Gas in the service of taste: the history of the coffee roaster from the Warsaw Gasworks

As gas networks grew in popularity, specialist shops and showrooms also appeared. Gas fitters, previously associated mainly with technology, became ambassadors of modernity. During demonstrations, they presented the operation of new appliances – cookers, heaters and even... coffee roasters.

One such roaster, manufactured at the Warsaw Gasworks in the 1930s, impressed not only with its functionality, but also with its elegant appearance. This small, handy device allowed coffee beans to be roasted in a few minutes, filling the apartment with an intense, fresh aroma. Its secret was a hand-turned roller that heated the beans evenly thanks to a precise gas flame – a modern solution for its time.

Today, the roaster from Gazownia Warszawska is more than just a technical curiosity. It is a symbol of an era in which Poland, reborn after years of partition, proudly created its own industry and design. At a time when coffee was becoming an integral part of urban culture and social gatherings, the ability to roast beans oneself was a sign of modernity and good taste.

Today, this device can be seen in the Warsaw Gasworks Museum. It is not only a testimony to the history of the Polish gas industry, but also a memento of an era in which technology and everyday life came together in a cup of aromatic coffee.

See you at the MGW!