In February, Canadian coffee roaster Café William “fired up” the world’s first electrically powered industrial coffee roaster. The one-megawatt roaster built by Neuhaus Neotec processes 3 to 3.5 tons of green coffee per hour using the equivalent output of four electric-vehicle charging stations. The sustainably powered roaster can handle 20 million pounds of coffee annually, according to Café William, an innovator in sustainable coffee.
The new hot-air RFB roaster runs on hydropower, a form of green electricity that makes the roasting process completely CO2-neutral. The dual-energy hybrid roaster can also operate with natural gas. Café William will switch back and forth during high-energy peaks as necessary.
Neuhaus Neotec’s new all-electric burner. Photo credit: Neuhaus Neotec.
The new design produces consistent, high-quality roasts comparable to Neotec’s other systems, according to Dr. Stephan Sternowsky, Head of Technology at Neuhaus Neotec. He explains how roasting with electricity offers flexibility in temperature control. “The extensive roasting tests in the field have shown us that roasting with electricity allows the same scope for design as with gas and that roasting curves are just as reproducible,” he said.
Those already using Neuhaus Neotec’s RFB systems can convert to electric or hydrogen power. Café William estimates that switching to an all-electric roasting system will reduce CO2 emissions by about 800 metric tons.
“It’s a true honor to share this revolutionary moment in our industry with Café William. We are confident that this groundbreaking 100% electric coffee roaster will have a lasting impact, setting new standards and inspiring others to strive for similar heights,” said Neuhaus Neotec CEO Victoria Behrmann.
The new roasting system is just part of Café William’s efforts to drastically reduce their carbon footprint. Their new $34.8 million production headquarters in Sherbrooke, Quebec, opened on Feb. 19, 2024. The energy-efficient manufacturing facility aims to enhance indoor air quality and reduce clean water consumption and light pollution while efficiently managing the use of rainwater. The new equipment and facilities will cut direct emissions by over 90% compared to the company’s 2022 levels from previous installations (scope 1 and 2). The project is registered with the Canada Green Building Council and aims to achieve LEED certification upon completion.
Located in Sherbrooke, the Café William energy-efficient plant represents an investment of CAD $47 million, $19 million of which is devoted to energy-efficiency technologies. Photo credit: CNW Group/Café William
The roaster’s sustainability extends across all aspects of the coffee chain. Since 1988, Café William has imported and roasted organic Fairtrade-certified coffee and is one of Canada’s fastest-growing coffee brands. This year, the company imported 72,000 kilos of green coffee from Colombia carried by a cargo sailboat.
Regarding their dedication to innovation and industry excellence, Café William CEO Rémi Tremblay writes, "Operating Canada’s first electric industrial roaster fills us with immense pride. Earlier this year, our successful demonstration of coffee transportation via cargo sailboat showcased our commitment to sustainability. Today, we mark yet another sustainable initiative in our supply chain aimed at reducing the ecological impact of our coffee.”
He writes that Café William is renowned for offering exceptional coffee at affordable prices while maintaining the highest integrity and ecological consciousness standards.