Mill City North TJ-150 (6kg)

the verdict

the north TJ-150 sits in the 6kg sweet spot for single-location cafes roasting for their own use and limited wholesale. batch range runs 1kg to 6kg, with best results between 3kg and 5kg where the double-wall drum's thermal mass stabilizes. you get the same profile logging and four-thermocouple setup as larger models, plus digital drum pressure gauge, which is more control than most cafe roasters use but helpful if you're serious about dialing in repeatability. the cooling tray detaches via quick-disconnect fittings, and the off-board chaff collector keeps the footprint manageable for tight back-of-house spaces. figure two to three batches per hour depending on your cooling discipline. this machine makes sense if you're roasting 50kg to 150kg weekly and want something you can maintain yourself without flying in a technician. the CSA certification smooths permitting. trade-off is price: you're paying for modularity and safety features that matter more in the US regulatory environment than for roasters abroad.