Probat Coffee Roasters: 150 Years of German Engineering for Specialty Roasteries

Probat was founded in 1868 by Theodor von Gimborn in Emmerich am Rhein, Germany. From the very beginning, the brand’s mission was to revolutionise coffee roasting through engineering excellence. Probat developed early efficient roasting machines that set industry benchmarks, and over the late 19th and 20th centuries expanded its product range to serve both small artisanal roasters and large industrial operations.

After the second world war, Probat played a pivotal role in rebuilding the global coffee industry, introducing advanced German coffee roaster designs and expanding into international markets. As the digital age arrived, Probat embraced computer-controlled roasting, setting new standards for precision, repeatability, and data-driven profile development. Today, Probat continues to lead the industry, with installations in more than 40 countries and a reputation for the kind of long-term reliability that turns a Probat coffee roaster into a multi-decade asset for the roastery.

Kaapi Machines stocks and supplies the Probat range across the Indian market. Two coffee roasters anchor the specialty production tier, and larger commercial Probat installations are scoped on a project basis.

Probat P5

The Probat P5 is a 5 kg per batch specialty production coffee roaster, built for specialty coffee roasters, micro-roasteries, and cafes that roast their own beans in serious volumes. The P5 fits comfortably into smaller production spaces while still producing the volumes needed to support a real specialty business. Its compact design, sophisticated control system, and precise temperature and airflow regulation make it the most common starting point for India’s specialty roastery brands. Personalised roast profiles, effective heat transfer, and pollution control are all built into the platform.

Probat P12

The Probat P12 is a 12 kg per batch coffee roaster designed for medium to large specialty production. Established specialty roasters, artisanal cafes scaling into a coffee brand, and roastery firms looking to step up output without compromising on profile control all anchor on the P12. The machine accommodates different bean varieties and roast levels, with sophisticated roasting technology that ensures even heat distribution and accurate temperature control across every batch. The robust design and operator-friendly interface have made the P12 the most common Probat installation across India’s serious specialty roasteries. For wider context on the Indian roastery market, see our guide to the best coffee roasters in India.

Larger commercial Probat coffee roasters are sourced and supported through Kaapi Machines on a project basis with full ventilation, afterburner, and infrastructure planning.

Four core technology principles run across the Probat range and define what makes a Probat coffee roaster different from less serious roasting machines.

Consistently high quality coffee. Thermocouples for recording machine and process data give operators optimum control over every roasting cycle, producing constant and reproducible results across batches and profiles.

Flexibility. Extended batch size range and individually controllable frequency converters give the operator maximum flexibility in aroma development across different coffee types and origins. The adjustable cooling sieve outlet allows flexible installation across different roastery layouts.

Efficiency. Simultaneous roasting and cooling shortens cycle times, and optimised thermal insulation reduces energy consumption per batch. For a roastery running multiple shifts a day, the cycle time and energy efficiency add up to meaningful operational savings, especially when paired with the right grinder and downstream packaging.

Individuality. The traditional Probat look can be customised by adapting the body colour, hood, and front design parts. Every Probat in a roastery can be made unique, which matters for roasteries that treat the roaster itself as part of the customer-facing brand experience.

Probat coffee roasters are the default choice across India’s serious specialty roasteries. Specialty coffee brands building a national distribution programme run Probat. Specialty cafes roasting their own beans for the bar and for retail bag sales run Probat P5 or Probat P12. Roastery firms supplying coffee to multiple cafes and corporate clients run a commercial coffee roaster from the Probat range to deliver the consistency that wholesale customers expect every shipment.

Larger commercial coffee roaster installations are also common across coffee export operations, large corporate coffee brands, and multi-tonne industrial roasteries. The Probat platform scales from 5 kg specialty production all the way through to large industrial coffee roasting machines supplying retail and food service chains, which means a roastery starting on a Probat P5 today can scale up the brand without leaving the Probat platform.

Five questions decide which Probat coffee roaster fits your operation.

What is your monthly green bean volume? 50 to 500 kg a month sits comfortably on a P5. 500 kg to 3 tonne a month fits the P12. Above 3 tonne, plan for a 25 kg or larger commercial Probat installation.

What is your batch size flexibility need? The P5 handles roughly 2 to 5 kg per batch comfortably. The P12 handles roughly 4 to 12 kg per batch. Roasteries that work with diverse small lots benefit from the P5; roasteries that produce larger consistent runs benefit from the P12.

What is your roastery space? The P5 fits comfortably into small specialty roastery footprints. The P12 needs a larger space for the machine, ventilation, afterburner, and operator workflow. Plan the floor, ventilation, gas line, and electrical infrastructure alongside the machine selection.

What is your training and team capacity? Both Probat coffee roasters reward operator skill. Plan for proper roaster operator training, profile development time, and cupping discipline as part of the project. Barista training is a useful complement for cafe-attached roasteries where the bar team also needs to understand how the bean was made.

What is your investment level? The P5 sits at the more accessible end of specialty Probat pricing. The P12 represents a step up in investment that makes sense once the roastery volume and profile control needs justify it. Budget for the matching ventilation, afterburner, and ongoing service alongside the machine itself.

Kaapi Machines is the authorised Indian partner for Probat. Buying through us means three things.

Authorised partner pricing and warranty. You receive a genuine Probat coffee roaster at authorised partner pricing, with full manufacturer warranty cover from day one. Direct grey market imports lack both the pricing and the warranty, and tend to cost far more in service and downtime over the multi-decade life of a Probat machine.

Trained service network. Our certified technicians are factory trained on the Probat platform and reach major Indian cities. Genuine Probat parts are sourced and stocked through Kaapi Machines, and complex service work is coordinated directly with the Probat factory in Germany when needed.

Integrated roastery programme. A Probat coffee roaster sits inside a wider roastery programme that may include a matching grinder, sample roaster, packaging, professional cleaning products, and operator training. Kaapi Machines supplies and supports all of it through a single relationship. Larger projects can be scoped through our complete cafe consulting engagement for cafe-attached roasteries, or directly with our roastery team for standalone roastery projects.

For sixteen years, Kaapi Machines has equipped India’s most respected specialty roasteries, cafe-roastery brands, and commercial coffee operations. Your roastery is in good company.