UTU Meulaboh Lecturers Secure Patent for Coffee Grounds Briquette Innovation
An innovation in processing coffee grounds waste into efficient solid fuel briquettes, developed by lecturers from the Faculty of Agriculture at Teuku Umar University (UTU) in Meulaboh, West Aceh Regency, has received state recognition through a Simple Patent Certificate from the Indonesian Ministry of Law. The design is the work of Utari Azrani, alongside Muhammad Reza Aulia and Fantashir Awwal Fuqara.
“We designed this method to address the lack of a measured process for making coffee ground briquettes in the community,” said Utari Azrani in a statement received in Meulaboh on Monday. The availability of raw materials in Aceh is very abundant, and the process is designed to be easily adopted by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The patent, numbered IDS000013454, was issued on 18 May 2026. The official document was signed by the Minister of Law through the Director of Patents, Integrated Circuit Layout Designs, and Trade Secrets, Dr Andrieansjah.
Research team leader Utari Azrani explained that the processing idea stemmed from the inconsistent quality of coffee ground waste briquettes on the market, often caused by unsystematic manufacturing processes. The method involves mixing coffee grounds with tapioca flour as a binder, sawdust as an additive, and water in measured compositions to form a homogeneous dough. This dough is then compacted using a hydraulic press machine to achieve a density of 0.9 to 1.2 grams per cubic centimetre. After being cut into uniform sizes, the briquettes are dried in an oven at 80 to 100 degrees Celsius for 3 to 4 hours until the final moisture content is below 10 per cent. This controlled process from upstream to downstream ensures stable combustion quality.
These coffee ground briquettes are intended to meet energy needs for households, small industries, and local energy supply. The waste processing also promotes the application of circular economy principles in coffee-producing regions.
UTU Meulaboh Rector, Prof Dr Nyak Amir, expressed high appreciation for the achievement of the Faculty of Agriculture lecturers. He affirmed that the rectorate is ready to provide full support for applied research aimed at solving community problems. “This Simple Patent Certificate achievement is tangible proof that UTU academic research can answer environmental challenges and community energy needs. The university leadership continues to encourage innovations aligned with the ‘Diktisaintek Berdampak’ programme from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, while serving as an important foundation in realising the vision of UTU Gemilang,” he said.