Bühler Partners with Ikawa: Coffee Roasting Innovation
Bühler and Ikawa are teaming up to shake up coffee roasting for medium-sized businesses. Here’s the scoop:
- Merges Bühler’s industrial engineering with Ikawa’s digital roasting tech
- Targets the gap between small and medium-scale roasting
- Aims to boost roasting control, consistency, and efficiency
- Focuses on sustainability with energy-saving features
What’s in it for medium roasters?
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Cutting-edge tech | Digital controls and AI-assisted roasting |
| Better efficiency | Automated profiles and precise heat control |
| Tighter quality control | Real-time data logging and profile sharing |
| Greener roasting | Less energy use and waste |
This team-up aims to give medium-sized roasters the tools to punch above their weight while keeping that craft quality. They’re still in R&D, but new products should hit the market soon.
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Company Histories
Bühler‘s Coffee Engineering
Bühler’s made waves in coffee roasting tech. They showed off their skills in a project with Joh. Johannson Kaffe in Norway, creating one of the world’s greenest coffee plants.
The Vestby facility is a standout:
- 90% solid wood construction
- 1,280 solar panels
- Biogas from recycled food waste
The results? Impressive:
| Metric | Improvement |
|---|---|
| CO₂ emissions | 85% cut |
| Roasting energy savings | ~50% |
Bühler’s Infinity Roast solution was key, with its auto-corrective control system tweaking energy supply to the roasting chamber.
Ikawa‘s Digital Roasting
IKAWA, born in London in 2010, revolutionized sample roasting with digital tech. Founder Andrew Stordy spotted a gap between coffee producers and consumers during his travels.
IKAWA’s game-changers:
- First digital micro-sample roaster controlled by smartphone
- Roasting profiles managed via mobile app
- Roasts up to 60g of green beans in just 3 minutes
Since its 2012 debut, IKAWA’s Pro Sample Roaster has made waves:
| Achievement | Number |
|---|---|
| Countries reached | 74 |
| Samples roasted | Over 2 million |
Issues for Medium Roasters
Medium-sized coffee roasters face some tough challenges:
- Tech access: Pricey innovations often out of reach
- Roasting consistency: Tough to nail uniform results without fancy controls
- Going green: Balancing eco-friendly production with profits
- Sample roasting: Traditional methods can be slow and imprecise
- Quality control: Keeping flavor profiles consistent without advanced tools
The Bühler-Ikawa team-up aims to tackle these issues head-on, making advanced roasting solutions more accessible to medium-sized operations.
Partnership Details
Shared Aims
Bühler and IKAWA are joining forces to bridge the gap between micro and medium-to-large-scale coffee roasting. They’re focusing on:
1. Pushing coffee roasting tech forward
- Targeting smaller to medium-sized roasters
- Blending IKAWA’s sample roasting smarts with Bühler’s industrial muscle
2. Building a digital ecosystem for roasters
- Enabling knowledge and profile sharing
- Improving green coffee access for various devices
3. Boosting user experience through digital tech
- Using Design Thinking methods
- Emphasizing tech integration in roasting
Combined Abilities
The partnership leverages both companies’ strengths:
| Bühler | IKAWA |
|---|---|
| 50+ years of coffee engineering | Precise, app-controlled micro-roasting tech |
| Global reach with medium and large roasters | Strong specialty coffee market presence |
| RoastMaster series (70 kg to 1 ton/hour) | Pro50, Pro100, and Pro100x models with humidity sensor |
| Integration across coffee supply chain | User-centered design approach |
Michael Blatter from Bühler says:
"Partnering with IKAWA and boosting our coffee roasting market presence is key for Bühler. Working with IKAWA will bring new perspectives and innovative ideas to address needs between micro and medium- to large-scale coffee roasting."
IKAWA’s founder, Andrew Stordy, adds:
"Bühler brings tons of engineering and manufacturing experience. This will complement our user-centered design approach in sample roasting."
IKAWA’s kicking off with a research phase, inviting coffee pros to join feedback and testing sessions. This will shape future product development based on real roasting challenges and goals.
New Ideas
Customer Focus
Bühler and IKAWA are teaming up to fill the gap between micro and medium-scale coffee roasting. They’re zeroing in on smaller to medium-sized roasters who often struggle to find the right gear.
Michael Blatter from Bühler explains:
"Working with IKAWA will bring new perspectives and innovative ideas to address needs between micro and medium- to large-scale coffee roasting."
Their customer-first approach includes:
- Mixing IKAWA’s sample roasting know-how with Bühler’s industrial chops
- Creating a digital playground for roasters to swap knowledge and profiles
- Making it easier to find the right green coffee for different roasters
Tech Developments
The partnership’s cooking up some cool tech:
- Digital integration: Blending IKAWA’s app-controlled micro-roasting with Bühler’s big systems
- IoT implementation: Real-time monitoring and tweaks during roasting
- AI-assisted roasting: Systems that analyze beans and environment to optimize roasting
These upgrades aim to boost precision, consistency, and quality control across different roasting scales.
Customer Input
IKAWA’s leading a research phase to get insights from coffee pros. They’re:
- Inviting roasters to feedback sessions
- Testing prototypes based on user input
- Tweaking designs based on ongoing feedback
Andrew Stordy from IKAWA highlights why this matters:
"Bühler’s engineering and manufacturing experience will complement our user-centered design approach in sample roasting."
Product Development Steps
Bühler and IKAWA are taking a smart approach to product development, keeping user needs front and center.
Customer Research
IKAWA’s leading the charge on initial research:
- Chatting with commercial coffee roasting pros
- Asking pointed questions about roasting needs and hurdles
- Testing prototypes based on ongoing feedback
This user-first approach is IKAWA’s bread and butter, as founder Andrew Stordy explains:
"Bühler’s engineering and manufacturing experience will complement our user-centered design approach in sample roasting."
The research phase should last 3-9 months, with roasters being contacted 2-3 times. They’re looking for folks who’ve recently bought or plan to buy a production-scale roaster.
Testing New Designs
After gathering feedback, they’ll move on to creating and testing new designs:
- Building prototypes based on user input
- Tweaking designs through multiple feedback rounds
- Mixing IKAWA’s digital roasting tech with Bühler’s industrial-scale systems
This back-and-forth process aims to nail the specific needs of smaller to medium-sized roasters, who often struggle to find the right equipment.
Michael Blatter from Bühler highlights why this teamwork matters:
"Working with IKAWA will bring new perspectives and innovative ideas to address needs between micro and medium- to large-scale coffee roasting."
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Main Improvements
Bühler and Ikawa’s partnership is set to level up coffee roasting tech. Here’s how they’re combining forces:
Combining Tech Skills
Bühler’s industrial engineering is joining forces with Ikawa’s digital roasting smarts:
- Bühler’s RoastMaster series (70kg to 1 ton/hour) meets Ikawa’s precise, app-controlled micro-roasting tech
- Ikawa’s Pro100x, with its humidity sensor, could influence bigger roasting control
This skill blend aims to bridge the gap between micro and medium-to-large scale roasting.
Better Roasting Control
The team-up focuses on boosting roasting accuracy:
- Ikawa’s digital controls might scale up for Bühler’s bigger machines
- More precise temperature and time management in industrial roasters
- Giving medium-sized roasters more control over their roast profiles
Data for Consistency
Using data to improve roast consistency is a key goal:
- Ikawa’s app-based system could adapt for larger batches
- Micro-roast data might inform settings for full production runs
- Cloud-based roast profile sharing and analysis
Andrew Stordy, Ikawa’s founder, highlights their user-first approach:
"Bühler’s engineering and manufacturing experience will complement our user-centered design approach in sample roasting."
This focus on user needs, plus data-driven insights, could lead to more consistent results across different batch sizes.
Prototype Test Results
Test Methods
Bühler and Ikawa’s partnership has produced a prototype blending Bühler’s industrial engineering with Ikawa’s digital roasting tech. The testing process involved:
- Inviting pro roasters to feedback sessions
- 2-3 engagement rounds over 3-9 months
- Evaluating the prototype across various batch sizes
Test Outcomes
The prototype testing revealed some key findings:
1. Improved Roasting Control
- Ikawa’s digital controls in larger-scale roasting showed promise for more precise temperature and time management.
- Roasters reported better control over roast profiles, especially in key flavor development stages.
2. Data-Driven Consistency
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Real-time data logging | Accurate production records |
| AI-assisted parameter adjustment | Consistent flavor profiles |
| Cloud-based profile sharing | Easier replication of successful roasts |
3. Scalability
The prototype showed potential in bridging the gap between Ikawa’s sample roasters and Bühler’s RoastMaster series, addressing a key market need.
4. User Feedback
Participating roasters provided valuable insights:
"The prototype’s ability to apply sample roast data to larger batches is a game-changer for maintaining consistency across production scales." – Professional roaster (anonymous)
5. Efficiency Gains
Early tests indicated potential for:
- Lower production costs
- Less waste through optimized roasting processes
While full results aren’t public yet, early outcomes suggest the Bühler-Ikawa collaboration is on track to deliver real improvements for medium-sized coffee roasters.
Benefits for Medium Roasters
The Bühler-Ikawa partnership is bringing game-changing perks to medium-sized coffee roasters. Here’s how this team-up is shaking things up:
Access to New Tech
Medium roasters can now tap into advanced roasting tech that was out of reach before:
- Digital Control Systems: Ikawa’s precision controls, now in bigger machines, allow for exact temperature management.
- AI-Assisted Roasting: Bühler’s industrial know-how plus Ikawa’s digital smarts offers smart tweaks for consistent results.
Improved Efficiency
The new tech translates to cost and time savings:
| Improvement | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Automated Profiles | Less hands-on time needed |
| Precise Heat Control | Lower energy use |
| Quick Profile Switching | Faster batch turnaround |
"Through automation, we have saved roughly 30% of our time… that helps us grow the other aspects of our business." – Benjamin Tan, Owner of Runes Coffee
Better Quality Control
Medium roasters can now achieve consistency that rivals bigger operations:
- Real-Time Data Logging: Accurate production records for every batch.
- Cloud-Based Profile Sharing: Easy replication of successful roasts across locations.
- Sample to Production Scaling: Apply small-batch profiles to larger runs with minimal tweaks.
Cliff Stevens, owner of Elevate Coffee in Bolivia, highlights the impact: "With the Stronghold, we could have machines in various locations that are roasting the same coffee the exact same way."
This partnership bridges the gap between Ikawa’s sample roasters and Bühler’s RoastMaster series, offering medium roasters the best of both worlds. It’s not just about better coffee—it’s about empowering businesses to grow without sacrificing quality.
Environmental Aspects
The Bühler-Ikawa partnership is making big strides in eco-friendly coffee roasting. Here’s how they’re cutting energy use and waste:
Energy Savings
The new roasting tech from Bühler and Ikawa uses much less power:
| Improvement | Energy Saved |
|---|---|
| Preheating unit | Up to 30% |
| Capacity boost | Up to 20% |
Michael Blatter from Bühler explains:
"With the high energy costs, it is mandatory to increase the efficiency of the roasting process. For Europe, efficiency is a matter of survival now."
Their InfinityRoast machine with its new preheating unit shows how smart design can save energy and boost output.
Less Waste
The partnership also focuses on cutting down waste:
- Chaff reduction: New roasting methods produce less coffee chaff, which often ends up in landfills.
- Packaging rethink: They’re looking at ways to use less plastic in coffee packaging.
Some coffee shops are already leading the way. Bootlegger Coffee in South Africa turns its waste into compost off-site, showing how roasters can reuse what they’d normally throw away.
Eco-Friendly Roasting
Bühler and Ikawa are pushing for greener roasting overall:
- No gas lines needed: Their new systems can work without gas, making them cleaner to run.
- Less pollution: Advanced tech cuts down on smoke and other emissions.
Andrew Oakes from Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC points out a key benefit:
"Conventional roasters use afterburners to eliminate the smoke produced during roasting. Afterburners can consume up to 400 percent more fuel than the roaster itself."
Looking Ahead
The Bühler-Ikawa partnership is set to reshape coffee roasting. Here’s what’s brewing:
New Products Coming
The collaboration aims to fill the gap between micro and medium-scale roasting. They’re working on:
- A new roaster line combining Ikawa’s digital tech with Bühler’s industrial know-how
- Advanced AI-driven roasting software for better flavor control
- IoT-enabled machines for real-time monitoring and adjustments
Changes in Coffee Industry
This partnership could spark major shifts:
| Area | Expected Impact |
|---|---|
| Roasting Precision | Higher consistency in flavor profiles |
| Energy Efficiency | Lower power use, reduced carbon footprint |
| Quality Control | Better traceability from farm to cup |
| Market Access | Smaller roasters gain access to advanced tech |
Future Plans
Bühler and Ikawa have big goals:
1. Research and Development:
- 3-9 month feedback period with commercial roasters
- Focus on user-centered design for new products
2. Technology Integration:
- Merge Ikawa’s sample roasters with Bühler’s RoastMaster series
- Develop AI algorithms for optimized roast profiles
3. Market Expansion:
- Target the growing segment of medium-sized roasters
- Explore new markets with tailored solutions
Michael Blatter, head of Bühler’s coffee market segment, states:
"Working together with IKAWA will help us to take new perspectives and therefore create innovative ideas to address the needs between micro and medium- to large-scale coffee roasting."
As the coffee industry evolves, this partnership is poised to lead the way in roasting innovation, potentially changing how we experience our daily brew.
Wrap-up
Main Improvements
The Bühler-Ikawa partnership brings key changes to coffee roasting:
| Improvement | Impact |
|---|---|
| Combined expertise | Merges Bühler’s industrial know-how with Ikawa’s digital tech |
| Targeted innovation | Fills gap between micro and medium-scale roasting |
| Enhanced control | Offers better precision in roast profiles |
| Data-driven decisions | Enables real-time monitoring and adjustments |
Value for Roasters
Medium-sized roasters stand to gain:
- Access to advanced tech: Previously out of reach for smaller operations
- Improved efficiency: Streamlined processes and better resource use
- Quality boost: More consistent flavor profiles and better traceability
Michael Blatter, head of Bühler’s coffee market segment, highlights the partnership’s goal:
"Working together with IKAWA will help us to take new perspectives and therefore create innovative ideas to address the needs between micro and medium- to large-scale coffee roasting."
This collaboration aims to reshape coffee roasting, offering medium roasters tools to compete with larger operations while maintaining craft quality.
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