Cocoa bean roaster Solano™ S

for nutsfor seedbatch

Overview
The Solano™ S is a batch hot-air roaster designed for granular products (cocoa beans, nuts, seeds). It combines a patented multi-stage roasting profile with fluid-bed heat transfer and an integrated steam pasteurization option to enable controlled roasting and microbiological kill-step in a single system.

Key benefits

• Pasteurization for maximum food safety: Integrated steam pasteurization provides gentle, controlled condensation on product surfaces, achieving >5-log reduction of pathogens such as Salmonella while preserving taste, texture and colour.
• Sustainable system for high efficiency: Intelligent airflow control and hot-air circulation enable low-temperature roasting and energy savings up to 70% compared with conventional systems.
• Uniform, reproducible roast quality: Patented multi-stage roasting profile with fluid-bed technology ensures homogeneous heat distribution and consistent roast degree across each batch.

Highlight features

• Fluid-bed hot-air roasting: Even energy distribution per particle for homogeneous aroma and texture.
• Batch operation with flexible process control: Any combination of roasting time, temperature and optional direct steam injection can be configured per batch for roasting or pasteurization modes.
• Multi-stage roasting: Staged temperature profile preserves microstructure, extending shelf life and reducing oxidation rate by a factor of 2–10 versus conventional roasting.
• Food-safety mode (pasteurization without roasting): Controlled steam injection after pre-heating allows pasteurization while minimising additional roasting.
• Hydrogen-ready power unit: Option for hydrogen power unit to enable CO2 emission-free operation when required.

Application possibilities

• Cocoa beans
• Nuts and seeds

Services and training
Service, commissioning and training packages are available to support installation, process validation and operator training for safe, reproducible production.

Technical specifications (overview)

• Brand: Bühler
• Model: Solano™ S
• Product code on page: CUBE-00022-000
• Product type: Batch hot-air roaster with fluid-bed technology
• Roasting process: Patented multi-stage roasting profile
• Pasteurization: Integrated steam pasteurization option; controlled steam condensation; >5-log reduction for pathogens (e.g. Salmonella)
• Energy efficiency: Intelligent airflow control and hot-air circulation; up to ~70% energy savings vs conventional systems
• Operation modes: Batch roasting and pasteurization with adjustable time/temperature and optional direct steam injection
• Shelf life: Multi-stage process preserves microstructure; oxidation speed reduced by factor 2–10 vs conventional roasting
• Fuel/power option: Hydrogen-ready power unit option for CO2-free operation
• Typical products: Granular products such as cocoa, nuts and seeds