To　evaluate　the　potential　of　microwave　heating　for　biomass　torrefaction,　the　torrefaction　performances　and　energy　utilization　of　coffee　grounds　and　microalga　residue,　under　conventional　and　microwave　heating　were　investigated　and　compared　with　each　other.　For　the　two　biomass　samples,　the　dehydrogenation　of　the　coffee　grounds　was　more　sensitive　to　torrefaction　severity,　whereas　the　microalga　residue　consumed　more　energy　under　the　same　torrefaction　conditions.　Microwave　heating　under　lower　torrefaction　severity　had　a　higher　energy　efficiency.　As　regard　to　the　lower　solid　yields　or　higher　torrefaction　severity,　the　energy　efficiency　of　microwave　heating　was　close　to　that　of　conventional　heating,　irrespective　of　the　feedstocks.　This　revealed　the　comparable　energy　consumption　state　between　the　two　heating　modes.　Accordingly,　it　is　concluded　that　microwave　torrefaction　is　more　efficient　for　biomass　upgrading　and　densification　than　conventional　torrefaction.