What makes a coffee special?
Specialty coffee roasters are spoiled for choice. They can easily get samples of high-quality coffees from multiple countries shipped to their address for free. If quality has become so easy to find, then makes a coffee special? For Mike Kohler, founder of Blum Kaffee in Widnau, Switzerland, it’s the relationship between his roastery and the producer.
“There are so many nice coffees you can buy! For us, the story behind it and the environmental impact come first. And secondly is quality”, he declares.
Mike represents a movement of new roasters who puts the relationship first. And this strategy seems to be paying off. The roaster has been able to serve his customers the Ethiopian coffee they fell in love with for two (soon to be three) consecutive years and to provide them more information than most roasters sourcing spot are able to. Despite haven’t had to chance to visit producers because of COVID, the material Mike shares with consumers is proof of his involvement and care. It also alludes to the roastery’s core values and strengthens its sustainability message.