Much of the literature and discussion on how coffee quality is defined often lends attention towards choosing specific coffee varieties, using selective harvesting practices, and managing post-harvest processing methods. After the parchment is fully dried and ready for delivery to the dry mill, several additional steps may profoundly change the character and quality of a coffee. During these final stages of cleaning and sorting, much of the qualities can be lost or transformed into unexpected attributes found in pre-ship or arrival samples. To learn more about the processing steps, please read our previous newsletter here.
Although many older mills across Colombia can successfully fulfill the required processing services, several tend to lack processing innovations, a focus on worker safety, and good manufacturing practices. Several issues arise causing problems including damage to the beans from improper calibration or generation of excessive heat during the milling process. Additionally, the creation of dust and noise create a harsh working environment. Older mills are often limited in their capacity to manage micro lots, restricting their ability to properly trace and manage smaller lots that are run through the dry milling process.
In recognition of these profound issues in coffee processing, the URAPI sustainable land use fund initially participated in the financing and establishment of the Café Selva Norte dry mill in Jaén, Peru. Most recently, URAPI has invested funds in the establishment of a second dry mill in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta area of northern Colombia.
RioSierra in Santa Marta
Located only 5 minutes from the Port of Santa Marta, RioSierra is the second CIMBRIA-equipped dry mill financed by URAPI, providing both social and environmental benefits, such as the reduction of dust within the plant which helps improve the air quality for employees. The efficiency provided by CIMBRIA offers the ability to handle micro-lots and allow for the separation of physical defects in a very efficient and cost-effective manner. In addition, visitors will see elevator equipment from Pinhalense and storage hoppers, an automated bagging system, compressed air systems, Cisco extraction system and a dust sleeve filtration system from Colombian manufacturers.
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