Green Coffee Sourcing – Our Commitment to Quality, Sustainability & Direct Relationships

At the heart of our coffee philosophy lies a deep commitment to sourcing exceptional green coffee that meets the highest standards of specialty coffee quality. To be classified as specialty grade, green coffee must score 80 points or above on the SCA cupping scale, as assessed by a certified Q Grader. This standard ensures every bean we roast offers distinctive clarity, character, and flavor complexity.

What Makes Specialty Coffee Different?

Specialty coffee is grown with a focus on quality from seed to cup. Cultivated in high-altitude regions—typically above 1,000 meters—these beans benefit from cooler temperatures, slower cherry development, and optimal shade and soil conditions. Most are hand-picked, often in multiple passes through the same trees, to ensure only the ripest cherries are selected. This labor-intensive process results in superior flavor and consistency.

Farmers and producers committed to these methods are rewarded with premium prices, which support both quality-driven farming and sustainable livelihoods. 

A Global Search for Diversity in Flavor
We’re continuously exploring coffee-growing regions around the world to source distinctive green coffees that expand the flavor spectrum we can offer our customers. We place great importance on the terroir, altitude, processing method, and varietal, carefully selecting each bean for its potential to bring something unique to the cup.

For us, green coffee sourcing is abou celebrating diversity—finding flavor profiles that reflect the environment and culture from which they come, and matching them to what our customers love and appreciate. 

Our Green Coffee Evaluation Process
Every green coffee we consider goes through a rigorous evaluation process:

• Visual grading for defects and consistency
• Moisture content analysis to ensure proper storage and optimal roast results (target range: 10–12%)
• Cupping to assess key sensory attributes like acidity, body, aroma, flavor, aftertaste, and natural sweetness 

We reject any sample that shows negative traits, and fine-tune our roast profiles only when the cup quality excites us. This iterative cupping and profiling process allows us to bring out the best in every bean and maintain flavor consistency and quality across batches.

Long-Term Partnerships Rooted in Shared Values
We believe that excellent coffee starts with trust and mutual respect. That’s why we prioritize long-term sourcing relationships with farmers, cooperatives, and exporters who share our commitment to ethical practices, quality craftsmanship, and environmental sustainability. 

We seek out partners who:

• Are passionate about growing exceptional coffee
• Operate with integrity and fairness
• Practice sustainable agriculture
• Reinvest in their local communities

These shared values create meaningful, resilient partnerships that benefit everyone across the supply chain—from farm to cup.

Expanding Our Impact from Hamburg to Origin
Since opening our roasting facility in Hamburg-Mitte, we've steadily increased our production volumes with a clear purpose: to take our role as a roaster beyond buying coffee—to becoming a direct partner in the coffee’s journey from origin to cup.

This growth allows us to support producers more effectively and begin collaborating directly with farmers to improve quality at the source. Over the past year, we've started building strong relationships with like-minded producers who value transparency, sustainability, and quality as much as we do.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to take the next step—visiting these farms ourselves. These trips will allow us to deepen our understanding of their work, share knowledge, and build lasting relationships rooted in trust and shared vision.