Question 1

are San Franciscan roasters manual or automated?

Accepted Answer

all San Franciscan models are primarily manual, with gas valve and airflow controlled by the operator during the roast. the SF-75 and possibly other large models can be fitted with aftermarket profiling controllers, but the core design assumes you're adjusting heat in real time. this gives fast response and flexibility for roasters who profile lots frequently, but it also means there's a learning curve and less batch-to-batch automation than you'd get with a fully computerized machine.

Question 2

what batch sizes do San Franciscan roasters handle?

Accepted Answer

the SF-1 roasts 0.1 to 0.5 kg per batch, suitable for sampling and profiling. the SF-6 handles 0.5 to 2.7 kg, covering small cafe or microbatch production. the SF-25 roasts 2 to 11 kg, appropriate for growing roasteries. San Franciscan also manufactures larger models like the SF-75, which roasts up to 34 kg per batch and can hit 136 kg per hour with back-to-back cycles. each machine is designed to run efficiently across its full batch range.

Question 3

where are San Franciscan roasters made and what materials do they use?

Accepted Answer

all San Franciscan roasters are fabricated in Yakima, Washington, using american-made parts wherever possible. drums are hand-built from schedule 40 steel, chosen for thermal conductivity and resistance to brittleness over time. smaller models feature walnut baseboards, brass trim, and powder-coated steel bodies. the company emphasizes serviceability: because components are sourced domestically, replacement parts are generally easy to find, and the simple mechanical design means fewer proprietary electronics to fail.

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