The True Cost of Starting a Coffee Roasting Business.

By Chris Finch — Founder, Trailhead Coffee 🇨🇦

Instagram: @trailheadcoffee_ca

There’s a certain romance in the idea of starting your own coffee roasting business — or really, any business. The smell of freshly roasted beans, the rhythm of the drum turning, the first sip of a perfectly crafted roast — it all sounds like a dream. But beneath that dream is a reality that few talk about.

Starting a roasting business is hard. It’s expensive. It’s humbling. And it will teach you lessons about money, patience, and resilience faster than almost anything else you’ll ever do.

The Hidden Economics of Starting Small

When you’re just starting out, every decision feels monumental — because it is.

Suppliers know how complicated and exhausting this process can be. Whether you’re buying green coffee, bags, labels, cups, or even roasting software, the entire system is designed around volume discounts. That means the more you buy, the less you pay — and for startups, that’s the biggest trap of all.

If you can only afford a few pounds of green coffee compared to the standard 150-lb bags, your cost per pound might be nearly double what established roasters pay. Add shipping, import fees, and tariffs, and suddenly your margins disappear.

You don’t need to buy everything right away — figure out what you actually need to just get started. I hear so many people say they’re going to jump right in with a 15 kg roaster. Don’t do it. Start simple and give yourself room to grow. You won’t maximize the capacity of your roaster for a while. Use your funds to build your brand and your customer base. Your initial customers won't know the difference between an expensive roaster and something your learning on. Focus on creating wow moments, branding and customer service. Some people go all-in and make it work, but far more don’t — and you won’t hear from them, because they’ve already moved on.

You’re stuck in the middle — trying to price your coffee fairly while paying premium costs for every input. It’s not a complaint; it’s just the truth: growth means surviving this stage, one roast at a time.

At Trailhead Coffee, I’ve learned to embrace that grind — to focus on consistency, community, and small wins instead of quick profits. The growth is slow, but it’s real.

The True Personal Cost

The biggest cost isn’t financial — it’s personal.

Behind every bag of coffee is a list of sacrifices: late nights in the garage, long hours on your feet, and moments when you question if it’s all worth it. Your friends and family become your first investors, not just with their wallets but with their patience.

Every order, repost, and message of support means the world. They’re cheering you on, buying your coffee, and helping spread the word — and you’re endlessly grateful. But there’s always that balance to find. You don’t want to lean too hard on them or let your dream become their burden.

I’m incredibly lucky to have a supportive wife who’s carried more than her share of the load — managing our home, our family, and the countless daily details that allow me to chase this dream. She’s the reason I can pour so much into Trailhead Coffee. While I’m out roasting beans, planning events, or spending money on equipment and ideas that might or might not work, she’s keeping everything else steady. It’s a kind of strength that doesn’t get enough credit — and it’s one I’m deeply grateful for.

It’s important to ask for help — but also to be okay when people can’t give it. Everyone has their own path, their own struggles, their own priorities. This is your dream, and sometimes it’s also your burden to carry. But you don’t have to carry it alone.

There’s an incredible community of people out there willing to help if you reach out — other roasters, local coffee groups, and online communities. Attend roasting classes, ask questions, share your challenges.

For me, Mill City Roasters has been one of the best partners I could ask for — always available, patient, and genuinely invested in helping new roasters succeed. That kind of support is priceless.

One of the most meaningful parts of this journey has been connecting directly with customers. Whenever I can, I deliver coffee myself — just to meet the people who believe in what I’m building. A quick doorstep conversation, a handshake, or a simple “thank you” can turn a one-time order into a lasting relationship. Those moments remind me why I do this — because at its core, coffee has always been about people.

The Learning Curve (a.k.a. The Roast Reality)

When I first started roasting, I assumed the hardest part would be getting the roaster set up. I was wrong.

Roasting coffee is an art, a science, and a daily lesson in humility. You’re constantly learning how airflow impacts your beans, how outside temperatures shift your roast curve, and how humidity in your green beans changes everything.

And yes — you’ll toss a lot of coffee. I sure did. Some roasts were too dark, others too flat, and a few were just plain bad. Each mistake cost me money, but it also bought me understanding. Those lost beans were part of the tuition I paid to learn the craft.

There’s a fine balance between chasing perfection and protecting your profit. Every roaster has to find that line — the point where “good enough” still honors your standards but doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket.

At Trailhead, that balance continues to evolve. Every new blend, every roast profile, every batch is part of a bigger learning journey. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but even more excited about how much I still have to learn.

The Trap of Shiny New Things

The second hardest lesson? Focus.

I’m an idea guy. Always have been, always will be. I love creating new ideas— new blends, new packaging, even completely new projects. But as a startup, I’ve learned the hard way that chasing every idea at once spreads you too thin. I already new this but didn't listen to myself and still struggle with this anyway.

The truth is, not every exciting idea moves your business forward. Some are passion projects; others are distractions disguised as opportunities.

So here’s my advice: create a business plan. Then keep revisiting it. Treat it like a living document that grows with you. Ask yourself which projects truly add value and which just sound fun. Focus your energy on what builds momentum — not what burns it. Be open to adapting and changing your plan as you learn and grow.

For Trailhead Coffee, that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped dreaming — far from it. I’m still chasing ideas every week: my Adventure Cart, cold brew, instant coffee, and my favorite project — The Outpost — along with many others that keep me dreaming. But I’ve learned to prioritize, to say “not yet” when something isn’t ready, and to refine the ideas that truly move Trailhead forward. The creative parts will always be there — but first, the foundation has to be strong.

Be Authentic to Who You Are

Don’t start a business just because it sounds good. Build something that’s you — something that keeps you up at night because you can’t stop thinking about it. That passion will drive you further than profit, marketing, or timing ever could.

Your business should reflect your story, your values, and your reason for showing up. Trailhead Coffee was built on that idea — to live a life worth telling and to stay true to who I am.

The Reward That Makes It All Worth It

Here’s the part no spreadsheet can capture: the feeling of seeing your coffee in someone’s hands for the first time. The late-night roast that becomes someone’s morning ritual — seeing your coffee become part of someone’s story.

That’s the payoff — not just profit, but purpose.

When I started Trailhead Coffee, I didn’t want to simply build another roasting company. I wanted to create something different — something that blends the love of coffee with the spirit of adventure and connection.

That vision has grown into more than roasting — it’s becoming a movement of gathering, storytelling, and shared experience. Through The Outpost and future community events, I hope to create spaces where people can come together over a cup of coffee, share their stories, and feel part of something bigger. Because coffee, at its best, brings people together — and that’s where stories begin.

One of my proudest moments wasn't in front of a computer or a roaster, but on a 3 a.m. hike up a mountain called Ha Ling Peak with my son. We’ve climbed before dawn, carrying a backpack full of coffee gear and bags of beans, setting up a mountain café at the summit. Watching him push himself, help grind coffee, pour water, and hand someone their first cup of Trailhead Coffee high above the clouds as the sun came up over Canmore — that’s what Trailhead Coffee is all about.

It’s not about chasing scale; it’s about chasing meaning. Seeing the pride in his eyes, the wonder of doing something real, something different — it reminds me why I started this in the first place. Like I said, find the ideas that fuel you and your passion for starting this adventure.

Trailhead Coffee isn’t just about roasting beans; it’s about charting your own path and creating moments that matter. It’s about living a life worth telling — one defined by courage, curiosity, and connection.

There are still long nights ahead, setbacks, and days that will test my patience. But there are also those mornings on the mountain — where the view, the coffee, and the company make it all worth it.

So to anyone standing where I once stood — where I’m still standing — staring at a roaster and a mountain of work, wondering if it’s all worth it — my answer is: ask me to meet up for a coffee and I’ll tell you. But here’s a hint — I’ll still be there, standing in front of my roaster, dreaming about what’s next.

That’s the true cost of starting a coffee roasting business — and the true reward.

About Trailhead Coffee 🇨🇦

Trailhead Coffee is proudly roasted in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Explore our blends, learn more about our story, or follow our adventures at trailheadcoffee.ca — a Canadian roasting company built on connection, curiosity, and the spirit of adventure, but most importantly.

LIVE A LIFE WORTH TELLING!!

Chris Finch Proud owner of Trailheadcoffee.ca