Primo vs. Probat: Commercial Coffee Roaster Comparison
Probat has been building roasters in Germany since 1868 and is the most recognized name in the industry — if reputation alone decided roaster purchases, the comparison would be over. But you're buying a machine for a business, which makes this a question of capacity per dollar, what's included, and what happens when you need a part.
Primo publishes every price. Probat sells by quote — but enough Probat pricing is public to make a real comparison. Here it is, with sources.
What They Actually Cost
| Batch class | Primo — new, published price | Probat — published market pricing |
|---|---|---|
| ~5 kg | XR-5 — $28,000 new · 6–12 lb batches · 110 V · Roast Master software included | P05 — new pricing by quote only |
| 12–15 kg | XR-15 — $40,000 new · 15–33 lb batches · up to 95 lbs/hour · software included | P12 (12 kg): new list reported around $42,000+ roaster only, plus ~$2,500 crating; recent used P12s have listed at $42,500 |
| 20–30 kg | XR-20 — $49,000 · up to 144 lbs/hour XR-30 — $76,000 · up to 228 lbs/hour | P25 (25 kg) — new pricing by quote only |
| 70 kg and beyond | XR-70 and custom builds — from $195,000 · 500+ lbs/hour | Industrial lines — pricing by quote |
Probat figures: new P12 list price as reported by a major US equipment dealer; used P12-2 listing from a US marketplace, 2026. Configurations and inclusions vary — confirm current pricing with any seller. Primo prices are our standard published prices, current as of this page.
A used 12 kg Probat P12 has listed for $42,500 — more than a brand-new 15 kg Primo XR-15 at $40,000, which comes with bigger batches, included software, and a full warranty.
Want the exact number for your setup? Our prices are already public — and quotes come back within 24 hours, Monday–Friday.
Call 1.800.675.0160 Get a Written QuoteBuilt an Ocean Apart
| Primo XR-Series | Probat P Series | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | Huntington Beach, California — 100% USA-made from American steel | Emmerich, Germany; US sales and support operation in Illinois |
| Parts | Every part priced on our website and stocked in California — replacements ship domestically, fast | German-built machine; confirm US parts stocking and lead times per component with Probat |
| Burner technology | Infrared — conductive, convective, and radiant heat with full control | Conventional gas drum roasting; electric and hydrogen options on some models |
| Profiling software | Roast Master included with every machine — first year free, $250/year after (about $1,000 over 5 years). Also compatible with Cropster and Artisan | P Series ships with Probat's own roasting software; many shops add Cropster, which runs $6,000–$18,000 over 5 years |
| Warranty | 12-month limited warranty on all electrical and mechanical parts, plus workmanship and fabrication coverage for the life of the roaster. Primo pays replacement parts and shipping | Terms not published — request in writing with your quote. Used machines typically carry no manufacturer warranty |
| Support | Factory-direct from California — real people, same-day response M–F, 45-minute onboarding call with every machine | US support via Probat's Illinois operation |
To Be Fair to Probat
Probat is the industry's reference brand for a reason: 150+ years of engineering, machines that run for decades, the strongest resale value in the business — that used P12 holding a $42,500 price proves it — and a global service network. If brand pedigree is a requirement for your roastery's story, nothing beats the name.
But pedigree is exactly what you're paying for. At the 12–15 kg size where most growing roasteries shop, the published numbers say a new Primo costs less than a used Probat — and the Primo is bigger, warranted, and ships with software.
The bottom line: Probat sells heritage at a premium; Primo sells capacity per dollar with everything included and every price published. If the budget question matters to your business plan — and at $40,000 it usually does — the XR-Series is the stronger buy, and you can verify every number on this page before you ever talk to us.
Primo vs. Probat FAQ
How much does a Probat coffee roaster cost?
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Probat sells new machines by quote. US dealer reporting puts the new 12 kg P12 list price around $42,000+ for the roaster alone, plus roughly $2,500 for crating, and recent used P12s have listed at $42,500. Larger models are quote-only. Confirm current pricing with Probat or any seller.
How do Primo prices compare to Probat?
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Primo publishes every price: $28,000 (XR-5), $40,000 (XR-15), $49,000 (XR-20), $76,000 (XR-30), and XR-70/custom builds from $195,000. At the 12–15 kg class, a new XR-15 costs less than reported new P12 pricing — and about the same as or less than used P12s — with 25% more batch capacity and software included.
Is Primo made in the USA like Probat?
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Primo roasters are 100% USA-made — hand-built in Huntington Beach, California from American steel, with all parts stocked domestically. Probat machines are built in Emmerich, Germany, with US sales and support based in Illinois.
What warranty does Primo offer?
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A 12-month limited warranty on all electrical and mechanical parts from delivery, plus workmanship and fabrication defects covered for the life of the roaster. Primo pays for replacement parts and shipping; labor and installation are the owner's responsibility.
Put a Primo quote next to your Probat quote — ours comes back within 24 hours, M–F, and the price is already on this page. Or run your volume through the Roast Income Calculator first.
Call 1.800.675.0160 Get a Written QuoteComparing other brands? See Primo vs. Diedrich, Primo vs. Mill City, and Primo vs. US Roaster Corp.