicy body—perfect for exploring light roasts like Kickapoo specializes in. Their Yirgacheffe brings lemon zest, bergamot, and stone fruit, ideal for pour-over fans. For deeper profiles, try the PWN Golden Mandheling with its sweet caramel and almond notes. All are sourced with the same care Kickapoo applies to their award-winning beans. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.