Compadre Coffee Roaster

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.

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

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

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}

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