ABOUT
The Coffee Science Institute was initiated to fill a gap in the industry by working across the entire value chain. At this point in time, objective analyses using empirical data to quantify problems and improve quality and quantity are pertinent. The novelty of the Institute lies in the expertise which traverse the entire chain; from coffee plant physiology, plantation management, green coffee quality, grading, roasting and end-product solutions. The Institute is equipped with leading plant physiologists, modelers, Q-Graders, agricultural surveyors and engineers, laboratory technicians as well as roasting & cupping experts.
The team is headed up by lead scientist Dr. Alessandro Craparo, and managing director Charles Denison.
Dr. Craparo has a background in Agroclimatology and a particular focus on tropical perennial systems. Alessandro has previously pursued research on viticulture, citrus fruits and now coffee. As the most valuable tropical export crop, he is increasingly interested on how the crop responds to changing environments and what this means for the 25 million smallholders worldwide. This interaction is the focus of his recent Ph.D. whereby he is involved with several research projects worldwide.
Charles Denison has many years in the coffee industry, from completing his Master thesis on small-holder coffee production, to trading on the New York "C", and working with farmers promoting good agricultural practices. He is the only independent licensed Q-Grader (Coffee Quality Institute) in South Africa, and has consulted in the coffee fields at ten of the major growing origins in the world. From working with the worlds largest arabica supplier to some of the finest micro-roasters in Europe and America, to liaising with the Cup of Excellence programme, Charli has experience in the field from the farmers to the importers, to the roasters and end-consumers. While his passion lies in coffee agronomy, his skills are networking and linking the producer to the specialty markets.
Dr. Craparo has a background in Agroclimatology and a particular focus on tropical perennial systems. Alessandro has previously pursued research on viticulture, citrus fruits and now coffee. As the most valuable tropical export crop, he is increasingly interested on how the crop responds to changing environments and what this means for the 25 million smallholders worldwide. This interaction is the focus of his recent Ph.D. whereby he is involved with several research projects worldwide.
Charles Denison has many years in the coffee industry, from completing his Master thesis on small-holder coffee production, to trading on the New York "C", and working with farmers promoting good agricultural practices. He is the only independent licensed Q-Grader (Coffee Quality Institute) in South Africa, and has consulted in the coffee fields at ten of the major growing origins in the world. From working with the worlds largest arabica supplier to some of the finest micro-roasters in Europe and America, to liaising with the Cup of Excellence programme, Charli has experience in the field from the farmers to the importers, to the roasters and end-consumers. While his passion lies in coffee agronomy, his skills are networking and linking the producer to the specialty markets.