The Roaster Desk

By Kai Nakamura · Production roaster & equipment editor · Updated 2026-09-17

Diedrich IR-2.5 vs San Franciscan SF-1

Batch capacity, utilities, and roast-style fit

→ San Franciscan SF-1

San Franciscan SF-1 wins on installed cost — confirm Diedrich dealer support in your region before ruling it out.

Hourly throughput: WinnerAutomation depth: Winner
Lowest street price → San Franciscan Roaster Co.Faster batches → DiedrichIR radiant profile → Diedrich drum physics

Also searched: san franciscan sf-1 vs diedrich ir-2.5

Decision picker

What is your primary constraint?
Batch size you roast most often?
Is gas already permitted on-site?

Specification matrix

Batch capacity

Diedrich

2.5 kg

San

1 kg

Heat source

Diedrich

120,000 BTU/h gas

San

55,000 BTU/h gas

Drum / chamber

Diedrich

Double-wall IR drum

San

Hand-built steel drum

Batch time (typical)

Diedrich

10 min

San

9 min

Throughput (modelled)

Diedrich

10.7 kg/h

San

4.6 kg/h

Street price band

Diedrich

$42,000 USD

San

$22,000 USD

Exhaust

Diedrich

350 CFM

San

180 CFM

Lead time

Diedrich

12 wks — confirm with dealer

San

12 wks — confirm with dealer

Automation

Diedrich

Basic IR panel

San

Manual

Service hub

Diedrich

USA

San

USA
Airflow ctrlThermal stab.Drum speedAutomationCapex value
IR-2.5SF-1

Qualitative scores — verify against your roast program

Why this split

San Franciscan SF-1 leads on the weighted score for most boutiques we modelled.

Diedrich stays competitive when shop-scale production outweighs the price gap.

Airflow path through a commercial drum roaster from burner to cyclone
Typical drum roaster airflow: burner → drum → cyclone chaff collector

Deep dives

IR radiant heat transfer

Diedrich IR drums radiate through a double-wall — different first-crack timing than convection.

Operators switching from Probat or Giesen need 15–20 calibration batches, not a copied profile.

  • Log development time ratio across 3 charge weights
  • Compare ground colour at same end temp
What to verify with your dealer

Neither OEM publishes binding street prices — quotes move with queue and freight.

Verify with vendor

  • Confirm Diedrich IR-2.5 lead time and freight to your dock
  • Confirm San Franciscan SF-1 install kit and probe package included
  • Ask for three references at similar elevation and batch size

Side-by-side

Diedrich strengths & gaps

  • Shop-scale production
  • IR heat consistency
  • Manual operation

San Franciscan Roaster Co. strengths & gaps

  • Craft build
  • Sample-to-production path
  • Manual only

FAQ

Looking for san franciscan sf-1 vs diedrich ir-2.5?
Same comparison — Diedrich IR-2.5 is listed first by convention. Verdict and spec matrix are identical either way.
What throughput can I expect?
Modelled: 10.7 kg/h (Diedrich IR-2.5) vs 4.6 kg/h (San Franciscan SF-1) including a 4-minute charge/cool cycle.
What street price should I budget?
Diedrich IR-2.5: $42,000 USD (As quoted Q1 2026, ex-install). San Franciscan SF-1: $22,000 USD (As quoted Q1 2026, US artisan build). Request refreshed quotes — neither includes install.
Which supports Cropster logging?
Diedrich IR-2.5: Aftermarket probe required. San Franciscan SF-1: Aftermarket probe required.

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