Coffee Filling Machine Buying Guide: Precision Fill vs Precision Fill Mini 2
Quick answer: SOVDA makes two weigh-and-fill machines for whole-bean coffee. The Precision Fill is a floor-standing packing workstation. It has a bigger hopper, fills bags up to 3,800 g (8.4 lb) with ±1 g accuracy, and a SOVDA Lift can keep it full all day. The Precision Fill Mini 2 is a tabletop machine that's just as fast and wins on space, filling bags up to 2,300 g (5 lb). We generally recommend the Precision Fill. The Precision Fill Mini 2 is a phenomenal starting point for any roastery.
This guide covers how SOVDA fillers work, the differences between the two machines, which one fits your roastery, and the upgrades worth adding.
Why automate filling?
Hand filling is slow and repetitive: scoop, weigh, top up, weigh again. By hand, one person fills about 2–3 bags per minute. A SOVDA filler takes that to up to 11.
- Hours back every week: work that took three people four hours can take one person 45 minutes. Roasteries like DAK and Onyx have cut three-hour packing sessions down to 30 minutes.
- Your team on better work: less time bagging means more time for roasting, cupping and your customers.
- Run your own numbers: our ROI calculator shows your hours saved and break-even point from your bag sizes and weekly volume.
How SOVDA fillers work
Both machines use a filling system we developed ourselves. About 90% of each bag's weight drops instantly, then a vibratory feeder tops up the rest to your target weight. That's what makes SOVDA fillers so fast without sacrificing accuracy.
- What they fill: whole-bean roasted coffee. They are not for ground coffee.
- Bag types: stand-up pouches with or without valves, flat-bottom and box bags, and tins, jars or buckets. Anything with an opening fits under the fill head.
- Switching bag sizes: change from a 250 g (9 oz) retail bag to a 1 kg (2.2 lb) wholesale bag in seconds.
- Compressed air: both machines need compressed air running while they fill. Full utility requirements are in our site preparation guide.
Precision Fill: the packing workstation
Think of the Precision Fill as a desk with a screen and keyboard: a dedicated station where your team packs all day.
- Speed: up to 11 bags per minute at 300 g (11 oz), 9 per minute at 1 kg (2.2 lb) and 6 per minute at 5 lb (2.3 kg).
- Accuracy: ±1 g.
- Bag range: 40 g to 3,800 g (1.4 oz to 8.4 lb). That covers everything from samples to large wholesale bags.
- Hopper: 60 L, holding about 21 kg (46 lb) of roasted coffee.
- Built-in bag table: bags rest on the table while they fill, so nobody holds them.
- Lift-ready: put a SOVDA Lift on top and your hopper never runs dry.
- Fill heads: the standard head fits most 250 g (9 oz) bags, and custom heads are available for other openings.
Precision Fill Mini 2: the compact all-rounder
If the Precision Fill is a desk, the Precision Fill Mini 2 is a laptop. It's just as fast, fits on a table, and goes where you need it. It can't fill bags as big as the Precision Fill.
- Speed: 4–10 bags per minute, depending on bag size.
- Accuracy: ±2 g.
- Bag range: 40 g to about 2,300 g (1.4 oz to 5 lb).
- Hopper: 25 L, holding about 8.8 kg (19 lb) of roasted coffee.
- Ergofill: instead of a foot pedal, a switch sits in the funnel itself, right where your hands already are. Your team can stand square and steady while they fill.
- Lift-ready: a SOVDA Lift can keep the Precision Fill Mini 2 topped up too.
- Sample Bag Funnel: an optional smaller fill head for sample bags, such as 2 oz (57 g).
- Green coffee too: it can also dose green coffee for sample roasters of 4.2 kg (9 lb) or less.
What's new in the Precision Fill Mini 2: it's faster and more accurate than the original Precision Fill Mini, with a new screen and software, hardware improvements, and Ergofill.
Which one do you need?
- Choose the Precision Fill if packing is a daily job, you fill 2 lb (0.9 kg) or 5 lb (2.3 kg) wholesale bags, or you plan to grow. With a Lift on top, it's the setup we recommend for most roasteries.
- Choose the Precision Fill Mini 2 if space is tight, you mostly fill retail bags, or you want a fast first step into automation.
- Packing thousands of bags a week? At around 10,000 bags a week, a Precision Fill with a Lift is the best option. It handles the volume and leaves room to grow.
We recommend: the Precision Fill with a SOVDA Lift for any roastery that packs every day. Start with the Precision Fill Mini 2 if space or budget is the deciding factor.
Upgrades worth adding
- SOVDA Lift: the biggest upgrade for either filler. Coffee is conveyed straight into the hopper, so nobody carries buckets and packing doesn't stop for refills. Read our SOVDA Lift Buying Guide.
- Custom fill heads (Precision Fill): for bags with non-standard openings.
- Sample Bag Funnel (Precision Fill Mini 2): fill small sample bags quickly and cleanly.
Setup, lead time and payment
- Setup: you can set up both machines yourself with our step-by-step guides, and our team supports you remotely. On-site commissioning and training is available too.
- Lead time: up to 150 days from order to delivery. Machines in stock can ship within a week. See Shipping & Import.
- Payment: see Payment Options for payment methods and split payments on larger orders.
The bottom line
Filling by hand costs your team hours every week. Choose the Precision Fill if packing is a daily job and you want room to grow, especially with a SOVDA Lift on top. Choose the Precision Fill Mini 2 if you need speed in a small space. Both give your team their time back, so they can focus on the coffee instead of the scale.
FAQ
What's the difference between the Precision Fill and the Precision Fill Mini 2? The Precision Fill is a floor-standing workstation. It has a 60 L hopper, a bag table, ±1 g accuracy, and fills bags up to 3,800 g (8.4 lb). The Precision Fill Mini 2 is a tabletop machine with a 25 L hopper, ±2 g accuracy and Ergofill, and it fills bags up to about 2,300 g (5 lb).
Is the Precision Fill Mini 2 slower? Not really. It fills 4–10 bags per minute depending on bag size, close to the Precision Fill's 11. The main differences are bag size, hopper size and accuracy.
Can the fillers handle ground coffee? No. Both machines are designed for whole-bean coffee.
Can a SOVDA Lift feed my filler? Yes. A Lift can feed both the Precision Fill and the Precision Fill Mini 2, so your hopper stays full while you pack.
Can I fill sample bags? Yes. Both fill from 40 g (1.4 oz), and the Sample Bag Funnel for the Precision Fill Mini 2 makes small sample bags easy.
Do I need compressed air? Yes. Both machines need compressed air running while they fill.
Can I set it up myself? Yes. Both machines come with step-by-step setup guides, and our team supports you remotely.
How quickly can I change bag sizes? In seconds. Switch between retail and wholesale bags without stopping your packing day.
I pack 10,000 bags a week. Which machine do I need? A Precision Fill with a SOVDA Lift. It handles that volume and leaves room to grow.
What is Ergofill? A switch in the Precision Fill Mini 2's funnel that replaces the foot pedal. Your team triggers each fill right where their hands already are, standing square and steady.
Not sure which filler fits your roastery? Talk to our team. Tell us your bag sizes and weekly volume, and we'll recommend the right setup.
