How Can Coffee Roasters Be Sustainable?
As specialty coffee roasters, you have a special chance to contribute a positive impact on the environment and promote sustainable practices in the coffee industry.
While sustainability efforts in the coffee industry often revolve around production and coffee shops, we must also extend our focus to every step of the supply chain, including the art of coffee roasting.
Let’s explore how anyone can work towards being a sustainable coffee roaster.
Why do coffee roasters need to be mindful of their environmental footprint?
Studies indicate that the impact of global warming on coffee production is considerable.
Coffee is highly susceptible to the effects of climate change. Rising temperatures, unpredictable weather patterns, and changing rainfall could change our coffee production. By reducing their environmental footprint, roasters mitigate climate change and protect the long-term sustainability of coffee-growing regions.
Coffee crops thrive under specific conditions of temperature, light, and humidity, which are most suitable within the coffee belt of Latin America. This region encompasses countries located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and provides the ideal environment for coffee to grow and develop optimally.
But this is likely to change. Experts foresee nearly half of the land currently suitable for coffee cultivation worldwide may shrink in size by 2050 due to rising temperatures.
Conversely, the demand for sustainable coffee keeps growing, and shipping and energy expenses soar. Roasters are seeking new ways to attract consumers while cutting costs. As coffee consumers consider sustainability important, roasters must consider this aspect to maintain competitiveness and care for our home. Recent research shows that Gen Z consumers are willing to spend 10% more on sustainable products, including coffee. Millennials and Gen Z consumers also prioritize social and environmental factors when purchasing.
Sustainable resources
As sustainability takes center stage in the coffee world, roasters are stepping up to ensure they source traceable and ethically-produced beans while minimizing their environmental footprint.
The initial step towards sustainable coffee roasting involves sourcing beans from environmentally responsible sources. Look for coffee producers who engage in sustainable agriculture practices, such as shade-grown coffee or organic farming. These methods yield high-quality beans with exceptional taste whilst helping preserve the environment. Additionally, sustainable coffee production can be supported by selecting Fair Trade-certified beans, which guarantees fair compensation for farmers and enables them to invest in their communities.
Could you buy locally-grown coffee? Sourcing your coffee locally can also reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation. By supporting local producers, you minimize the energy consumption and emissions associated with shipping coffee over long distances, promoting environmental sustainability.
Up-to-date machines
There are several ways to reduce emissions during roasting, but one of the most notable methods is investing in a more sustainable machine
Older, more traditional roasters use a burner to generate heat for roasting the beans. They also employ a separate burner, known as an afterburner, to incinerate the emissions.
Newer coffee roasting machines come with advanced features and technologies. These include precise temperature control systems, the ability to program and save specific roast profiles for consistent results, smoke suppression systems to reduce emissions, energy-efficient designs to save energy and costs, automation and digital interfaces for easy control and monitoring, and data logging capabilities for quality control and analysis. These advancements aim to improve the efficiency, quality, and most importantly, sustainability of the coffee roasting process.
You can go completely smokeless with the Berto Type R roaster and the new Essential Air roaster. The exhaust air from the drum is sent to a high-performance cyclone and then channeled into the furnace, resulting in significantly reduced emissions. Even better, you can start a roast for your selected coffee beans can easily be done from the Artisan Roaster Scope software on your computer.
Maintenance
Proper maintenance and upkeep are essential to ensure a roastery’s longevity. This involves routine cleaning, sanitization, and timely repairs or replacements of equipment like coffee machines, grinders, and refrigerators. These items are vital to the smooth functioning of your roastery or coffee shop and must always be in good working condition. By regularly attending to these tasks, your working space and equipment can withstand the daily wear and tear, serving customers for an extended period!
Thinking of updating your coffee roaster machine? We have the answer. Take a look at our lineup of roasters and be mindful of your carbon footprint for the betterment of our home and industry!
How are Roast Data Logging Different on Modern Coffee Machines?
