Best Eco-Friendly Coffee in Denver!

This is one of those things that raises some questions in my mind... one of those things also to just smile and go along with! It turns out we were voted Best Eco-Friendly Coffee Shop in Denver and have a plaque to prove it... which hangs nicely in our shop in Pueblo. Now if we could only get our coffee into Denver! Do you live in Denver? Would your shop/office/store like some Solar Roast Coffee?!?
But seriously, thank you for your interest, City of Denver. We are interested in you as well! ;->
Find us in the 2008 "Denver Best-Of": Best of Denver '08

Listen in on KCFR Public Radio

On April 23rd, David had a very rare interview on KCFR Public radio. You can go to their site and look up the recording, entitled, "Solar Power Helps Fuel Pueblo Coffee Roaster". Or just search for an interview with David Hartkop:
KCFR Public Radio Archives

Solar Roast on FOX21 Local News

On April 25th, Mike and I were thrilled when Fox news called and wanted to do an interview! Their coverage was actually some of the best we've had in terms of seeing things in close-up, and in getting a concise explanation. The article can be seen at the following link:
http://kxrm.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=126556

Mobile for Earth Day

This saturday, we mobilized our Helios 3 coffee roaster and brought it to the Pueblo Earth Day fair. It was the first time in over a year that we have been able to use the roaster as intended! For the past year, the folding contraption has been enclosed in a steel and plastic dome. It had been outfitted with 50 additional mirrors to make up for the losses sunlight suffered going through the plastic.
Stripped down to it's original design and given a new coat of paint, the machine dazzled onlookers who stopped by in the morning and afternoon. It was sunny enough to roast a several pounds of organic Guatemala. Nice to have Solar Roast on the road again for the summer!

Solar Roast in Denver Post

This Denver Post article about Solar Roast Coffee, "Sunshine in a cup" features a short video that gives a pretty good look at the roaster in action. There are also some good shots inside our shop. The article was written by Claire Martin of the Denver Post, Colorado Sunday addition.

Some Pictures

A side view of the Helios 4 coffee roaster system. Visible is the array, the heat pipe, and the drum roaster inside the roaster house. Heat comes from the array when it's sunny, and from a propane pre-heater when it's cloudy.



Michael and David behind the counter at Solar Roast Coffee, in downtown Pueblo.



David, standing on the concentrator array of the helios 4 solar coffee roaster.

Solar-Hybrid= Carbon Neutral

To clarify things for the many minds inquiring about Solar Roast Coffee, our new roaster is solar-hybrid. This means that most or all of the heat energy to roast coffee comes from solar energy during bright sunny days. Other times, we do have a propane heating system, which feeds heat into the same port as the solar array. We find that we can use this to roast coffee on days that it is cloudy, and that it is useful to bring the system up to temperature on especially cold days. In this sense, solar roast coffee is not 100% solar roasted. It IS, however, 100% carbon neutral, as we purchase carbon-offset green-tags from solar providers throughout the country. Each Green Tag we purchase is worth 100 kWh of energy produced by a solar farm. We essentially pay for solar energy that people near these solar farms will use. The users of this solar energy near the farm, hence, do not release carbon into the atmosphere. The carbon they do not release because of the power we purchased for them essentially offsets any carbon that we release through the use of our propane pre-heater.
Are we aiming for 100% solar? YES! There is much work to be done with our new roaster. It is very large and very new, and there are many key areas where small changes can greatly improve solar efficiency. I am in the midst of working with the airflow speeds, may need to replace a high-temperature fan with something a bit more 'high temperature', am designing a new heat-exchanger, and need to re-focus the 730 or so mirrors, which have drifted slightly now that the system has settled. There are also things that can be done to recirculate the solar-heated exhaust from the roaster. Oh! And the bean cooler is making a rattling sound again.. (adding to list...)

We're on TV!!!

On April 8, Solar Roast Coffee was featured on ABC News Channel 13. The broadcast was seen through Springs and Pueblo and surrounding areas... and I think a lot of people saw it: I was in the hardware store buying sheet-metal screws and the guys in the back stocking the silicone caulk said, "We saw you on TV, man!"
I'm famous. lol
The news story is featured on the News 13 website at the following:
http://www.krdo.com/Global/story.asp?s=8125891

Just Add Some Sun!

On April 4, the Pueblo Chieftain reported on our latest news: The Helios 4 is fully assembled! The large coffee roaster is finally now entirely back together as it had been in Oregon nearly five months ago. To view the article in the chieftain, go to the following address:
http://www.chieftain.com/business/1207288800/2

Potluck: Solar Roast donates to Care and Share

On March 5, the Pueblo Chieftain featured Solar Roast, which agreed to donate $1.00 to care and share for every pound of Solaris Blend Coffee Sold. The dollar enables care and share to provide 10 pounds of food assistance to needy in Colorado. To read the article, go to the following link:
http://www.chieftain.com/life/1204700400/3

Colorado Springs Independent, "Sunny Delight"

On Feb 28, Solar Roast Coffee was featured in a two page spread in the Independent. Article talks about how we got our start and about the H-4 being on its way! Article is archived at the following link:
http://www.csindy.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A23807