PROBAT and Luckin Coffee set a new standard in industrial coffee roasting
Emmerich, Germany, April 27, 2026: PROBAT, the world market and technology leader in coffee processing solutions, has successfully delivered a next generation coffee roasting facility for its customer Luckin Coffee. Officially inaugurated in Qingdao, People’s Republic of China, on April 22, the ultra-high-capacity roasting plant is designed to produce 55,000 tons of roasted coffee annually. The project represents a significant milestone in industrial coffee production and sets new benchmarks in performance, sustainability, automation, and intelligent data management.
Designed as a fully integrated roasting plant, the facility covers the entire process chain – from green coffee intake and roasting to finished product logistics. At the heart of the roastery is PROBAT’s latest-generation drum roasting technology, comprising three NEPTUNE 4000 drum roasters, the world’s largest drum roasters of their kind, and two NEPTUNE 1000 drum roasters.
Engineered for superior performance, the NEPTUNE roasters combine innovative hygienic design with exceptional process reliability and flexibility. Their high degree of modularity, outstanding energy efficiency, and ease of maintenance make them ideally suited to meet the demanding production standards of Luckin Coffee.
In addition to producing premium-quality roast coffee, environmental performance was a key focus in the implementation of this turnkey project. To ensure compliance with the highest environmental standards, all roasters are equipped with PROBAT’s PROFORTE exhaust air cleaning system. Based on flameless regenerative thermal oxidation (FRTO) technology, PROFORTE represents the most efficient exhaust air purification solution currently available on the market in terms of cleaning efficiency and energy consumption.
Unlike conventional thermal oxidation systems, PROFORTE generates virtually no burner-related pollutants such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, or nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), as the FRTO technology eliminates the need for an additional gas burner. This makes the system a decisive contributor to the plant’s sustainable and environmentally responsible operation.
All roasters at the Qingdao site are equipped with PROBAT’s advanced ProCS M machine control system, ensuring efficient, secure, and intuitive operation of all NEPTUNE drum roasters. Automated REFLEX and COLOUR CONTROL technologies maintain precise roast profiles and consistent quality through real-time adjustments and sensor-based monitoring. The fully automated plant is managed via the PILOT PLANT control solution, providing transparent, integrated process control, complete data monitoring, and full batch traceability from raw material intake to final packaging, all seamlessly connected to Luckin Coffee’s MES for continuous quality and process optimization.
Wim Abbing, CEO of PROBAT, states: “Through its innovative, retail-based approach, Luckin Coffee has reinvented the way coffee is made accessible to consumers. We are proud to be the partner of choice for this next generation roasting facility and to have delivered the project within an exceptionally short timeframe. This achievement reflects our ability to translate the highest customer expectations into bespoke, high performance solutions that drive outstanding product quality and operational excellence. We wish Luckin Coffee every success with the operation of the new plant and look forward to supporting their continued growth.”
Commenting on the partnership with PROBAT, Mr. Xia Wei, Senior Director and Head of the Coffee Supply Center of Luckin Coffee, adds: “Our close solution oriented collaboration with PROBAT enabled us to translate our high standards for quality, efficiency, and scalability into a roasting facility that perfectly supports our growth ambitions. This partnership is built on trust and a shared commitment to excellence. We chose PROBAT for their deep expertise in industrial coffee roasting and their clear technological leadership. The reliable, on time delivery of this complex project has fully confirmed that choice.”
With the successful realization of the Qingdao roasting facility, PROBAT and Luckin Coffee have jointly established a flagship project that showcases how industrial-scale coffee production can combine high efficiency with flexibility, sustainability, and digital readiness and future scalability.
