A density table is a piece of equipment used to sort higher quality coffee beans from regular beans.
Sometimes also referred to as the Oliver table, density tables are slightly tiled and use vibration that causes beans to move about.
The logic is that denser beans would move to the top side of the table while the less dense ones move to the bottom.
Research has found that less developed beans are less dense.
Thus, the purpose of the density table is to use a simple technology to do the sorting based on density.
When sorting is done by hand, there is always the tendency for human error.
Using technology like the density table enable producers to deliver a better consistency in the quality of coffee beans they deliver to merchants.