You've outgrown your 1–3kg starter roaster and you're ready to scale. The question every serious roastery owner faces: should you jump to a 6kg machine or go straight to 15kg? This comparison breaks it down with real numbers.
A 6kg roaster (like the Yoshan YS-6KG) handles 3.5–7kg per batch at 18–28kg/hour output. A 15kg machine (like the YS-15KG or SD-15KG Pro) handles 1–15kg per batch at 40–80kg/hour output.
The 15kg machine isn't just "bigger" — it gives you batch flexibility. You can run 3kg batches for single-origin specialty lots and switch to 15kg batches for your commercial blends on the same machine. The 6kg machine maxes out at 7kg.
| Feature | 6kg Roaster (YS-6KG) | 15kg Roaster (YS-15KG) |
|---|---|---|
| Max Batch Size | 7kg | 15kg |
| Min Batch Size | 1kg | 1kg |
| Hourly Output | 18–28 kg/hr | 40–54 kg/hr |
| Daily Output (8hr) | ~150–220 kg | ~320–430 kg |
| Machine Weight | 600 kg | 758 kg |
| Machine Footprint | 2151Ă—720Ă—2000mm | 2290Ă—1881Ă—2279mm |
| Yoshan Price | $7,499 | $10,999 |
| Control | Siemens PLC | Siemens PLC |
| Best For | Specialty café, small roastery | Commercial roastery, multi-café supply |
Real-world example: A specialty café roasting 60kg/day of various single-origins — the 6kg machine (running at 5–7kg batches) handles this comfortably in a 4–5 hour roasting session, leaving time for cooling, bagging, and quality control.
Real-world example: A regional roastery supplying 8 café accounts needs to roast 180kg/day. The 15kg machine (running 12–15kg batches) handles this in a 5-hour window — the 6kg would require 8+ hours of continuous roasting.
The Yoshan YS-15KG is only $3,500 more than the YS-6KG ($10,999 vs $7,499). Spread over the machine's 10+ year lifespan, that's less than $30/month in additional cost — while more than doubling your hourly output capacity.
If there's any realistic chance you'll need 15kg capacity within 2 years, the math almost always favors buying the 15kg now rather than upgrading later (which means buying a second machine, paying for shipping twice, and potentially paying for installation twice).
Choose the 6kg if you're a specialty-focused café or small roastery with under 100kg/day needs and a tight budget.
Choose the 15kg if you're running or planning to run a wholesale roastery, supplying multiple accounts, or expect to scale past 100kg/day within 1–2 years.
When in doubt: go 15kg. The extra $3,500 buys you double the capacity and years of headroom.
Both machines include free color & logo customization, CE certification, and Siemens PLC control. Factory direct from Yoshan.