College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, UPLB, College, Laguna. ... Engineering & Agro-Industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los ...
2010 Issue
Design, Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of a Batch-Type Coffee Roaster for Small-Scale Roasting Ruel M. Mojica1, Engelbert K. Peralta2 and Jessie C. Elauria3 ABSTRACT A batch-type coffee roaster that can be used for small-scale roasting was designed and fabricated at the College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, UPLB, College, Laguna. The machine consisted of the roasting chamber, the outside drum, the hopper, the auger, the heating plate, the burner and an electric motor. The machine’s performance was evaluated to establish the best combination of the operating parameters involved namely: auger speed, roasting time and fuel valve opening. Results show that auger speed ranging from 40-60 rpm did not significantly affect all the dependent variables. However, varying levels of roasting time (50-70 min) and fuel valve opening (1/2 open to fully-open) have significant effect in almost all the responses. Based on the results of sensory evaluation, coffee obtained using treatment combination of 40-rpm auger speed; 60-minute time of roasting; and ¾ open valve gave the highest coffee rating of 86.1. Cost and return analysis revealed that using the coffee roaster for custom work is a profitable business with an annual net income of PhP 63, 451.49. Keywords: roasting, coffee, batch-type motivates the farmers to market their produce directly to them even at a very low price. Oftenoffee roasting is the process of applying heat times, dried coffee beans are contracted for faster for the purpose of drying off impurities for economic return and minimize farmer’s cost of oxidizing products. It is similar to many other cook- production. ing processes in that the goal is to apply the right amount of heat, over the right amount of time, in a Torres (2001) reported that there are only four availuniform manner to achieve the desired flavor. able coffee roasters in the whole Southern Tagalog region. Coffee roasting equipment is seldom seen In the Philippines, the roasting of coffee beans is due to high investment cost. Coffee farmers are not dominated by multinational companies with huge keen on the value adding processes of their prodroasting equipment so that an ordinary coffee ucts. Peren (1996) attempted to develop a 10-kg grower cannot compete. In like manner, these multi- capacity coffee roaster utilizing agro-wastes as fuel. national companies have an incentive package that However, there are problems on uneven distribution
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1 Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Cavite State University, 4122 Indang, Cavite, Philippines. 2 Associate Professor, 3 Professor, Agricultural and Bio-Process Division, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, College of Engineering & Agro-Industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños, 4031 College, Laguna , Philippines.
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