Sonofresco

The Monmouth Coffee Project (MCP) currently roasts green coffee beans using a Sonofresco coffee roaster. There appears to be a significant amount of history about how this roaster was developed and this page will attempt to document some of this history. It is very possible that this history will be of interest to the Monmouth College (MC) "Science and Business" initiative started back in ~2009 and currently a focus of the new Center for Science and Business.

Using the internet as the main source of research, the Sonofresco story starts with Syd & Jerry's Table Top Commercial Coffee Roaster website (http://www.9designs.com/webs/coffee/). This "product" was offered at a price of $3,495 and sold by a company called Coffee Kinetics (1365 Pacific Drive - Burlington, Washington 98233; Phone: 360.757.2800 - Fax: 360.757.8172).

The "about us" page at this website (http://www.9designs.com/webs/coffee/about.htm) shares some of the early beginnings of the project. This page has been preserved in PDF format and can be found here if the website is no longer active.

The two "players" appear to be:

Jerry Whitfield and

Syd Stapleton

The current Sonofresco web site makes note of the following 3 individuals (and others who joined the company at a later date):

Jerry Whitfield

Jerry is best known as an inventor and an entrepreneur, inventing the wood pellet stove in the late 1980′s and making it a household heating source for millions. However, the part of his life that he is the most proud of surrounds his family. Jerry has a wonderful wife, three daughters and three grandchildren that are the light of his life. In his spare time Jerry loves to travel, recently taking an extended sailing trip with his daughter and son-in-law.

Carol Whitfield

Carol and Jerry moved from England to Seattle in 1979, when she spent her days teaching geography. When Jerry started his pellet stove business Carol was the purchasing manager for years, then returned home to become chief supporter of their three athletic daughters; Jacqueline, Claire and Emma. Now at Sonofresco, she loves being in the thrust of this lively and challenging coffee business. Carol finds it serendipitous and rewarding to be part of an industry that she used to teach her students in her geography classes where she can now see up-close how important coffee is in creating livelihoods for so many across the world.

Robert Penrose

Robert Penrose joined the Sonofresco family in the summer of 2001 after being introduced to the Sonofresco Coffee Roaster as the Director of Manufacturing. He has continued to maintain the production, quality assurance and customer service of the Sonofresco Coffee Roaster, Green Coffee Supply, and accessories, as well as the day-to-day business operations after becoming COO in 2007. Robert’s passion for all aspects of mechanical design, R & D, and engineering developed during an eleven-year career with Pyro Industries and the guidance of Jerry Whitfield. When not working, Robert enjoys fly fishing, boating in the San Juan Islands, playing the drums, and family time.