Supporting Sustainability, One Cup at a Time.
Supporting the Local Community
Dublin Roasters is committed to giving back to our farmers and our local community. We support local artists and musicians and take an active part in supporting charitable organizations in and around our community.
Sustainability in Action at Dublin Roasters
From recycling materials to eco-friendly packaging of our products, we practice what we preach. Our vision is to make the world a better place, bean by bean and cup by cup.
Supporting Small Coffee Farmers Overseas
Our commitment to sustainability starts with supporting our small coffee farmers overseas. We choose farmers that align with our vision and empower them with the tools required to improve their processes and daily lives.
Dublin is Ecologically Ecstatic over Eco-Washers
Dublin Roasters founder Serina Roy has been dedicated to encouraging sustainable practices throughout her life. From her efforts within her own community of Frederick, Maryland, to her partnerships with small coffee farmers in countries such as Colombia, India, Ecuador, Vietnam, Brazil, Honduras, and Guatemala, Serina knows…ecological footprints matter.
While she supports these small farmers, something about the process of harvesting the beans was troubling Serina. “These farmers wash coffee, which uses lots of water. The coffee is fermented for days in large tanks to remove the slimy mucilage that remains after the cherries are de-pulped,” she explains. “Each tank must be drained and refilled multiple times a day during the cleaning process.”
It’s estimated that 20 liters of water are used to produce just one kilogram of coffee. After the process is complete, the used water is usually dumped into a stream or somewhere on the farm. Not only is this a waste of water, but it can cause significant pollution to waterways and the land.
Dublin Roasters Coffee, along with the local Rotary Club of Carroll Creek in Frederick and the organization Coffee Quest in Colombia, was able to use a clean water grant in Colombia to help purchase three eco-washers for these farmers. The machines brush off the mucilage buildup, rather than using large amounts of water to rinse it off. Thanks to the eco-washers, the production of one kilogram of coffee will only use 600 ml of water rather than the 20 liters the traditional fermentation process requires.
Pollution is drastically cut as well since the remaining water and the mucilage pulp are placed on a drying bed to create fertilizer. Other disposal methods include mixing the pulp with organic matter and creating compost.
These eco-washers not only reduce pollution and water waste but also improve the taste of the finished product. Serina explains, “It’s such a huge win on so many levels. Making these farms more eco-friendly by reducing their water usage and by-product disposal is a fantastic step forward for global sustainability. Improving the quality and taste of the coffee? That’s a win for everyone!