What is the most expensive problem on a used roaster?

Typically a warped or cracked drum, failed bearings, an unsupported control system or a gas train that must be replaced to meet current standards.

Can I install a used gas roaster myself?

No. Gas connection and commissioning must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Buying a used coffee roaster: the inspection checklist

What to ask before you travel, what to look at with the machine cold, what to watch with it running, and the paperwork that should come with it.

8 min read Updated October 9, 2026

Take an engineer who knows roasters, or at least a Gas Safe engineer and someone who has roasted on the model, to any inspection of a serious purchase. This checklist helps you ask the right questions; it does not replace a professional inspection.

Before you travel

Ask for the make, model, serial number, year, fuel type and the data plate photo.
Ask for service records, any parts replaced, and why it is being sold.
Confirm with the maker or a specializt engineer that the model and its control system are still supported and parts are available.
Ask whether it can be seen running, hot, with coffee, and whether you can roast your own green.
Ask what is included: chaff collector or cyclone, afterburner, ducting, cooling tray, destoner, probes, manuals, spare parts.
Ask who will disconnect it, and whether a Gas Safe engineer will cap the supply safely.

With the machine cold

Visual and mechanical checks

Drum: turn it by hand where safe; feel for roughness or play in the bearings; look for warping, cracks and worn vanes
Drum shaft and seals: signs of rubbing or scorching
Burner or elements: corrosion, damaged ports, cracked ceramics, burnt wiring
Gas train: valves, regulators, flame supervision and safety shut-off present and labeled
Chaff collector and cyclone: thickness of deposits, signs of past fires (discoloured paint, warped panels)
Ducting and fans: blade damage, imbalance, rust
Cooling tray: stirring arms, screen condition, fan
Thermocouples: present, undamaged, and where they sit in the bean mass and exhaust
Electrics: tidy wiring, no bypassed safety devices, emergency stop works
Data plate matches the paperwork

With the machine running

Running checks

Warm-up time to charge temperature is reasonable for the model
Burner lights reliably and modulates smoothly across its range
Airflow changes respond as expected; exhaust does not leak smoke into the room
Drum speed steady; no knocking, squealing or vibration
Bean temperature readings are stable and repeatable between batches
A full-size batch roasts to a normal color in a normal time
Cooling tray brings a full batch down quickly
Afterburner, if included, reaches its working temperature

Paperwork and the deal

Proof of ownership and that the machine is not under finance; ask for a receipt that states it
Manuals, wiring diagrams and gas certificates
A written condition statement from the seller
Who pays for disconnection, crane and transport
Recommissioning at your site by a Gas Safe engineer, and by the maker or a specializt where possible

Budget for the first month

Even a good used roaster usually needs a service, new thermocouples, a gasket kit or bearing work soon after moving. Keep a contingency in your startup budget.

Where Roastnet helps

Questions roasters ask

What is the most expensive problem on a used roaster?: Typically a warped or cracked drum, failed bearings, an unsupported control system or a gas train that must be replaced to meet current standards.
Can I install a used gas roaster myself?: No. Gas connection and commissioning must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Official sources

Gas Safe Register: Find a registered engineer

Rules change. These sources were checked on October 9, 2026; always confirm the current position with the body that publishes them before you act.