The National Center for Coffee Research (Cenicafé) of Colombia has introduced a new coffee washing technology – Ecomill – for Colombian coffee growers.
Cenicafé is currently in the process of obtaining a patent from the National Coffee Growers Federation (FNC).
Ecomill is designed to reduce water and energy consumption and eliminate wastewater contamination during the de-pulping or processing stages.
The coffee washing technology can be used to produce standard export quality Colombian coffees and mild coffee with a 100% reduction of the contamination generated by wastewater during the washing process, claims the company.
Cenicafé agricultural engineering lead researcher Carlos Oliveros said: "The three different models of Ecomill®, with the capacity to wash 500, 1,500 and 3,000 kg per hour, allow coffee to be washed by a process of natural fermentation (or by applying pectinolytic enzymes) using between 0.35 and 0.6 litres of water per kilogram (l/kg) of dried parchment coffee (cps) produced."
FNC technical manager Carlos Armando Uribe said: "This technology, available to small, medium and large producers, offers the advantage of producing coffee in a sustainable manner and is an option for coffee growers in the face of environmental regulations."
