Roaster agreement

Definition

A supply deal with one roaster, often paying for the espresso machine that sits on the bar.

Why It Matters

Equipment on loan is not the seller's to sell, and the agreement that pays for it usually sets a minimum volume, a price per pound, and a term that outlives the sale. A shop can look well equipped and be locked into a bean price it cannot shop. Ask who owns every machine on the counter, what the agreement requires, and what happens to the equipment if the volume is missed or the roaster is changed.