Green Machines Are Hot for Coffee Roasters

Hybrid cars, energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs--the crisis of our environment has become mainstream and a concern to most. While the coffee industry jumped aboard this train a while ago, it seems they are continuously looking for ways to create, contribute

and conserve. Coffee pioneers have begun to think outside the box, or bag (of beans), and are finding innovative approaches to "going green." It can begin in the fields, with a lack of harmful chemicals, continue through organic beans and finish with specially designed roasting machines. Some companies have even allowed their distribution methods to be affected, taking into account the way in which the vehicles that deliver their products add to the ecological quandary. Peace Coffee a specialty coffee roaster in Minneapolis, Minnesota has transitioned to "Peace Pedaling," ensuring all of their coffee is delivered by a bike team or biodiesel van.

Alternative forms of energy have been researched and approved as superior ways to power coffee roasters. Companies like the Vermont Coffee Company, who also participates in biodiesel van distribution, hopes to one day convert their coffee roasters to biodiesel energy. Solar power has been proven successful at running coffee roasters and new technology is constantly being created to cut down on energy usage.

Two Brothers, One Big idea

Brothers David and Michael Hartkop of Solar Roast in Pueblo, Colorado were responsible for brainstorming, erecting and utilizing a solar powered roaster, but had never seen themselves as "inventors." Michael worked at the Borders Cafe throughout college and eventually took a job (and completed an apprenticeship) at Mellelo Coffee Roasters. Afterwards, he went to Tasmania to attend a university and worked at a coffee and wine bar. It was here that he started demanding a better cup. After working in the film industry, David moved back to his home state of Oregon and enrolled in science courses at a community college. His interest in solar energy grew, as did his desire to create an experimental solar powered machine. After Michael returned back to Oregon from abroad, he combined his passion for coffee with his brother's scientific initiative and the idea for the first Solar Coffee Roaster was born. "I think it was a little after we had the idea before we realized how appealing this sort of coffee might be in this climate of increasing eco-awareness. This was a couple of years before the gas prices shot up and energy issues weren't really in the forefront of the public mindset at the time," recalls David.