Tim Wendelboe Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Lalo Perez to talk about biological agriculture and how it differs from conventional coffee farming. Lalo begins by sharing his background in coffee, and how a frustrating remark, that there is no good coffee from Mexico, sparked his journey into biological agriculture and led to the founding of his company, Biofilia. We discuss what biological agriculture actually means, why it is needed, and how coffee farming must evolve in response to climate change. Lalo explains how farmers can make the shift in a practical and meaningful way, with a strong focus on bringing life back into the soil. We also speak about the commitment I have made to the farmers we work with: within ten years, all the coffee I purchase must be grown biologically without the use of harmful fertilizers and agrochemicals. All of them have agreed to take part in this transition, and we have launched pilot trials on six farms as part of what we call the "TW Biological Project". In these trials, we compare biological and conventional farming practices side by side in order to assess their impact over a three-year period. Lalo and his team at Biofilia are key partners in this project, and we are working closely with them to implement trials on all the farms we collaborate with. We talk about the changes we hope to see, and how we are working together to reach our long-term goals. Music by my uncle, Jens Wendelboe.

The biggest project we are working on right now is what we call our "TW Biological Project". Our goal is that all the farms we buy from in 10 years will be practising regenerative and biological farming. We are currently testing this on six farms in latin-America, where we are comparing biological farming techniquea to how they are currently working (conventional farming) on two similar areas of each farm to see what the results will be within three years. We are discussing the results we expect and how we plan to work to reach our goal.  In this episode, I sit down with Maren from our team. Maren has worked with us since 2021, having previously worked as both a barista and a coffee roaster, before moving to Italy to complete her Master's degree in local development. She has now finished her degree and is currently our project coordinator for sustainability. She is leading the development of our sustainability strategy and works closely with me and the farmers we buy from. We talk about regenerative agriculture, what it means and why it could be the future of coffee. We discuss topics such as biological farming vs conventional farming, sustainable consumption, greenwashing, certifications in coffee, climate change effects , and labour on coffee farms. One of Maren's main focus right now is EUDR (European Union Deforestation Regulation). The main objective of the regulation is to uncover potential cases of deforestation related to coffee production, and end the supply of products on the European market that has contributed to deforestation. We need to map and have an overview of the farms we work with to verify whether or not deforestation or forest degradation has taken place, which is a lot of work – even for us, as we only work with a handful of coffee farmers. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe. 

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Stephen Vick during my recent visit to Kenya. Stephen shares his journey in the coffee industry, which began in Oregon, USA, and has since brought him to Kenya. Together, we reflect on how the industry has evolved over the more than twenty years we have both been a part of it. Stephen works for the Danish Coop, a grocery store chain in Scandinavia. He oversees their roasting and export of roasted coffee from Kenya to Scandinavia. He explains how his work in Kenya operates and the impact of exporting roasted coffee as opposed to unroasted coffee makes locally. We talk about the supportive barista community in Nairobi, where sharing knowledge has become more common and important for growth. We also discuss robusta coffee and the increasing interest in experimenting with new cultivars. Additionally, we talk about the rise of organically certified coffees in Kenya, which is still relatively rare but showing promising growth. Finally, Stephen shares what excites him most about the future of Kenyan coffee and the local coffee community. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode, I sit down with Ben Symes, our wholesale manager, to reflect on the highlights of 2024. We discuss our favourite coffees of the year, including the washed coffee from Tatmara and the Java from Finca Tamana, as well as developments on the farms we work with. Tim also shares insights from the farmer symposium he held in Honduras and our plans to help convert all the farms we work with to biological farming practices. This year brought many memorable experiences, such as time spent in Kenya with Klaus Thomsen, our pop-up at the Coffee Collective in Denmark, the Ljubljana Coffee Festival with James Hoffmann, and a special dinner at Noma to mark the close of our chapter with them. Being recognised as the best roastery by Roastful was a standout moment, made possible by the dedication of our team across every aspect of the business, from roasting and packaging to serving in the espresso bar and managing orders. But we would not be where we are without the hard work and dedication that all the coffee producers we buy from put in every year. Finally, we reflect on what it means to be the "Best Roaster" and look ahead to 2025 with new harvests and plans. Join us for a review of 2024 and a look at what is to come. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode, I am joined by our Wholesale Manager, Ben Symes, to answer your questions. This is the second part of our Q&A podcast episode, where we answer questions sent in by our followers. In this episode, we focus on your questions about brewing, as well as other topics such as coffee buying and origin. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode, I am joined by our Wholesale Manager, Ben Symes, to answer your questions. Earlier in October, we invited you to send in any questions you had for us. We received such a great response that we had to split the podcast into two parts. In this episode, Ben and I will be focusing on your questions about roasting and tasting. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode, I'm joined by Mats Fredheim Vidby, our roastery team leader and one of our dedicated coffee roasters, who has been with us since 2021. Our conversation this time takes a deep dive into Ethiopian coffee, focusing on how we select and buy coffees from the birthplace of coffee. We will be discussing the farms we work with, Echemo and Tatmara, and go in to details about the fresh harvest that has just arrived at our roastery.  We will also provide updates on the latest developments at these farms over the past few years. Mats has come prepared with some interesting questions about Ethiopian coffees, and we have also gathered a selection of questions from our Instagram followers, which we will be answering at the end of the episode. Tune in to hear Mats and me talk about Ethiopian coffee and learn more about why these coffees are so special to us. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode, I am back at Diego Baraona's farm, Los Pirineos, in El Salvador, one year after our last recording. Since then, significant developments have unfolded both on the farm and in Diego's future plans. Having closely collaborated with Diego for nearly four years, and previously with his father, Gilberto Baraona, I've witnessed Diego's growth as a coffee producer firsthand. Taking over the farm after his father's passing, Diego has shown considerable progress. Last year, I organised a trip to Guatemala for the farmers we buy coffee from in Latin America - Diego, Moises, Marysabel, and Elias - introducing them to Josué Morales, a dedicated organic coffee producer. The aim was to inspire a shift towards organic cultivation, with my personal goal of exclusively buying organically grown coffee from Latin America within the next decade. Diego was particularly moved by this experience, with plans now underway to transition Los Pirineos into a fully organic farm in the coming years. Despite being a successful coffee farmer, Diego is planning to scale down his farm. He'll delve into the reasons behind this decision and shed light on the challenges he currently faces as a coffee producer. Looking ahead, Diego together with his mother, plan to open a hotel on his farm in the near future, offering coffee enthusiasts from all over the world an opportunity to visit his farm and delve deeper into the world of coffee. In terms of processing, there have been notable shifts in Diego's approach. While he previously experimented with various methods, he now primarily focuses on washed coffees. He will share insights into the reasons for this shift. If you stay until the end of the episode, Diego will answer questions submitted by you through our Instagram. To learn more about the Los Pirineos farm, visit our website. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe. 

In this episode, I am joined by Muki Yeung, specialty coffee trader at C. Dormans in Kenya, to explore the current dynamics of Kenya's coffee market. With over a decade of experience working in coffee both in Australia, Brazil and Kenya,  Muki offers valuable insights into the evolving coffee buying process in Kenya. We delve into recent shifts in market dynamics and their implications for the available coffee selections. During my recent cupping sessions for purchasing coffees, I observed significant changes, and Muki shares her insights to the underlying reasons. We discuss Mukis theory on the decline in standout coffees, linking it to the high focus on efficient production methods and the growing use of hybrid coffee varieties. We talk about the potential impact of these changes on Kenya's coffee industry and brainstorm strategies to reverse this trend. As Muki prepares to transition from C. Dormans to managing multiple coffee estates, she aims to establish best practices for coffee production in Kenya, including sustainable water management post-fermentation.  Our conversation also touches on why many buyers still perceive cooperatives as the primary source of the best coffees. We conclude by acknowledging our shared belief that paying a higher price for coffee is essential, and that we have to continue to reward people for producing high quality products. Failing to do so makes it challenging to maintain quality standards. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe. If you are interested in learning more about coffee pricing, you can check out the "The importance of transparency in coffee — A conversation with Coffee Collective (#15)". You find it here: https://timwendelboe.no/2023/10/the-importance-of-transparency-in-coffee-a-conversation-with-coffee-collective-15/

In this episode, I have the pleasure of sitting down with my friend Kennedy Keya, director of trading and operations at C.Dorman in Kenya. Join us as we delve into our coffee-buying process in Kenya today. In the past year, there have been significant changes in how the coffee market operates in Kenya. Previously, companies like C.Dorman were involved in multiple stages of the coffee production process. However, new regulations now limit companies to performing just one role within the coffee value chain. Kennedy, representing C.Dorman, shares valuable insights into how they are adapting to these changes and discusses the potential impact of these changes on the future of the coffee industry in Kenya.  We also discuss what makes Kenyan coffee so exceptional, delving into the factors that contribute to its unique flavor profile and why prices for Kenyan coffee tend to be higher compared to those from other countries. Kennedy also share some of the challenges that have led to a decline in coffee production and quality in Kenya in recent years, offering thoughtful perspectives on potential solutions to reverse this trend. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode, I sit down with Ben Symes, our wholesale manager, to reflect on an eventful 2023.  Join us as we discuss how our espresso bar has been a pivotal part of our growth this year and how we have managed to grow the production in our roastery to an all time high. We also delve into our partnership with Noma in Copenhagen. Celebrating a decade of collaboration, this year we took a significant step in evolving the way Noma serves coffee, and I'm excited to share these developments with you. Find out which coffees were our personal favourites this year and what developments have taken place on each farm we buy from. We touch on some tougher topics, such as the rising costs impacting coffee farms, including fertiliser and labour expenses and how migration is a threat to coffee production in Central-America. I'll also share insights from one of my highlights of 2023, my recent trip to Guatemala, focusing on our move towards organic practices across the Latin American farms we work with. To cap it off, Ben and I talk about what's on the horizon for 2024, including our participation in the "Best Roaster Competition," the 'World of Coffee' in Copenhagen and the upcoming launch of the next harvest from Finca el Suelo. Links mentioned in this episode: Video: Our Roastery Timelapse Podcast: Coffee in Kenya - A conversation with Morten Wennersgaard Video: Lance Hedrick's video on the Noruego being served at Noma Video: Noma's instagram reel on how they now make coffee Music by my uncle, Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode, I'm thrilled to introduce you to Negussie Tadesse, the man behind Tatmara Coffee Plantation in the historic region of Kaffa, Ethiopia - a place many consider the birthplace of coffee. Join us as we explore Negussie's inspiring story: from his initial journey into coffee farming to the enormous task of establishing Tatmara Coffee Plantation in 2010.  We discuss our collaboration with Belco, the company that first introduced me to Negussie and why my first visit to Tatmara in 2018, coinciding with Ethiopia's opening for direct sales, was a significant milestone.  We also talk about why I always seek to establish direct relationships with the producers we buy from and the benefits of having a shared vision of continual improvement. Negussie also opens up about a challenging year when rains devastated his crop, providing a glimpse into the realities of coffee farming.  Looking ahead, we'll hear about his future aspirations for Tatmara and the challenges he anticipates in consistently producing high-quality coffee. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

Join me as I sit down once again with Andreas Hertzberg for the second part of our conversation celebrating my 25-year journey in the coffee industry. This episode is a deep dive into the genesis of my own company and how my vision, encapsulated in a business plan from 2006, has grown into the reality that is Tim Wendelboe AS today.   As we commemorate the opening of my coffee shop in June 2007, Andreas and I discuss the story of how I developed my approach to sourcing green coffee and the evolution towards roasting lighter, flavourful profiles that we have become know for.    We also reflect on the digital revolution and how the internet has become the most significant innovation in the coffee landscape over recent decades, reshaping everything from consumer engagement to educational outreach. Lastly, we touch on the meticulous journey of enhancing the quality of our coffee, a quest that has been at the heart of everything we do.   Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this special episode, I celebrate my 25th year of working in the coffee industry. Joining me for this reflective chat is my good friend Andreas Hertzberg, the Co-founder of Nordic Approach and the chairman of our company's board.  We retrace our steps to the early days at Stockfleth's and Solberg & Hansen, reminiscing about our shared journey – a journey filled with mutual learning, inspiration, discovery and being part of the development of modern coffee culture in Norway. I dive deep into my inaugural competition, and together, Andreas and I discuss why the 2002 World Barista Championship holds such a pivotal place in my professional journey.  We explore the 'Cup of Excellence' and its impact on coffee pricing dynamics. The importance of transparency, the moral obligation of paying our producers a commendable price, and how the ‘Cup of Excellence' has influenced these practices. We then take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, discussing the historical significance of the Nordic Barista Cup and the Nordic Roaster forum. Sit back and join us in celebrating this silver milestone in the realm of coffee. Cheers to a quarter of a century and hopefully many more to come! Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode, I'm joined by Carolyne Lane, one of the driving forces behind restaurant Noma's celebrated tea and coffee programme. Having honed her skills over 5 years at Noma, Carolyne provides an in-depth look into the meticulous approach that defines Noma's unique coffee service. We delve into how Noma, one of the worlds most renowned restaurants, has changed how they prepare and serve coffee since their beginning, and discuss the new brewing method we developed with them that was recently introduced in their service.  Tune in and listen as we discuss the fundamental distinction between a restaurant serving coffee and a coffee shop serving food. We further contemplate the importance of context in the coffee experience; is it solely about the most pronounced flavours, or can subtlety and body be equally impactful? Wrapping up our conversation, we address the much-speculated topic of Noma's future. Join us for this insightful exploration into the intricacies of quality coffee within the setting of one of the world's most esteemed restaurants. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

This episode takes a detour from our usual discussions about coffee, but trust me, it's a conversation you won't want to miss. I'm absolutely thrilled to introduce you to a guest who has shaped my life in countless ways: my Uncle Jens Wendelboe. An accomplished composer, conductor, and musician, Jens is not just family, but an inspiring role model in brand building, career development, and a whole lot more. In our conversation, we delve into the essence of building a successful career, navigating the challenges, and the rewarding experiences that come along the way. From his amazing experiences working with music legend Donna Summer, to an unforgettable encounter with Neil Armstrong, Jens takes us on a journey of discovery. We'll also discuss why sometimes, not saying no can open doors, the importance of quality control in any industry, and how I've applied these principles when setting up my own coffee business. You can learn more about Jens on Spotify here and on YouTube here.

Delighted to welcome you back to Part Two of my in-depth chat with the visionary behind the Caballero coffee farms, Moises Herrera. This episode holds an extra special treat as we are also joined by Moises' wife, Marysabel Caballero, a third-generation coffee farmer and a vital pillar of the Caballero enterprise. In this episode, we retrace the steps that Marysabel and Moises took when they first embarked on their coffee journey. We explore their passionate resolve that saw them through a trying period in the early 2000s, where they nearly lost their farm and business. Join us as we discuss their ascension to the coveted 'Cup of Excellence,' and analyse how this recognition has transformed their business and made a broader impact on the world of coffee. Learn straight from them the immeasurable value they place on hard work and loyalty, not only as the cornerstones of business success but as key ingredients to a fulfilling life. During our conversation, the couple paints a vibrant picture of their business ethics, sharing the profound importance they place on relationships - with customers and farmworkers alike. They offer an intimate look into their daily operations, their diverse coffee offerings, their meticulous processing methods, and their incessant strive to elevate their craft every passing year. We also learn about their philosophy that the way forward for their farms are deeply embedded in its rich past. Packed with enlightening narratives and insights, this episode is an intriguing story of the hard work and visionary thinking that animate the Caballero family's coffee farms. You can learn more about the Caballero farm, on our website here. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode, I'm delighted to welcome a dear friend and esteemed coffee producer of the Caballero coffees in Honduras, mr. Moises Herrera. Moises is part of a family that has helped shape the high-quality coffee production industry in Honduras, and his stories and experiences are nothing short of inspiring. We journey through Moises' own history in coffee, recalling when our paths first intersected. Our conversation takes us through the colourful spectrum of coffee varieties and on the unique challenges and rewards associated with each type. As we discuss labour dynamics, you'll hear about Moises' commitment to fair wages and profit-sharing – a testament to his belief in the value of every hand that helps create his product. We'll also delve into a transformative drying experiment we conducted together, and you'll hear Moises' perspective on the trend of ‘Funky Coffees.' This is an episode rich with the passion and complexity that drives the world of coffee production. You can learn more about the Caballero farm, on our website here. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode, I am joined by Diego Baraona on his farm Los Pirineos in El Salvador. I have been working with the Baraona family for many years. In 2020 our dear friend, pioneering coffee producer Gilberto Baraona sadly passed away. During his time leading Los Pirineos, Gilberto transformed his farm from being an average farm to becoming one of the most spectacular farms in Central-America. Following his passing, Gilberto's son Diego took over the running of the farm and today is continuing his fathers legacy. In this wide-ranging conversation with Diego, we discuss our long-standing relationship, the different processes that Diego and his team manage on the farm, the challenges and opportunities of running a coffee farm in 2023 and more. You can learn more about the Los Pirineos farm, on our website here. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode, I am joined once again by my good friend Morten Wennersgaard. Morten is one of the founders of Norwegian green coffee import company, Nordic Approach. He has been buying coffee in Kenya for a long time and even lived in Kenya for a small period when he started his company. Our conversation this time focuses on Kenyan coffee, how it is grown and sold. We have both recently been in Kenya for the latest buying season and through our long running experience in working with Kenyan producers, we try to break down the ins and outs of coffee in Kenya. Tune in and listen to Morten and I discuss how Kenyan coffee is grown and traded and find out why these coffees are our all time favourites. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode, I speak with Anja Bakken Rise, who is the president of Norwegian environmental and solidarity organisation Framtiden i våre hender (The future in our hands). The organisation, which now has over 45,000 members, has been instrumental in promoting sustainability in Norway. Recent achievements include helping the Transparency Act come into effect; a law giving consumers the right to know how over 9,000 Norwegian companies safeguard human rights and ensure decent working conditions within their supply chains. Anja and I have a wide-ranging conversation about coffee and sustainability, a subject that I believe is such an important topic in our industry and one that touches everybody, from farmer to consumer. You can learn more about Anja by connecting with her on Instagram and about Fremtiden i våre hender on their website here. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode I'm joined by our wholesale manager Ben Symes. For our final episode of the year, we're reviewing the highlights of the past 12 months, in both our business and the wider coffee industry.  We discuss how our company has grown and evolved in the past year, my farm Finca el Suelo's recent second harvest and plans for the project in 2023 and take a look back at this year's coffees. We also cover changing coffee prices, organic farming and our 15th anniversary which we celebrated earlier this year. Brew yourself a coffee and enjoy our reflections as we approach the end of 2022. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this special episode, Tim swaps seats and becomes a guest on the show, handing over hosting duties to our customer service consultant, Sebastian Dyrdal. To celebrate the launch of its second harvest, Sebastian and Tim talk about Tim's coffee farm project, Finca el Suelo. Finca el Suelo is a 7 hectare farm located in El Vegon, in the municipality of El Pital in Huila, Colombia. Tim's goal with the project is to figure out how to raise coffee quality and increase production with regenerative biological farming practices, and hopefully inspire other farmers to do the same. Listen to the full episode to learn about the work being done at the farm, gain an understanding of the project's background and why Tim is working there, along with what the future holds at Finca el Suelo. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode, I speak with Morten Wennersgaard, who is one of the founders of the Norwegian green coffee import company, Nordic Approach. Morten and I have been good friends for many years, and we have collaborated on a number of interesting projects, including Nordic Approach. Our main focus in this conversation, is about how a coffee importer works, and how green coffee is bought and sold. Morten explains how Nordic Approach came to be and how they help roasters all over the world, by working at origin where it can be difficult for small roasteries to operate. He explains their work processes and how they ensure that roasteries, regardless of their size or quantity requirements, can be sure that the green coffee they are buying has a guarantee of both quality and transparency. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode, I speak with the legendary first World Aeropress Champion Mr. Anders Valde, who has been a customer in our espresso bar since the day we opened. Anders is one of the few people who has tasted all the coffees we have ever roasted and has seen our espresso bar evolve over the past 15 years from a customers point of view. Listen in while we walk down memory lane and talk about the 15 years of history of our company and espresso bar. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode our guest is Malin Borgås, our subscription manager that also work with wholesale customer support. By wholesale we mean other businesses that buy and serve our coffee, so B2B sales if you want. Wether it is in an office, a restaurant, coffee shop or a café, Malin work together with our wholesale manager Ben Symes to help our customers succeed with brewing and serving great coffee. Learn how we work and also what the common brewing mistakes our customers make that is really easy to fix.    If you are interested in serving our coffee in your business, then please get in touch via our website www.timwendelboe.no

In this episode I am joined by Maren Myhre Gullvik and Daniel Vareide. Maren and Daniel are members of our team that work as roasters and baristas. The episode can best be summed up as a team training session. In this wide ranging conversation, you get to join us at the roastery and learn about how small roasters like us buy coffee and work with producers, and how we operate our roastery. If you would like to learn more about the farms we work with, you can visit here: https://timwendelboe.no/farms-we-buy-from/ To learn more about my farm Finca el Suelo, visit here: https://timwendelboe.no/finca-el-suelo/ Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In this episode I speak once again with one of my favourite researchers and educators in coffee, Mr. Morten Munchow and his colleague and sensory scientist Ida Steen. They are the people behind the Coffee Mind academy and are doing some fascinating research in coffee. I have had the privilege to be involved with some of their research in various forms and have personally learned a lot from them both over the years. You might have heard the episodes I recorded last year with Morten on roasting and organic acids in coffee already, but if not please make sure you listen to those episodes as they are highly educational. Join our conversation about their newly updated coffee tasting flavour wheel and listen to Ida and Morten explain how to utilise the flavour wheel and why it is now updated with both time, temperature, mouthfeel and taste.   The Flavour wheel can be purchased and downloaded here: https://coffee-mind.com/product/coffeemind-flavour-wheel/  Check out the Coffee Mind podcast here: https://coffee-mind.com/podcast/ Coffee Mind website: https://coffee-mind.com Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

In Episode 15 of our podcast I speak with Peter Dupont and Klaus Thomsen who together with Casper Engel founded the Coffee Collective in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2007. The Coffee Collective is by many, including myself, considered to be one of the few coffee companies in the wold that really walk the talk. They are one of the highest regarded companies in the world when it comes to  sourcing and roasting coffees of the best quality and they have from the start of their company been buying coffee focusing on transparency in the value chain and buying coffees as directly as possible from the farmers. Not only is their company B Corp certified, but they have also been part of developing the idea behind the Pledge and donating data to the Specialty coffee transaction Guide. It is a privilege to be able to call them my friends as The Coffee Collective have been one of my big inspirations for many years. In this episode we talk about transparency in coffee, why transparency is important and  what transparency really means. It is no secret that the commodity coffee price is disconnected from the producers needs to make a decent living. The fact that it has been more or less the same price for over 50 years means that most farmers are not able to make a profit. Looking at inflation alone the price for green coffee should be at least 3-4 times higher than what it is today. You may also have noticed that the «specialty coffee»  companies around the world often say that they pay more for their coffees because it is of high quality. But is it enough, and is the money going back to the farmers? And are we comparing what we pay against the wrong price benchmark?   Tune in to learn more about coffee prices, how we buy coffees and why we believe being transparent is important for the future of coffee. Links we mentioned in this episode: https://www.transparency.coffee https://coffeecollective.dk https://www.transactionguide.coffee Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe

Join Ben Symes, our whole sale manager, and Tim Wendelboe as they informally sum up and talk about the year 2021 from a coffee roasters perspective. 2021 was an ever changing year, where Covid was dominating the first and last months of the year, there was a frost in Brazil making commodity prices on coffee rise and a lot of people talking about how Kenyan coffees are not what they used to be. Tune in to find out our thoughts about the "coffee year 2021."

In this episode I speak with Alejandro Renjifo who was the one who introduced me to Colombia back in 2007 and who is exporting the coffees we buy from Elias Roa and his farm Finca Tamana.   Alejandro has a long history in the coffee industry and is one of the pioneers in the developing of the FNC's (Colombian Coffee Growers Federation) specialty coffee program. Today Alejandro is an exporter of high quality Colombian coffees and he loves to facilitate connections and help establish long term relationships between coffee growers and coffee roasters.   This was not really a structured conversation but since Alejandro is an opinionated person and has a lot of history and knowledge about quality coffee in Colombia I thought it would be nice to have a long conversation to get a better insight to Colombia as a coffee producing country.    Alejandro loves to talk, so we discuss everything from Colombian coffee varieties &  rust resistance and why most coffees are not sustainably grown in Colombia. He also touches on the history of Colombian coffee and why he was asked to introduce a «specialty coffee» program by the FNC. More importantly we speak about the importance of relationships and what that really means and  Alejandro shares his opinion on why he believes that commitment in the coffee trade is the only way to make it transformative for the growers and the roasters.    Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe

In this episode I am having a long conversation with my dear friend and freshly crowned World Barista Champion of 2021 Diego Campos. Diego is a Colombian barista that I have known since 2014 when he came with me to Finca Tamana to help me translate. It did not take long before we became good friends and since 2014 I have been privileged to be able to work with Diego both on improving the farm practices at Finca Tamana, working at our own farm Finca el Suelo as well as training him for barista competitions and learning about coffee together with him. Today Diego is married to Elias Roa's daughter Derlin, and together they own  Finca el Diamante, a small coffee farm in Belen, Huila. Join our conversation as Diego's talks about his long road to victory and how he became a world barista champion.    

In episode 11 My guest is Mr. Fotios Daflas. Fotios used to work with us as a barista and coffee roaster but is now working at Solberg & Hansen in their roastery. In 2019 Fotios traveled with me to Colombia to visit Finca Tamana and our own farm Finca el Suelo. For a full week he helped me work on the farm, making compost, spraying compost tea, spreading wood chips around the trees and removing weeds. Since then some of the coffee trees on our farm have started producing coffee and recently we received the very first harvest that was big enough to roast and taste properly. I was so excited to taste the coffees from our own farm so I wanted to share the experience with Fotios as a token of appreciation for all the work he put in to the farm during his visit. Join us in this episode as we discuss the very first coffees we have tasted from Finca el Suelo, what they are and how they taste. The coffees were the following: 1. Variedad Colombia & Castillo blend from Finca Tamana 2. Caturra from Finca el Suelo 3. Ethiopian cultivar from Finca el Suelo 4. Semper Florens cultivar from the variety garden at Finca el Suelo  5. Geisha from Finca el Suelo 6. Común cultivar from the variety garden at Finca el Suelo  Follow our farm on instagram @fincaelsuelo   Music by Jens Wendelboe

This is the second episode that I recorded with Mr. Morten Munchow during my trip to Copenhagen in August 2021. Morten is an old coffee friend of mine and a fabulous coffee scientist. He runs the company Coffee Mind and  together with his colleague Ida Steen he has been doing a lot of interesting research within the coffee world, mainly focusing on coffee roasting and the sensory evaluation of coffee. They also provide training for both coffee professionals and other people who are interested in coffee roasting and sensory training.   In this particular episode, Morten is talking about some of their latest research on organic acids in coffee. You can also learn more by watching their videos on this subject on www.coffee-mind.com or their YouTube channel.  

The guest in this episode is Mr. Morten Munchow who is an old coffee friend of mine. Morten is a scientist and runs the company Coffee Mind. Morten and his colleague Ida Steen have been doing a lot of interesting research within the coffee world, mainly focusing on coffee roasting and the sensory evaluation of coffee. They also provide training for both coffee professionals and other people who are interested in coffee roasting and sensory training.   I love speaking with Morten as he always strive to educate people based on known facts rather than assumptions and theories. He is always very good at talking about complex subjects but making them simple and understandable for people who are not scientists.     Join me in this episode as we discuss some of his research on coffee roasting, the importance of using quality ingredients, and why you must measure roast colour if you are a coffee roaster.

Join us for another coffee podcast episode where I discuss funky coffees together with Jamie Jongkind  who works with sales and coffee purchasing at Nordic Approach. It is no surprise that I am personally not a huge fan of coffees that has pronounced flavours of fermentation, but our guest Jamie explains why he loves funky coffees and what fermentation can contribute with in terms of flavours. This is a long episode where we discuss natural processed coffees vs washed coffees, try to explain what anaerobic and carbonic macerated  coffees means and we dig in to what kind of flavours you can expect or what to watch out for in these strange and trendy coffees. 

In our 7th episode I speak with our fantastic bar manager, Stephanie Dawn Holm who has been working with us for 10 years and has been our bar manager for a very long time. Listen while we talk about how we hire, train and do our quality control in our Espresso Bar.

In this episode I am joined by my team member Marit who is one of our roasters and baristas. Marit was traveling with me to Central America in February this year where we visited Gilberto at Los Pirineos in El Salvador, Moises Herrera and Marysabel Caballero in Marcala and Jobneel at Finca Nacimiento in Santa Barbara in Honduras. Marit shares some of her experiences from her first ever visit to a coffee farm and we talk about how it is to taste coffees at origin and share some of our memories from the trip.Music by uncle Jens Wendelboe

In our fifth episode I visit famous coffee producer Gilberto Baraona on his coffee farm Los Pirineos in El Salvador. Listen in while we speak about coffee processing and also about Gilberto's farm that has been in his family for over 100 years. Gilberto will also explain how different processes like washed, natural, honey or anaerobic fermentation affect coffee flavour and how he is able to custom make different qualities of coffee for different clients. We have been buying coffees from Gilberto since 2009 but mainly the washed coffees he produces. Gilberto is not only a great producer but has become a good friend and a person that inspires me and that I respect a lot.  

In our fourth podcast episode, I am joined by our colleague Anders Fretheim who works with sales and customer support. Anders is also a barista and used to run his own coffee shop.  In this episode we discuss Espresso and why it is almost always disappointing. We share our experience on how to fix common problems to get your extractions up so that your shots starts to taste really good.This is part two of our conversation about espresso that started in episode 3. Here are some links we mention in episode 3 & 4:Chris Baca on hacking mazzer wire screensJames Hoffmann videoMatt Perger Distributing espressoMatt Perger & Refractometers

In our third podcast episode, I am joined by our colleague Anders Fretheim who works with sales and customer support. Anders is also a barista and used to run his own coffee shop.  In this episode we discuss Espresso and why it is almost always disappointing. We share our experience on how to fix common problems to get your extractions up so that your shots starts to taste really good.Here are some links we mention in episode 3 & 4:Chris Baca on hacking mazzer wire screensJames Hoffmann videoMatt Perger Distributing espressoMatt Perger & Refractometers

In our second podcast episode, I continue chatting with our roaster, trainer and overall cool guy Ben Symes. Ben recently started hosting roast workshops at our lab and roastery in Oslo, Norway and also abroad. In part two of this podcast we talk about why green coffee moisture meters are confusing, modulating roast profiles, the perfect roast curve, the importance of colour measurements and what we think is the best way to improve your roasting skills. 

In our first podcast episode, I am joined by our colleague, roaster, trainer and overall cool guy Ben Symes. Ben recently started hosting roast workshops at our lab and roastery in Oslo, Norway and also abroad. Here we discuss some of the topics we generally will teach in a roasting class.In part one we discuss the importance of green coffee quality, the secrets behind our 8 Nordic Roaster Championship victories and more. More topics will be covered in part two.