Michael Sivetz
In 1963, a chemical engineer named Michael Sivetz introduced the world to the most
comprehensive study and technical book on coffee, from growing and processing to
roasting, brewing and tasting. His findings, published in a two volume reference book
titled Coffee Processing Technology, set the standard for the coffee industry,
revealing that coffee quality is a function of: 1) green bean quality, 2) freshness
of the roasted beans, and 3) proper brewing method(s).
Michael Sivetz published Coffee Origin & Use in 1975 and Coffee Quality in 1977.
Both were a scathing condemnation of the coffee industry for selling offensively bad
coffee to a misinformed and misled consumer. He writes the: "situation is a good
example of how slow enlightenment comes to an industry and illustrates the axiom
education is a process of disillusionment".
In 1998, the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), under President Ted
Lingle, republished this book. In 1999, the SCAA adopted the following definition for
fresh roasted coffee: (1) ground immediately before brewing; and (2) brewed within
three to seven days after it has been roasted, no matter how it has been packaged."
It is very likely that 99.9% of coffee drinkers have never heard of Mr. Sivetz, yet
they owe a great debt of thanks to this chemical engineer and inventor. Sivetz is
a recognized world authority on coffee, whose chemical analysis of coffee, patented
fluid-bed roasting technology (link to Fluid-bed Roasting vs. Drum Roasting),
scientifically backed revelations about quality, and his adamantine views and
opinions about the industry, have raised him to near mythical status. Mr. Sivetz
deserves recognition for his efforts to inform and educate consumers about coffee
quality. He currently lives in Corvallis, Oregon where he operates Sivetz Coffee
Company; a coffee shop, science lab, and manufacturing facility for fluid bed coffee
roasting equipment.
Merchants of Green Coffee substantiates its claims about coffee quality on the
research and writings of Michael Sivetz., but ultimately, the proof is in the cup! Mesoamerican Development Institute (MDI)
The Mesoamerican Development Institute (MDI) was founded in Boston in 1993. It is a
non-governmental organization working in applied research and development and
promotion of renewable energy technology (solar-biomass) for rural productive
applications in Mesoamerica. MDI promotes the use of renewable energy in the
development of biodiversity friendly agro-industrial processes in rural Mesoamerica
that provide significant increases in revenue through value-added processes and direct
exportation and marketing of coffee and essential oils.
MDI is implementing barrier removal programs that support cooperatives and processing
plants that transition to the use of Solar/Biomass Coffee Drying Systems that
eliminate the use of fuelwood, a significant environmental problem associated with
conventional coffee drying. In addition to eliminating the use of fuelwood or diesel,
the systems use one-tenth the electricity of conventional equipment and improve the
quality of the drying process. The ability to reduce energy costs is significant as
energy expenditures are second only to labor costs. Energy costs are increasing at
more than 20% per year in the region.
MDI's barrier removal programs provide:
- Training in the operation and maintenance of the solar drying technology.
- Assistance in locating and securing the appropriate financing, including through
MDI's fund for the purchase or lease of solar drying systems.
- Promotional campaigns to showcase the technology at Demonstration Centers at
processing plants in the region.
In addition to solar drying technology, MDI promotes the use of natural water
filtration ponds, composting systems, and hermetically sealed storage silos. The
benefits of using the entire system are multifold:
- Solar dried coffee is higher in quality than conventionally dried beans.
- Solar drying eliminates the use of firewood.
- Solar drying and composting reduce operating costs.
- Natural filtration ponds eliminate fresh water contamination.
- Hermetic storage silos enable growers to inventory coffee without quality degradation.
|
