Research Record
Browse studies in coffee processing, field ecology, conservation, and farm economics.
Browse studies
Choose a topic or open a study to see its question, approach, and what the evidence supports.
What the study labels mean
Start with the question, location, methods and evidence status on each study. Published results, modeled estimates, field observations and preliminary summaries are labeled separately. External literature and off-island examples are identified by source or location. The archive also includes agricultural implementation and exploratory market records for context. The evidence label describes the record’s status.
Cada ficha identifica la pregunta, el lugar, el método y el estado de la evidencia. Los resultados modelados se distinguen de las observaciones de campo y de las publicaciones externas.
Protocol development
Coffee Leaf Sensory Analysis
Can a defined sensory method distinguish changes caused by coffee-leaf processing and extraction from variation between samples and assessors?
Planned program · protocol in development
Coffee Leaf Extraction Methodology
Which extraction conditions produce a repeatable coffee-leaf preparation, and what trade-offs arise between extraction yield, composition, and sensory character?
Collaborative field program
Climate-Smart Coffee Agriculture
Copper Hill took part in a USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities project in Puerto Rico. Its field practices included planting shade trees and applying biochar.
Experimental trial summary
Banana & Plantain Valorization
Processing trials evaluated whole green bananas and plantains, including their peels, as flour ingredients. Preparation included slicing, dehydration and milling.
Modeled result
Cascara Valorization & Economics
The thesis examined the costs and revenues of drying and selling cascara. Its regenerative scenario with cascara sales returned a modeled mean ten-year net present value of −$32,644 per hectare, below the regenerative baseline without additional biomass sales.
Experimental processing summary
Coffee Leaf Processing Research
The program examined withering, rolling, oxidation and drying of coffee leaves. Later trials explored immersion and drip extraction.
Conservation implementation
AgroforestryX Conservation Pilot
Conservation work at Copper Hill included terraces, cover cropping and erosion controls under a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service contract from 2019 to 2024. Copper Hill is working with AgroforestryX (NRCS) and is among the first to implement it.
Field implementation
Tropical Agroforestry Implementation
Since 2018, Copper Hill has replanted previously full-sun coffee ground with coffee, shade and fruit trees. Banana and plantain provide temporary shade while longer-lived trees establish.
Baseline reported in thesis
Tropical Soil Science
The thesis reports 2022 baseline soil analyses in the 10-acre coffee plot. Soil pH ranged from 4.5 to 5.5, with low nitrogen, adequate phosphorus and variable potassium.
Baseline summary and field observations
Avian & Pollinator Ecology
The farm’s apiary, in use by 2020, provides a separate setting for observations of managed pollinators.
Retrospective market observation
Imperfect Produce Market Trial
Copper Hill brought visually imperfect produce, including mangoes and carrots, to local markets as part of an exploration known as Fruta Fea. This is an exploratory market record included for context, not a research study.
Published thesis · modeled results
The Whole Tree Economic Model
A 10-acre coffee case study compared six management scenarios over ten years, with 1,000 Monte Carlo simulations per scenario. The model assessed long-term net present value and whether annual income could support growers through the transition.
Site baseline summary
Site Baseline and Analytical Plan
Site characterization begun in 2022 includes mapping, soil and water characterization, tree inventory and ecological observations.
Observed working system
Biodigester Fertilizer and the Farm Apiary
A biodigester produces liquid fertilizer from rabbit manure for the coffee plots. Bees kept on the farm also supply beeswax.