One: Choosing the Right Property
In New York City, the roasting of Coffee beans, and their packaging and distribution can only legally take place in a building located in a Manufacturing Zone or Manufacturing Overlay with another Zoning Group.
Of course, there are other important property considerations: proximity to neighbors, distance to nearest highway depending on your volume of green bean deliveries, whether a truck easily maneuver on your street and bring in bags of coffee efficiently for your roaster process. The logistics of large and frequent deliveries to your NYC space should not be overlooked. Choosing the right space can save you tons of time and headaches.
Two: Getting the Necessary Construction Permits
Aside from the usual business licenses in New York City, you will likely need approvals from the Department of City Planning for zoning re-use, the Department of Buildings for construction permits to install the roaster, the Department of Health, and the Department of Environmental Protection.
Three: Actually Getting the Roaster into Place
Delivery is often difficult on busy NYC streets, be prepared to deal with traffic at the time of delivery. You may need to get a permit from the city to shut down the street to get the roaster assembly in the door and installed. With weights ranging from 500 lbs to 5,000 lbs and beyond, roasters and all their accessory components can get extremely heavy. Installation may require a crane or heavy-duty lift to get the equipment in place, and typically takes a full day to sit properly in its final location. Aside from the cumbersome delivery process, it’s common that floors or roofs will not be able to support this weight. Often, we have had to use temporary structural supports during installation or permanently reinforce the existing structure to support these machines. Do not assume the floor or roof can handle this additional load – consult with an architect or engineer beforehand to make sure you’re in the clear.
Four: Your Roaster Will Smell: Place the Flue Well
We do LOVE the smell of freshly roasted coffee but unfortunately, in New York City, by law, you must install an afterburner to burn off the odors. Afterburners can be installed in many configurations, often next to or above the roaster. When placing this and the exhaust flues, you might need scaffolding depending on the location and height of the building.
Other flue and exhaust concerns to consider: How hot do your machines get? The temperature determines the height of the flue, and distance above the nearest construction. For example, if your roaster assembly’s average temperature is 1,500 degrees the height of the outlet above a roof must be a minimum height of 10’-0” above the roof.
Considered a “Medium-Heat Appliance,” with temperatures between 1,000 and 2,000 degrees, rules for such equipment regulate the flue’s height, path through and above the building, material and construction of the flue, proximity to building openings and combustible materials, to name a few.
Suffice to say, when locating your roaster, it’s best to start with the final exhaust outlet and work backward into the space to ensure it’s safe and code compliant.
Five: Final Hookups & Approvals Before You Can Roast
You’ve now made it through the hardest parts: you found the best property, delivered and installed the roasting assembly, obtained the appropriate construction permits, reinforced any building elements to ensure structural safety, received the first bags of green coffee beans– and you’re ready to fire the roaster and start a-roasting! Before getting started, be sure to double-check that: you have passed your final gas inspection and obtained Gas Authorization from the city, and that you have had a technician familiar with this type of specialty equipment handle the electrical and low-voltage programming. This isn’t in the purview of an average electrician and needs to be done by an experienced professional. Check with your Architect or Expediter to make sure you’ve received the other necessary city approvals, and if so – roast on, hot stuff!
Be sure to let us know where we can come pick up our complimentary cup of joe, we have more helpful blog hints to work on. Happy roasting!
PARKBENCH ARCHITECTS