Loring S35 Kestrel: The Smart Roaster That Changed Specialty Coffee

If you’ve ever walked into a roastery and coughed from the smoke, or wondered why your favorite single origin tastes different batch to batch, you’re not alone. Traditional coffee roasting machines have long struggled with inconsistent results, energy inefficiency, and dangerous smoke emissions. For specialty roasters aiming for precision and sustainability, these were unresolved challenges—until now.

The Loring S35 Kestrel smart coffee roaster eliminates smoke entirely, controls roast profiles with unmatched precision, and uses 80% less energy than conventional roasters—key advances that deliver cleaner, more repeatable coffee flavor.

What Makes the Loring S35 Kestrel Different?

The Loring S35 Kestrel isn’t just another commercial roaster. It’s the first to solve two longstanding problems in coffee roasting: inconsistent environmental control and smoke management. Unlike traditional drum roasters that vent hot, smoky air outside, the Loring uses a patented closed-loop system. This means no smoke escapes, no oxygen enters the drum, and no messy cleanup of chaff or soot buildup.

How the Flavor-Lock Process Works

At the heart of the Loring S35 Kestrel is the Flavor-Lock Roast Process™, a proprietary smart roasting technology. This system creates a fully enclosed environment where heated air is stripped of oxygen but infused with controlled humidity. By removing oxygen, it minimizes unwanted oxidation during roasting, preserving delicate aromatic compounds. The added moisture supports a more stable and even heat application throughout the Maillard reaction and development phase. The result? Higher bean yield, cleaner cup profiles, and more vibrant acidity and sweetness across origins.

Closed-Loop Airflow & Energy Efficiency

Traditional roasters expel hot, polluted air through external chimneys, wasting energy and creating fire hazards from built-up chaff and oils. The Loring’s closed-loop airflow system recirculates heated air internally. Smoke is converted into high-temperature steam and reintroduced into the drum, while chaff is completely separated, burned, and eliminated. This closed system not only removes oxygen and smoke but also reduces gas consumption by up to 80%. According to manufacturer data, U.S.-based roasters switching to Loring can save around $30,000 annually just on gas. The absence of oily residue on exhaust walls also eliminates the risk of chimney fires—a major safety upgrade.

Consistent Roasting in Any Season

Because the Loring S35 Kestrel recycles its own heated air, external weather conditions like humidity or temperature swings no longer affect roast consistency. Whether it’s humid summer in Guangzhou or dry winter in Minnesota, the roasting environment inside the drum remains stable. This leads to more predictable outcomes and repeatable flavor profiles, critical for specialty roasters cupping and selling single origins or blends across markets and seasons.

Smart Control & Remote Management

The Loring S35 Kestrel is equipped with a user-friendly touchscreen interface that allows roasters to program, monitor, and replicate roast profiles down to the minute. Every stage of the roast can be fine-tuned and saved, ensuring consistency shot after shot, batch after batch. Beyond the local interface, every Loring machine is internet-connected. The manufacturer provides remote diagnostics, support, and troubleshooting. Roasters can also operate and adjust their machines remotely, adding a layer of flexibility and technical support that’s rare in high-end roasting equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Loring S35 Kestrel?

The Loring S35 Kestrel is a 35-kilo capacity commercial coffee roaster designed with a closed-loop, smoke-free roasting system. It uses the Flavor-Lock Roast Process™ to control oxygen levels and humidity, resulting in more consistent and flavorful roasts while improving energy efficiency and safety.

How does the Loring S35 reduce smoke and emissions?

The Loring S35 Kestrel employs a closed-loop airflow system that recirculates hot air internally. Instead of venting smoke outside, it converts smoke into steam and reuses the heat, while separating and incinerating chaff. This design results in no visible smoke, no external chimney, and no oxygen exposure during roasting.

What is the Flavor-Lock Roast Process™?

The Flavor-Lock Roast Process™ is Loring’s patented roasting method that removes oxygen from the roasting chamber and controls humidity. This preserves coffee aromatics, reduces oxidation, and supports even heat distribution, leading to cleaner, more vibrant cup profiles and higher bean yields.

How much energy does the Loring S35 save compared to traditional roasters?

The Loring S35 Kestrel uses up to 80% less gas than conventional coffee roasters. In the U.S., this translates to approximately $30,000 in annual gas savings per machine, based on typical usage patterns.

Can the Loring S35 be controlled remotely?

Yes. Every Loring S35 Kestrel is connected to the internet, allowing manufacturers to provide remote support and diagnostics. Roasters can also monitor and adjust their roasts remotely via the machine’s network-enabled control system.

Does the Loring S35 work well in different climates?

Yes. Because it recirculates its own air internally and isn’t affected by external humidity or temperature, the Loring S35 Kestrel produces consistent roast profiles year-round, regardless of seasonal environmental changes.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Closed-Loop Roasting

For roasters using the Loring S35 Kestrel, FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera offers bright citrus, floral notes, and a juicy body—perfect for highlighting the roaster’s clean flavor retention. The Yirgacheffe delivers classic berry and stone fruit brightness with a tea-like finish, ideal for testing the Flavor-Lock process’s ability to preserve delicate aromatics. Finally, the Brazil Queen Manor provides a balanced nutty and chocolate base, great for exploring how the Loring manages body and sweetness in medium-dark roasts. All three beans showcase the clarity and consistency the S35 is known for. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.