I'm honestly not that bothered by coffee at the lower quality end. I'll still enjoy a cup of instant when the situation requires it.

I do get to take particular pleasure in good coffee though, and that I am very grateful for.

You are absolutely right. Fresh roasted with a quality grinder gets you all the way there for sure.

For me, the lower cost of green beans has over time paid for the roaster. I also buy green beans in 15lbs bags or larger, so it is more capital intensive, but green beans stay fresh for a long time. The clock starts ticking on coffee only after you roast them. Inflation has been on a hell of a tear, so buying more in advance has lowered my cup cost considerably. When I'm drinking the last of an order, I can't buy coffee anywhere near that price I originally paid. I also avoid frequent trips to a roaster that isn't near me or multiple shipping fees for weekly deliveries. I order large amounts usually 1-3 times a year. Large orders shipping is usually free.

You can always just roast in an oven, it's just more fuss and fiddly. My hot air fluid bed produces perfect results every time, and like I said, all my gear has paid for itself over time.

What I personally feel I gain from the additional setup is the ability to fine tune my roasts to the bean. I can conveniently introduce variety based on my stash of green bean varieties sitting in a cupboard. It's like a delicious hobby that never feels like work. I look forward to my biweekly roasting session.

Guests also know I serve a great cup of coffee. ;)

Lavazza has no parent company… it is apparently still owned by the family. that’s a partnership which is described in the link… seemingly via one of their subsidiary.

Here’s the group structure from their yearly report;

What’s wrong with that?