Compadre Coffee Roaster

Target SDGs

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Compadre provides small coffee farmers with the technology.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Solar Hybrid Coffee Roaster.

Manufacturing/Building Method

The Roaster is made locally by the manufacturer for the farming communities identified by Compadre.

Intellectural Property Type

Trademark

User Provision Model

Compadre provides small coffee farmers with the technology, along with training on how to roast their own beans.

Distributions to Date Status

In 2019, 18 farming families were using the Compadre Coffee Roasters to roast their product.

Design Specifications

The solar hybrid coffee roaster is composed of two main parts: the Scheffler solar concentrator and the roasting drum. The solar concentrator harnesses the sun’s energy and reflects it to a single focal point located in the roasting drum’s aperture. Inside the roasting drum, the coffee beans are located, where they receive the concentrated solar energy and reach temperatures above 200 °C in under 20 minutes. When clouds appear and decrease the incoming power, the roasting drums use electrical heaters to make up for the energy deficiency. These electrical heaters are powered by the photo-voltaic system installed in the location of the processing plant.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Provided by the manufacturer. Basic maintenance training is given to the users of the solar roaster.

Replacement Components

Available from manufacturer. ^{Interview with representative}

Lifecycle

The manufacturer estimates that some parts can last 20 years while others need to be changed every 2 or 3 years. ^{Interview with representative}

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Compadre aims to create better economic opportunities for coffee producers' families by increasing their income and creating a more ecological coffee chain. They aim to boost the value of small scale farming.

Vetted Performance Status

In 2019 the manufacturer worked with 18 families and estimates a 50% increase in their income as a result of Compadre's model. NESsT worked with Compadre in the technical and functional validation of its coffee roaster, and the coffee product quality has also been tested by Mikel Coffee. ^{Interview with representative}

Safety

Potential hazards related to the operation of this product include accidental burning.

Complementary Technical Systems

The Compadre coffee roaster comes with a 1.5 kWp photo-voltaic system with 600 Ah battery bank and a 2 kW inverter. ^{Interview with representative}

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

Compadre uses food-grade materials for the machinery parts that are in contact with the coffee beans. They have also acquired sanitary and health certificates for the roasted coffee. ^{Interview with representative.}

Other Information

• Watch videos of Café Compadre at Expo Live 2020 and an interview with one of the co-founders.
• Café Compadre’s Facebook page and Youtube channel.
• Product Video
• Solar hybrid coffee roaster design specifications