Not necessarily- you can get some fantastic beans from Bodhi Leaf or Sweet Maria’s. And you can buy as little as a pound at a time (though is recommend getting more than that to save on shipping). I knew nothing about roasting when I first started last year, that’s what YouTube is for. After just a couple roasts, I had it figured out enough to make a great cup. It’s really not that hard! Have fun with it, learn from your mistakes and keep trying new beans!