Germany’s PROBAT Tino: The 800–1200g Commercial Coffee Roaster

When German coffee pioneer Alexius van Gülpén needed to deliver freshly roasted beans to retailers across expanding railway lines in 1864, he hit a major roadblock: there was no industrial-grade roaster capable of keeping up with demand. That need sparked a collaboration with local engineer Theodor von Gimborn—and the birth of a roasting legacy.

The solution? The world’s first high-capacity commercial coffee roaster, developed in 1868 by Emmericher Maschinenfabrik, the company that evolved into PROBAT. Today, PROBAT remains synonymous with durable, high-output coffee roasting equipment used globally.

How the PROBAT Tino Fits Into Coffee Roasting History

The PROBAT Tino is part of a long line of commercial drum roasters that trace back to the very origins of industrial coffee roasting. Founded in 1868 in Emmerich, Germany, the original company—later renamed PROBAT-Werke—developed its first large-capacity roaster to solve a logistical challenge: getting freshly roasted coffee to more people, faster. By 1880, the company was selling over 600 roasters annually, hitting 50,000 units by 1900 and 100,000 by 1938. To this day, 80% of PROBAT’s sales come from exports to more than 60 countries.

What Makes the Tino and Other PROBAT Roasters Different

The PROBAT Tino is a commercial coffee roaster with a capacity of 800–1200 grams. While the article does not break down the Tino’s technical specs in full, it does detail the engineering principles found throughout PROBAT’s product line, many of which apply to the Tino as well. These include:

• A drum that rotates on multiple axes (front-to-back and side-to-side), fitted with unique internal blades that ensure constant agitation of the beans for even heat distribution.
• A heat system where approximately 30% comes from direct conduction and radiation, and about 70% from hot air convection.
• An outer layer of insulating material around the drum to minimise heat loss and improve heat retention—critical for consistency.
• A user-friendly interface designed to reduce human error and avoid common roasting defects.

These features help achieve uniform roasts batch after batch, a must for specialty-focused commercial roasters.

PROBAT’s Full Range of Coffee Roasters

PROBAT manufactures a wide spectrum of coffee roasting equipment, not just the Tino. The brand’s offerings are divided into several specialised series:

• PROBAT SATURN: Centrifugal roasting system, 32–640 kg per batch.
• PROBAT JUPITER: Tangential (cutting airflow) roasters, 50–750 kg per batch.
• PROBAT NEPTUNE: Traditional drum roasters, 80–640 kg per batch.
• PROBAT COLOMBO NOVA: Drum roasters, 120–500 kg per batch.
• PROBAT BASIC: Entry-level drum roasters, 150–450 kg per batch.
• Specialty Coffee Roasters: Small-batch drum roasters, 1–50 kg per batch.

All roasters above 5 kg can be connected to computer systems to record roast profiles or enable automated control. The smaller specialty models are ideal for quality-focused micro-roasters, while the larger ones serve industrial-scale operations.

The Legacy and Global Reach of PROBAT Equipment

Beyond coffee, PROBAT also builds equipment for processing cocoa, malt, and nuts. Since its founding, the company has focused exclusively on developing and manufacturing complete coffee processing and roasting systems. With distributors in Italy, the United States, and Brazil, 80% of its products are exported to Europe, North America, and Central and South America. Notable clients include major coffee brands like LAVAZZA and UCC, which rely on PROBAT machines for consistent, high-quality roasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PROBAT Tino coffee roaster?

The PROBAT Tino is a commercial coffee roaster with a batch capacity of 800 to 1200 grams. It is part of PROBAT’s line of professional drum roasters known for durability, even heat application, and high output. Though exact specs for the Tino aren’t detailed in the source, it shares core engineering principles with other PROBAT roasters, such as multi-directional drum rotation, hot air convection heating (70%), and insulation for thermal stability.

What makes PROBAT roasters different from other coffee roasters?

PROBAT roasters are engineered for consistency and durability. They feature multi-axis drum rotation with internal blades to keep beans in constant motion, a heat system combining 30% conductive/radiant heat and 70% hot air, and insulated drums to maintain stable temperatures. The design minimises human error and supports consistent roast profiles across batches.

Does the PROBAT Tino allow for computerised roast profiling?

The article states that all PROBAT roasters above 5 kg—including those larger than the Tino—can connect to computers to record roast curves or enable automatic control. It is likely the Tino supports similar functionality, though the specific details are not confirmed for the 800–1200g model.

What other types of roasters does PROBAT manufacture?

PROBAT produces several roaster series: SATURN (32–640 kg, centrifugal), JUPITER (50–750 kg, tangential), NEPTUNE (80–640 kg, drum), COLOMBO NOVA (120–500 kg, drum), BASIC (150–450 kg, drum), and specialty models (1–50 kg). Each is tailored for different batch sizes and production scales, from boutique roasters to large industrial operations.

Where are PROBAT roasters used?

PROBAT roasters are used globally, with 80% of their sales being exports to over 60 countries. Major coffee companies such as LAVAZZA and UCC utilise PROBAT equipment. The company also serves cocoa, malt, and nut processing markets beyond coffee.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee for Small-Batch Roasting

For roasters working with small batches like the PROBAT Tino’s 800–1200g capacity, FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera offers bright citrus and floral notes with a juicy body—ideal for highlighting delicate profiles. Their Yirgacheffe delivers lemon zest and stone fruit with a clean acidity, perfect for exploring light roast intricacies. Finally, the Kenya Little Tomato brings bold berry flavours and winey acidity, great for testing development time. All three showcase the clarity and vibrancy that small-batch roasting 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.