Design Service
Note: Design Service time is included when you purchase equipment direct from Mill City Roasters. If you purchased second-hand, you can purchase these services here.
Get your installation, layout, and planning questions answered by Angie Davis, Assoc. AIA, the VP of Mill City Roasters. Angie's background is in architecture but for the past 20 years her design practice has been grounded in product manufacturing including product & packaging design, manufacturing space and workflow layout, as well as operations systems/stack integration and job design.
You don't know which capacity roaster is right for you
• I create a few floorplans based on your dimensions that shows different size roasters and some general outlines of worksurfaces, pallets, storage shelves, sinks, etc. I can make real recommendations for how to arrange your roastery, pros/cons of certain installation choices, and advise on potential building/mechancial code issues.
• I can walk you through the math I use to evaluate how much space you'll need for roasting, packaging, green coffee staging, sanitation, and shipping/receiving based on the scale you are right now and the scale you'll be in the next few years.
• You send me photos, floor plan sketch, and we hop on a phone call or a video call and I can live-draft a floor plan of your space over video call and let you drive. This allows you to see options you have in your head but need to get on paper.
You need help verifying if you can install a roaster at your location
• I can explain the specifications of your roasters, how they get installed and vented, and relavent building and mechanical codes in way that allows owners to explain it to their tradepeople and advocate for themselves on-site.
• I can help you evaluate potential paths to termination for your venting and making specific recommendations of which manufacturer and model of venting you should use based on your site requirements.
• I can talk to your contractor, installer, building owner, and inspector on your behalf so they understand what is (and isn't) required to install you machine safely and to code without un additions.
Your contractor doesn't know where to source venting
• I can give specific recommendations of which manufacturer and model of venting you should use based on your site conditions and paths to termination.
• I can draw up your venting run with specific venting parts and issue a partlist.
• I can order venting for you through one of several venting manufacturer with whom I have distributorships.
You don't want to burn your buliding down
• I can explain to you where to find the 'clearance-to-combustibles' rating for all your equipment and how to evaluate what materials in your building envelope are combustbile and how to avoid dangerous situations using code-approved strategies
• I can tell you which materials to use and why. I can explain reduction tables and how to communicate with your inspector that you've implemented code-approved measures to protect your building and neighbors.
You need to be a USDA food-certified food manufacturer
• I can help you evaluate the food code requirements in your jurisdiction and guide you in which governing body to contact first. If coffee roasting spaces are new to your inspector, I can give them guidance on which codes apply.
• I can make recommendations on food-safe tools, surfaces, and strategies to make your space licsensable without sacrificing aesthetics.
Your designing a coffee bag and need to know what is required
• I can walk you through details required on your bag per FDA Food Code including contact information, minimjum font sizes, lot numbers, weights, etc.
You have a tight space and need guidance on required clearance.
• I can guide you through applicable reduction measures offered in the code, how to apply them to your project, and how to talk about them with your inspector.
• I can guide you as to what questions to ask your fire marshall to insure that your future layout will not get flagged in an occupancy or egress review.
You are unsure which codes apply to your venting layout.
• I can walk you through applicable mechanical codes including the difference in how building code and mechanical code consider combustibles and termination location requirments per NFPA.
• Feel free to reach out before purchasing to verify 1) I'm able to help and 2) how much time you should purchase for our first meeting.
• I can do voice calls or video calls, if required, which allows us to share screens and, if you'd like, to walk me through your space on camera.
• Please allow me a day or two to get this scheduled. I'll reach out to you via email once the order comes through to schedule a time.
• Unused time is non-refundable.