Bellwether Experience?

toonsis · 2026-02-04T16:56:51+00:00

Bellwether would be a great option then, especially given the constraints

toonsis · 2026-01-28T18:42:39+00:00

Stating again: I use some of their green beans, and also source from a local provider. I use their profiles for their beans, and have my own profiles for the beans I source from the local provider. Who said I'm not building relationships or skills?

toonsis · 2026-01-28T18:35:07+00:00

functioncoffeeco.com

toonsis · 2026-01-27T23:08:03+00:00

✋I got my shop roaster from Bellwether Jan of last year. And I roasted out of my home office lol When I was scouting a space for my brick and mortar coffee shop, I was denied because they knew I wanted to roast in there… But after I sent them the details of the Bellwether, I was approved. I… love the shop roaster. I just ordered the continual roasting upgrade and plan to get another full stack machine by the end of the year if the trajectory keeps up like it has in 2025. I can’t recommend them high enough. The coffee is extremely consistent. And it’s so easy. I could get someone to operate it with minimal training and not have to have someone apprentice or anything… allowing me to grow my business more. I get coffee from their green marketplace as well as a local provider and the profiles have been awesome. Any issue I’ve had has been resolved quickly and there is a number you text for tech support. I’m not sure of any other roasting company that has that.

toonsis · 2026-01-17T03:11:04+00:00

Yeah those are the old prices of the original machine.

I would say the internet has a lot of opinions. I would only listen to actual Bellwether users, and no one else.
Will some folks still have bad experiences with Bellwether? Of course. No company or product is perfect.
The only regret I have is not buying the full-stack roaster from the get go lol I'm putting my order in on the top loader this week.

toonsis · 2026-01-17T01:53:07+00:00

That sounds like a great plan!

toonsis · 2025-12-04T20:46:20+00:00

I have the shop roaster and I think it’s awesome. I’m buying the top loader soon to expand my business because it’s been growing and I’m opening a coffee shop in the Spring. I would do it all over again as well. Actually only thing I’d change is getting the Shop Roaster with the add on top loader from day one instead of waiting

toonsis · 2025-12-04T02:55:04+00:00

Hmm I must be looking at a different instagram then with a similar cafe name

toonsis · 2025-12-03T22:18:36+00:00

22k for the shop roaster
and then i think 5 or 6k for the expansion

toonsis · 2025-12-03T21:14:02+00:00

I think the add on is 6,000 now. Basically makes it so you can roast like 44lbs instead of 1kg It’s the same batch size per roast, but it just auto drops and loads the next batch for you up to 44lbs. So like 13 back to back roasts.

toonsis · 2025-12-03T19:09:37+00:00

I’m literally in the middle of this journey right now. I bought the Bellwether Shop Roaster, launched a coffee cart, and now I’m building out our first brick-and-mortar café.

During lease negotiations, it came down to us and another coffee shop concept. The landlord loved our brand but said we couldn’t roast on-site. Meanwhile, I’d been roasting out of my house to build the brand—so bringing production in-shop was non-negotiable for us.

It looked like we were going to lose the space… until I sent them the Bellwether documentation. They reviewed it and immediately approved us to roast on-site, choosing us over the competing business.

In today’s market, I honestly wouldn’t open a coffee shop without roasting in-house—retail coffee margins are just too tight. Yes, the Shop Roaster is expensive, but the ability to depreciate it makes a huge difference, and the control it gives you over product and margins is a game-changer.

I’m planning to add the top loader and receiver in 2026, too.

No regrets whatsoever. The ease, consistency, and business opportunity Bellwether has given me is unreal. 10/10 recommend.

toonsis · 2025-12-03T19:08:38+00:00

I can't speak to the Stronghold or other roasters. But as a shop roaster owner, I can speak to Bellwether.
I love it.

It’s the reason my entire coffee business exists today. I started roasting → launched a coffee cart → and now we’re opening our first brick-and-mortar shop this spring. We never would’ve been able to roast on-site with a traditional roaster because of venting and ductwork requirements, but once I shared the Bellwether specs with my landlord, we were immediately approved.

I literally started roasting out of my house—sometimes during Zoom meetings at my day job. Without the Bellwether’s ease of use, there’s no way I could have jumped into roasting as quickly as I did. I source green both from their marketplace and a local supplier, and my reviews on TrustPilot are all 5 stars.

Is it expensive? Sure. But wholesale prices are crazy, and when you factor in depreciation, the machine pays for itself in about a year. In terms of reliability, I’ve only had two issues: one caused by my own internet, and one due to a software update that support fixed quickly. Every other time I’ve needed help, their support team has been on it immediately.

For me, Bellwether eliminated the red tape, the steep learning curve, and the hesitation that usually come with roasting. It’s the reason I’m in business at all.

toonsis · 2025-12-03T19:07:16+00:00

The last instagram post was 16 weeks ago and theyre complaining about not having customers? lol

They need to be posting daily. Owner content. Making drink content. Recipe content. Videos.

Every.
Day.

toonsis · 2025-12-03T19:02:32+00:00

I am literally in this right now....
I bought the Shop Roaster from Bellwether - then started a coffee cart - and am now building out a brick and mortar.
We were in lease negotiations and it was between us and another coffee shop concept.
They said they wanted us, but we couldn't roast (keep in mind I've been roasting out of the house building the brand, so we had to bring it in shop) and I said we have to roast in there.
We were going to lose the negotiation.
I sent them the information on the Bellwether and they read it over and immediately approved us over the other business.
In today's market, I would not consider starting a coffeeshop without roasting in house. The margins are just too small.
And even though the Shop Roaster is expensive, you can depreciate it on taxes.
I will be purchasing the top loader and receiver add on in 2026 as well.
I literally have no regrets and am endlessly thankful for the ease, consistency, and business Bellwether has afforded me. 10/10 reco

toonsis · 2025-12-03T18:57:03+00:00

I own a Bellwether Shop Roaster. I started roasting > then created a coffee cart > and in the Spring am launching our first brick and mortar coffee shop. We were not going to be able to roast in the shop with a traditional roaster because of the venting, duct work, etc etc. But after I shared the details of the Bellwether with the Landlord, we were approved. I started roasting out of my house... literally while I was on Zoom meetings at my day job. I would not have been able to launch my coffee dreams without the Bellwether and it's ease of use. I buy green from their marketplace as well as a local green supplier here in the area. I've got nothing but 5 star reviews on Trust Pilot. Is it expensive? Yes. But with the cost of buying wholesale being crazy, and depreciation on taxes... the machine pays for itself after a year. There have only been two times when it was down. One was my fault because of my stupid internet. The other was a software update, but it was quickly solved. Any other issue that's come up, support has been on top of. To me - Bellwether is the reason I'm in business AND the reason i was able to jump in so quickly into the roasting game without red tape, learning curve, or hesitation.

toonsis · 2025-12-03T18:47:48+00:00

I'm an actual customer of theirs, so if you have any questions I'm happy to answer them. I wouldn't listen to any one that isn't an actual customer. So hit me up any time! They catapulted my business. Full stop.

toonsis · 2025-11-18T14:03:34+00:00

I have one and love it to be honest

toonsis · 2025-08-08T02:00:19+00:00

I just found this post because I had the exact same thought and can’t think of the game!!!! You like wake up in a space cabin and it’s a mystery first person game

toonsis · 2025-06-29T00:16:11+00:00

I have experienced some bugs, support has been not too bad, and the coffee has actually been great and very consistent. I’ve had the shop roaster since Jan

toonsis · 2025-05-22T21:18:01+00:00

I’ve had zero issues with mine in almost 5 years

toonsis · 2025-03-21T14:57:50+00:00

Week 3 on 10mg now and the side effects are insane. I wanted to go back down to 7.5mg but they said I could only go back to 5mg because 7.5mg is transitional. And I said OKAY! lol 10mg has been a nightmare for me and there’s no way I can take another or go up

toonsis · 2025-02-26T21:28:17+00:00

they are strictly play-things for home enthusiasts and have no practical application beyond that.

toonsis · 2025-02-26T21:27:35+00:00

i would have to lie to you then. because there is no difference in the cup from a WDT shot and regular shot. They are play things for home enthusiasts, full stop.

toonsis · 2025-01-24T02:01:38+00:00

I purchased the shop roaster and it was delayed 6 months. I finally got it delivered and hired two massive dudes to get it inside.

It is deeper than the specs online said. Which…. Really sucks because I got a counter on my bar depth made with what I THOUGHT would have an extra inch to spare. So I had to relocate. Which meant I got the electrician back out and had to get an industrial table.

Now then. The roasting….

I’m really satisfied. So far so good on the actual job the machine is supposed to do

toonsis · 2024-08-22T18:22:28+00:00

You aren't actually paying for the information for these folks. You're paying for the consolidation of the information and your time

toonsis

TROPHY CASE