What does a coffee roaster do — and how to become one in Kenya
15 May 2026 · 7 min read
Kenya grows some of the world's most sought-after coffee, yet skilled roasters remain rare here. That makes roasting one of the most promising — and least contested — careers in Kenyan coffee.
What a roaster actually does
A roaster selects and grades green coffee, develops roast profiles, operates the roaster, and evaluates every batch through cupping. The goal is to bring out the best in each coffee and reproduce that result consistently.
The skills involved
Roasting blends craft and science. A professional roaster can:
- Grade green coffee and spot defects
- Read and adjust a roast curve in real time
- Cup roasts to evaluate development and consistency
- Manage packaging, degassing, and shelf life
Training as a roaster
Roasting can't be learned from videos alone — you need time on an actual drum roaster with real green coffee. Jowam's five-week Professional Roasting Course is built entirely around that hands-on experience.
Related course
Professional Roasting Course
A deep dive into the craft of coffee roasting. Over five weeks you will learn to evaluate green coffee, develop and document roast profiles, operate a drum roaster, and produce market-ready batches.
KES 50,000