# Tasks & work activities — coffee roaster

Source: O*NET 30.3, occupation 51-3091.00 (Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders) — manual nearest-occupation mapping via ISCO group 8160; the official ESCO crosswalk has no entry for this ESCO occupation.

## Task statements

- **[Core]** Observe, feel, taste, or otherwise examine products during and after processing to ensure conformance to standards.
- **[Core]** Observe temperature, humidity, pressure gauges, and product samples and adjust controls, such as thermostats and valves, to maintain prescribed operating conditions for specific stages.
- **[Core]** Operate or tend equipment that roasts, bakes, dries, or cures food items such as cocoa and coffee beans, grains, nuts, and bakery products.
- **[Core]** Set temperature and time controls, light ovens, burners, driers, or roasters, and start equipment, such as conveyors, cylinders, blowers, driers, or pumps.
- **[Core]** Observe flow of materials and listen for machine malfunctions, such as jamming or spillage, and notify supervisors if corrective actions fail.
- **[Core]** Record production data, such as weight and amount of product processed, type of product, and time and temperature of processing.
- **[Core]** Weigh or measure products, using scale hoppers or scale conveyors.
- **[Core]** Read work orders to determine quantities and types of products to be baked, dried, or roasted.
- **[Supplemental]** Take product samples during or after processing for laboratory analyses.
- **[Core]** Fill or remove product from trays, carts, hoppers, or equipment, using scoops, peels, or shovels, or by hand.
- **[Supplemental]** Open valves, gates, or chutes or use shovels to load or remove products from ovens or other equipment.
- **[Supplemental]** Clean equipment with steam, hot water, and hoses.
- **[Supplemental]** Clear or dislodge blockages in bins, screens, or other equipment, using poles, brushes, or mallets.
- **[Supplemental]** Push racks or carts to transfer products to storage, cooling stations, or the next stage of processing.
- **[Supplemental]** Start conveyors to move roasted grain to cooling pans and agitate grain with rakes as blowers force air through perforated bottoms of pans.
- **[Supplemental]** Smooth out products in bins, pans, trays, or conveyors, using rakes or shovels.
- **[Supplemental]** Install equipment, such as spray units, cutting blades, or screens, using hand tools.
- **[Supplemental]** Test products for moisture content, using moisture meters.
- **[Core]** Signal coworkers to synchronize flow of materials.

## Detailed work activities

- Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products.
- Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
- Clear equipment jams.
- Collect samples of materials or products for testing.
- Evaluate quality of food ingredients or prepared foods.
- Feed materials or products into or through equipment.
- Inspect food products.
- Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
- Monitor instruments to ensure proper production conditions.
- Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
- Move products, materials, or equipment between work areas.
- Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs.
- Operate cooking, baking, or other food preparation equipment.
- Operate pumping systems or equipment.
- Position raw materials on processing or production equipment.
- Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
- Record operational or production data.
- Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
- Signal others to coordinate work activities.
- Sterilize food cooking or processing equipment.
- Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
- Weigh finished products.