There’s a growing concern about sustainability when it comes to the coffee supply chain, those within the industry are constantly looking at ways to improve, streamline production and utilise waste product. Repurposing coffee chaff is one way we can do this, and is a small, yet important step in promoting a circular economy in the Specialty Coffee industry. So, whilst it may be lightweight and therefore prone to flying about everywhere, mildly annoying to the roastery team.
What is coffee chaff?
Also referred to as the Silverskin, coffee chaff is the innermost layer of skin surrounding the green bean.
During the roasting process, the beans expand and the thin, papery layer of chaff falls off. Where the chaff then accumulates is dependent on the style of coffee roasters. Before we upgraded the roaster and filtration system, the previous roaster used to collect the chaff in the chimney. This needed to be manually hoovered out every 60 – 90 minutes. It was then collected in a Grainpro bag and unfortunately, mixed in with general waste.
Newer and more efficient roasters often have a separate chamber equipped with a filter to collect the chaff. Namely…
The Vortx
In a nutshell: It improves safety and efficiency. As well as chaff- Co2, dust, smoke and odour are all omitted during the roasting process.
The Vortx filters these contaminants from the roaster’s exhaust and sprays them with atomised water. It’s then flushed out the bottom into the reservoir, this is where the chaff is collected. We then remove it and strain it in cheesecloth.
What is it good for?
A simple “Uses for coffee chaff” search yields some interesting results. Ever a received an acai bowl and thought a sprinkling of coffee chaff was missing? No, neither have we. Whether you plan to use it anecdotally, consume it, or use it on your garden below we’ll discuss the varied uses for it should you wish to collect some from the Roastery.
Is Coffee Chaff Good For Your Health?
There is very little scientific evidence for this, so we’ll keep it brief. It is believed that coffee chaff does have some medicinal properties and can be used as a dietary supplement. Although it isn’t typically harmful, incorporating large quantities may result in mild digestive symptoms. We’d always advise consulting with a professional before you go sprinkling it on your ice cream.
Is Coffee Chaff Good For The Garden?
Whilst the health benefits are still very much up for discussion, the chaff can be beneficial for your garden. As chaff is so rich in organic matter and nutrients, it can be used as a mulch or added to your compost to improve soil structure and fertility. It also contains a lot of nitrogen, which is a compound that fast-growing vegetables such as tomatoes really benefit from, nourishing them and encouraging healthy growth.
Can You Buy Coffee Chaff?
As the chaff is a natural by-product of the roasting process, and would otherwise be disposed of with general waste, we’re happy to hand it over to those who wish to get creative. Simply contact us in advance and we’ll set some aside.
