Diedrich IR-12

the verdict

the IR-12 represents diedrich's workhorse production roaster, with 3kg to 12kg batch capacity that handles serious wholesale volume while maintaining flexibility for smaller runs. profile logging comes standard, giving you data tracking for consistency across hundreds of batches. the infrared burner system delivers stable heat through long production days, and the 12kg size hits a sweet spot for roasters supplying multiple cafes, grocery accounts, or online sales. you can roast 100kg in a day without destroying yourself, but you're not locked into enormous batches when you want to run limited microlots. many IR-12 machines from the 1980s and 1990s remain in commercial operation, which demonstrates both build quality and serviceability over decades. the used market is active, with older machines often available at reasonable prices if you're comfortable with manual controls. newer versions integrate with modern software for profile automation. this capacity suits roasters doing $250k to $1m in annual revenue who want equipment that won't need replacement as they grow.