Colorao Springs Independent: Solar Roast Flares

Side Dish, Feb.9.2012

A little over a year after Pueblo's Solar Roast Coffee (226 N. Main St.; 2802 N. Elizabeth St.; solarroast.com) won a $100,000 business development grant from the Pueblo Economic Development Corp., brainy brothers Mike and Dave Hartkop are set to flip the switch on their new, photovoltaic-powered Helios 5 roaster.

The machine, located adjacent to their downtown coffee shop, draws from 80 panels (around 13 kilowatts) on the rooftop and employs a custom-made "process heater" generally used in coal power plants to essentially perform a unique hybrid style of air and drum roasting.

Dave says that though the drum capacity is the same 30 pounds as H4's (see "Sunny delight," Feb. 28, 2008), he'll likely get five times the use out of this, simply because it's on-site. (H4 is in a rural location.)

"We're now in a position to take on bigger sales contracts," he says, and fulfill his grant's terms of creating 10 full-time jobs that pay $30,000-plus within the next four years.

Lisa Becker of the now-closed Tea Tree Cafe recently joined the company to handle its food service; her new menu of sandwiches, soups, salads, and vegan and gluten-free items is now available.