Diedrich Caps Roaster Line Transition with New DR-140

The new Diedrich DR140 coffee roaster. All images courtesy of Diedrich.

Idaho-based coffee roaster manufacturer Diedrich Roasters capped off the new generation of its roasting equipment in October with the launch of the DR-140, designed to handle green coffee batches from 70-140 kilograms.

As an update to its workhorse CR-140 model, the DR-140 promises midsize and larger commercial coffee roasters improvements in process control and efficiency through heating and airflow optimizations, more advanced drum speed controls and more precise automation.

Diedrich said the system delivers a maximum hourly output of up to 560 kilograms (1,232 pounds) of coffee.

Following the DR-280 model roaster that launched in December last year, the DR-140 completes the brand’s transition away from infrared burner systems in its gas-fired lineup. The new platform is designed for more efficient energy transfer to the batch, with advancements in airflow control paired with sophisticated automation.

“The DR-140 builds on the legacy of our CR-140 by introducing a completely optimized platform that bridges the gap between artisan-level precision and high-volume industrial throughput,” Diedrich Roasters CMO Launtia Taylor said in an announcement of the launch.

Diedrich told DCN that the redesigned insulated roasting drums and airflow systems provide more controlled movement of heat and air through the bean mass, supporting more predictable roast curves at larger batch sizes. The new design also includes water-quenching systems for controlled cooling during the roasting process as well as emergency cooling of the drum, cooler, cyclones and chaff barrels.

The new machines also feature Diedrich’s proprietary, in-house control software, which relies upon Allen-Bradley controls. Programming and support are handled in-house through Diedrich’s engineering and service teams, while customers can also find direct access to factory-trained technicians and hands-on training programs through Diedrich’s facilities in Idaho and Schaumburg, Illinois.

The platform also supports Cropster and Artisan for third-party roast logging.

Diedrich introduced its DR generation in 2021 with the DR-25, followed in early 2022 by the DR-3, which replaced the IR-1 and IR-2.5. The company has since replaced the remaining IR machines in its specialty line with DR models while similarly transitioning its higher-capacity commercial line away from the CR designation.

While IR and CR models are no longer in production, Taylor told Daily Coffee News that Diedrich will continue supporting machines in the field with parts and service. Select newer components are also available as upgrades for existing IR and CR machines.

Taylor said DR-280 buyers over the past year have included midsize and larger commercial coffee and food manufacturers across the United States, including one customer with two machines at a single facility and another that recently ordered four.

“The DR-280 has become the workhorse for a lot of companies,” Taylor told DCN. “We’ve just been very fortunate with that. Everybody likes that roaster because it fills a gap [in the industry]. The 280 for us has been extremely popular, so hopefully the 140 will be just as popular.”

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