From world travels

It was one of those boring summer afternoons in Munich. We, Marija and Georgi, were sitting in a small café, exhausted after a long day at work, the sun shining warmly on our faces, imagining what our lives would be like if we simply embarked on a long journey — with no destination, no obligations, and no time pressure .

As we raved about it, a thought occurred to us : "What's stopping us?" We thought long and hard, considered all aspects—professional and personal—and couldn't find a reason why we shouldn't get started as soon as possible. The decision was made.

A year later, we had put our plan into action. We quit our jobs at Amazon, sublet our apartment, and hit the road. Our thirst for adventure led us to the coffee plantations of Mexico and Chiapas , we participated in Burning Man (a story in itself), and roamed the tropical coffee regions of Costa Rica and Panama. But the real turning point came when we landed in Colombia . There, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and a rich coffee culture, our own new chapter began. The true beginning of our coffee journey, the one that changed everything.

Of encounters

In the north of the country, we had the opportunity to work at a coffee cooperative specializing in organic and Fairtrade coffee . There, we learned about the world of coffee and experienced daily work during the harvest. But what inspired us most to found our "beyond sustainable" coffee startup were two people we met there:

Mildred Niebles

The cooperative's "jefe de calidad" (quality manager) was kind enough to welcome us as guests in her home . She helped us gain deep insight into the history of the country and the region—especially during the civil war in the last few decades. On her finca, we learned the secrets of coffee processing .
We also learned a lot about her own story , which touched us deeply. She raised three children alone, defended her farm against armed guerrillas , and was the only woman in her cooperative to earn a university degree and a coffee expert certification .

Señor Jaime Alberto García Flores

On a coffee farm high in the mountains —seven hours from the city—we met this authentic "cafetero" (coffee farmer). There we learned about organic farming and the life of the coffee community .
Each day began at 4 a.m., just before sunrise, and ended at 6 p.m., just after sunset. There is no electricity . In the magical hours of the sleeping jungle, we discussed the day's events.

From great coffees

What we took away from this world trip and the two encounters was the conviction that we should create a more direct and transparent relationship between two worlds .

On one side are the humble but experienced growers who produce high-quality coffee for our enjoyment. They need neither monetary donations nor pity from us, but rather respect and knowledge to improve their standard of living through innovation. For them, the preservation and regeneration of their community and the environment, their home , is a given.

On the other side are we – the coffee lovers . For us, it's important to drink great coffee , tailored to our taste. But it's also important to us to understand who grows it and how . We want the assurance that our passion is being invested in something sustainable and worthwhile.