The face plate, the hopper, the cyclone and the cooling tray surround are the parts of a roaster your customers look at while they wait for their coffee. They are stainless steel, and stainless can be finished in several ways that look different, wear differently and cost differently. This page explains the options so you choose the finish for your shop, not the one that happened to be in stock.
Where this step sits
Finishing follows grinding and deburring and runs alongside powder coating for painted parts. It is the last operation before the parts go to assembly.
The finishes
Brushed (satin). The surface is abraded in one direction with fine abrasive so that it carries a uniform linear grain. Brushed stainless is the standard finish for most roaster panels: it hides fingerprints and small scratches, it can be cleaned with ordinary stainless cleaner, and a scratch can be blended back in with the grain. The skill is in keeping the grain direction consistent across every panel and through every seam — a brushed panel where the grain changes direction at a weld looks cheap.
Mirror (polished). The surface is polished through successively finer stages until it reflects like glass. Mirror stainless on a face plate or trim is striking, especially in a dark shop. It shows fingerprints and fine scratches more readily than brushed, so it is best used on parts that are looked at more than they are touched. The mirror silver trim on the red SD-3 on this page is an example.
Plated trim. Gold, rose gold, titanium and similar finishes are electroplated onto polished stainless. They are decorative finishes for face plates, hoppers, handles and trim rather than for the whole machine, and they are protected by a clear coat. See the electroplating page for how the process works and where it is used structurally.
How we do it
Panels are brushed and polished in our plant after grinding. For brushed finishes, panels for a machine are processed in the same direction so the grain matches across the assembly; seams are ground flush before brushing so the grain runs through them. Mirror finishes are polished in stages and inspected under strong light for haze and scratches before the panel is protected for assembly. Plated parts are polished first — plating reproduces every scratch underneath it — then plated and clear-coated.
What this means for you
- A brushed machine in a busy café still looks like a brushed machine after five years, because the finish is designed to be cleaned and touched up.
- A mirror or plated face plate gives you a showpiece where you want one, without putting a fingerprint-magnet everywhere.
- Two-tone combinations — a coloured body with brushed, mirror or plated trim — are standard orders, not custom projects.
How to choose
| Where the machine lives | Suggested finish |
|---|---|
| Behind the bar, touched daily, cleaned often | Brushed stainless throughout |
| On the shop floor as a feature, dark interior | Coloured body with mirror or plated face plate and trim |
| Production roastery, function over appearance | Brushed stainless; powder-coated body in a standard colour |
| Own-brand / OEM machine | Whatever matches the brand; ask for a finished-panel photo before deciding |
How to verify this on any roaster
On a brushed machine, look at where two panels meet: the grain should run the same way on both. On a mirror panel, look at the reflection of a straight edge — a properly polished surface reflects it straight; a quickly polished one shows waves. On plated trim, look for a clear coat and ask what the base metal is.
Frequently asked questions
Can a scratch in brushed stainless be repaired?
Yes. A light scratch is blended with a fine abrasive pad in the direction of the grain. A mirror finish is harder to repair without repolishing the panel.
Does the finish affect corrosion resistance?
Brushed and mirror finishes on 304 are both corrosion-resistant. A mirror finish is marginally easier to keep clean because there is no grain for contaminants to lodge in; a brushed finish is more forgiving of wear. In coastal or humid locations, the electroplated shell on the YS series adds a further layer.
Can I mix finishes on one machine?
Yes. Brushed panels with a mirror face plate, or a coloured body with plated trim, are common combinations. Tell us what you want and we confirm the options for that model.
Are the finishes different between the SD, YS and DY series?
The options are the same; the default combinations differ by series. The spec sheet for each model lists the standard finish and the available alternatives.
Final thoughts
The finish is the part of the machine you live with every day, and it should be chosen deliberately. Coloured parts are covered on the powder coating page; the plating process on the electroplating page. Models are on the SD series page, or return to the full build sequence.
Tell us your country, voltage, gas type, kilograms per week — and the finish you have in mind — and we will send the matching spec sheet — most enquiries are answered within the hour, and 97% within 24 hours. Request the spec sheet · WhatsApp: +86 184 0771 4607
Last updated: September 15, 2026