Optical color sorter
Precision defect control for consistent cup quality and brand standards
Mechanical cleaning removes dust and size-based impurities. Optical sorting removes what those systems cannot detect. An optical color sorter identifies and ejects defective beans and foreign material using RGB cameras, laser analysis and shape recognition. It improves cup quality, visual consistency and usable yield while giving roasteries measurable control over defect levels, sourcing flexibility, and brand standards.
How it works
Coffee is fed evenly into an inspection chute. As beans pass through the detection zone, cameras and lasers analyze color, shape and material characteristics. Each bean is compared to a defined acceptance profile. If it falls outside tolerance, compressed air ejectors remove it into a reject channel while clean coffee continues downstream.
When it makes sense
Optical sorting becomes relevant when quality targets exceed what mechanical cleaning can achieve. It serves both specialty and industrial roasteries looking to increase consistency, improve product quality and add an additional control layer within their production process.
For both green and roasted coffee, it is effective at removing difficult foreign matter such as wood, twigs or plastic that may escape mechanical systems. On green coffee, it upgrades defect-heavy lots by removing insect-damaged beans and visual defects. On roasted coffee, it efficiently rejects quakers, broken beans and fines, improving both cup consistency and visual uniformity.
It does not replace air sifting or wind sieving. Optical sorting performs best once dust and fines have been removed upstream, ensuring stable feeding conditions and optimal detection accuracy.
Key benefits
Precision defect removal
Removes quakers, insect-damaged beans, mold, broken or chipped beans, burnt beans and other visually abnormal defects that mechanical systems cannot detect and that directly impact cup quality and visual consistency.
Advanced foreign matter identification
Laser-assisted detection distinguishes coffee from wood, straw, plastic, stones and metal even when similar in size or color, improving control over contamination risks.
Controlled yield management
Sorting sensitivity can be adjusted per coffee. Profiles can be defined for each origin and automatically selected through plant control integration, with machine learning refining detection over time.
Consistent brand presentation
Delivers visually homogeneous roasted coffee, reinforcing premium positioning and aligning product appearance with rising market expectations.
Technical specifications
Download our optical sorter brochure- Capacity up to 3 t/h for green coffee and 1.5 t/h for roasted coffee
- Electrical requirement: approximately 10.5 kVA, 3-phase
- Air requirement: 6–8 bar
- Dimensions: approximately 2830 × 2229 × 2461 mm
Maintenance & service
Maintenance focuses on cleaning inspection windows, verifying air ejectors and ensuring stable feeding conditions. With proper upstream dust removal, internal cleaning frequency remains predictable. Software updates and profile adjustments can be managed as part of ongoing quality optimization.
Questions? We're here to assist.
No. Mechanical cleaning removes dust and size-based impurities. Optical sorting removes visual and material defects.
Yes. Sensitivity can be tuned to match quality targets and acceptable yield.
Yes. It can be added upstream or downstream depending on layout and process flow.
Need help choosing the right cleaning solutions?
Every roastery and growth plan is different. Talk with us and design your optimal cleaning architecture.