Why Yoshan: 12 Questions to Ask a Chinese Coffee Roaster Factory — and Our Answers

There are many roaster factories in China. Some build very good machines; some assemble bodies bought from a subcontractor around a burner of unknown origin. From a website, they look the same. The way to tell them apart is to ask questions that can only be answered with evidence. Here are the twelve we think matter, our answers, and where on this site you can check each one.

1. Is the drum cast iron or rolled sheet — and what is the wall thickness?

Our answer: SD and YS series drums are cast iron, cast in our own plant, and so are the roaster bodies. DY and EC-500G use a 304 stainless drum, and we say so. Wall thickness for your model is on the spec sheet. Check it: Why we cast our drums.

2. Do you build the body yourself, or buy it in?

Our answer: Cutting, bending, welding, grinding, finishing and assembly are done in our own factory in Guangming District, Shenzhen — 4,624 m², three production lines, audited on site by SGS. We can send pre-paint photos of your frame and body while it is on the line. Check it: Welding, full build sequence.

3. Who makes the burner, the controller and the motors?

Our answer: Siemens control and touch screen on YS and SD Pro; Weishaupt burners on SD-30 Pro and larger and YS-120 and larger; German temperature probes, dual bean and air on YS; ADDKA motors on YS; OMRON pneumatics on industrial lines. We name them because you can buy replacements locally. Check it: Key components.

4. Will it run on my electricity and my gas?

Our answer: The panel is wired for your voltage and the burner train is fitted with the nozzle for your gas — LPG or natural gas — before the machine ships, and it is tested on that configuration. Check it: Control panel wiring, burner assembly.

5. Is every machine tested, or only samples?

Our answer: Every machine, at least three times: after welding, after assembly, and after a test roast with real green coffee. Records are kept against the serial number. Check it: Three-stage inspection, test roast.

6. Can I see my machine running before I pay the balance?

Our answer: Yes. Every machine is filmed running before packing, and you can direct a live video inspection at your time. Third-party inspectors are welcome. Check it: Final QC and video inspection.

7. What certifications do you hold, and can I see them before ordering?

Our answer: CE under the Machinery Directive (AH2023062101) and, for YS-20 to YS-200, the Low Voltage Directive (2020SZ0703040); RoHS (AH2023062102); an EU Declaration of Conformity for the full range; an FDA food-contact test report (RC2605141067, 2026); an SGS on-site factory audit; SCA membership; a registered trademark. Every certificate is shown on the site, and copies are sent with the quotation. Check it: Certifications.

8. How is it packed, and will my customs accept the crate?

Our answer: Film-wrapped, fixed to a base, in a fumigated ISPM-15 wooden case built for the model, photographed before closing. Case sizes and gross weights are published per model. Check it: Export packing.

9. What is in the crate besides the machine?

Our answer: A tool kit, spare fuses, a spare gas nozzle, a pressure gauge, exhaust pipe and clamps, USB data cable, gas fittings and the manual — counted against the packing list at final QC. Check it: What is in the crate.

10. What happens when something breaks in year two?

Our answer: One Year Limited Warranty — parts that fail without human damage within the year are replaced and sent by air express at our cost — with 24/7 lifetime phone and online technical support and a CEO hotline; extended warranty available; major components are standard industrial brands you can also source locally. No machine goes back to China for repair. Check it: Warranty and spare parts.

11. Can you make it in my colour, with my logo?

Our answer: Standard colours on every series at no extra lead time; custom colours to Pantone or RAL; laser-etched stainless nameplates and silk-screen logos; neutral packaging and manuals for OEM. We also build custom loaders for other manufacturers’ roasters. Check it: Powder coating and colours, OEM branding.

12. Who else has bought from you, and can I talk to them?

Our answer: 572 store reviews from buyers in 79 countries, 92% five-star, 62% from repeat buyers. Selected cases are on the references page; on request, and with the customer’s permission, we connect you with a buyer in your region. Check it: Customer references.

What the twelve add up to

None of these answers is unusual on its own. What is unusual is a factory that will put all twelve in writing, with a page behind each one that shows the work. That is what we have tried to do with How We Build — not to tell you we are a manufacturer, but to let you check.

We publish our prices, too — every product page shows the current price in US dollars, EXW Shenzhen, from the 2026 price list. We publish everything else as well.

How fast we answer

Across more than fifteen thousand customer messages we have measured our own reply time: the median is ten minutes, 62% are answered within the hour, and 97% within 24 hours. Messages arrive around the clock from the Americas, Europe and Asia, and someone is there.

What we are not

We are not the cheapest option. Machines built on Siemens control, with cast drums and three inspections, cost more to make than machines that are not. We are also not a European brand, and we do not pretend to be one: our address is in Shenzhen and it is on every page. What we are is a factory that has built roasters since 1990 and is willing to show you how.

Frequently asked questions

Can I ask these questions of other factories too?

Please do. The questions are written to be useful whoever you buy from. A factory that answers all twelve with evidence is a factory you can buy from with confidence, wherever it is.

What if I only need a small roaster — does all this still apply?

Yes. A 1 kg DY or an EC-500G sample roaster goes through the same three inspections and the same test roast as a 60 kg YS. Small machines are where most of our customers start.

Can I visit before deciding?

Yes. We are an hour from Shenzhen Bao’an airport. Tell us your dates and the models you want to see roasting.

Do you sell through distributors?

In some regions. Ask whether there is one for your country; otherwise we supply direct with the same support. Distributors and OEM partners can read the distributor programme.

Final thoughts

Choosing a roaster factory overseas is a decision about evidence. We have set out ours. Compare it with what any other supplier will show you, then choose a machine from the commercial range knowing what is inside it and who built it.

Last updated: September 22, 2026