Relationships are the crux of our existence in the specialty coffee industry. There must be a producer or supplier as well as a roaster or retailer and together they must do a spectacular dance in order to create the miracle of a cup of coffee. Adding to the mystic of the partnership is the distance in which is between the two. We know that travel is crucial in order to strengthen that bond and gain understanding.
It’s been our first hand experience that there are many lessons learned when we visit each other. There’s a deeper understanding using the senses - one can see, touch, and feel whats happening that’s not replicable if not in person. Throughout our careers, we’ve been blessed to build and strengthen a number of close relationships thanks to traveling, events, and the kindness of the folks in our industry.
Bags of coffee at Ogahpah
Hanging out with the Airship Crew!
It was always our dream to have our own business in coffee and while we worked in building up other companies, back in the day, we frequently thought about how we would like to invest in our teammates. Encouraging our members to travel and experience the other side of the industry was clearly a necessity. A very proud moment for us came to fruition, recently. When we were able to send our lab manager, Maria Paula who is from San Pedro de Tarrazu, to visit some of our partners on the other side.
Firstly, we feel extremely fortunate to have someone, in Maria Paula, that fits into Selva so well. It gives us even more confidence in choosing to invest and share this experience with her. We hope that through this practice Maria Paula will learn valuable lessons about what happens with our coffees when they arrive at the roastery - as well as what is required of us to deliver the best results. Maria Paula writes of her time visiting our good friends Airship and Ogahpah:
Cupping with the man, myth, legend, Mark : )
An espresso at Airship
English Translation
“During these past two weeks, I have had the experience of visiting two of our clients in the United States. It opened up a perspective that was unknown to me and made it possible to get deeper into the process of our coffees after they have been shipped and delivered to their homes.
It is very important, because in this world we are all connected by this crucial chain. The producers, doing their best work in growing and processing. Us as Selva, opening new doors and opportunities so that the world can find these incredible coffees - working rigorously on quality so that our clients, roasters, and baristas can get the best beans and can then make magic with their roasts, extractions, and special drinks.
Barista training at Airship
Shadow roasting with Airship
I also had the experience of working behind the coffee bar for the very first time. I noticed how all the customers and guests very much enjoy our coffees from Costa Rica and how they prefer them for their sweetness, complexity, and structure. This made me believe that we are doing a great job by continuing to improve each time.
This trip has me feeling very proud of our work and even more so of the renown reputation of Costa Rica coffee all over the world. So, I’m motivated to continue working with a lot of love and dedication; because I know that at the destination of these coffees there are people waiting for them and that love it and work with such passion and dedication just like us.
Hanging out with the Ogahpah Crew!
Selva bags at Ogahpah : )
During these difficult times when agriculture has been so impacted by the change in climate - this experience has motivated me even more to appreciate the labor of our producers and to continue to support them even more. This way, their projects can continue growing and their incredible coffees can arrive to more people around the world.
Those are my feelings as I leave. We are preparing for the next harvest, 21/22, with a lot of emotion and gratitude. We are anxiously awaiting new processes, relationships, and many more coffees to enjoy!”
Selva bags at Airship
Cheers, Claire : )
Original Spanish
“Las últimas dos semanas tuve la experiencia de visitar dos de nuestros clientes en los Estados Unidos, lo cual abrió un panorama desconocido para mi y tuve la posibilidad de conocer más acerca del proceso de nuestros cafés después de que son embarcados y entregados en sus distintos destinos.
Es tan importante como en este mundo todos estamos conectados por una cadena tan importante, los productores haciendo el mejor trabajo en la producción, beneficiado y procesos, nosotros en Selva Coffee abriendo puertas y oportunidades para que el mundo pueda conocer estos increíbles cafés y trabajando muy rigurosamente en la calidad para que nuestros clientes, tostadores y baristas puedan recibir el mejor grano de oro y puedan hacer magia con sus tuestes, calibraciones y distintas bebidas.
Cupping and quality control at Ogahpah
Sample roasting some bags at Ogahpah
Así también tuve la experiencia por primera vez de estar detrás de la barra de cafés y ver como todos los clientes disfrutaban tanto nuestros cafés de Costa Rica y como los prefieren por su dulzor, complejidad y estructura, esto me dirige a pensar que cada vez estamos haciendo un mejor trabajo.
Este viaje me hizo sentir muy orgullosa de nuestro trabajo y sobre todo del renombre que tiene el café de Costa Rica en todo el mundo, así como me motiva a seguir trabajando con mucho amor y dedicación porque sé que en el destino de estos cafés hay personas esperándolo y que aman esto y trabajan con tanta pasion y dedicacion como nosotros lo hacemos.
Shadow roasting at Ogahpah!
Sample analysis of coffees from other countries too
En estos tiempos difíciles donde la agricultura ha sido impactada por los cambios del medio ambiente, esta experiencia me motiva a apreciar aún más la labor de nuestros productores y a seguir apoyándolos aún más para que sus proyectos puedan seguir creciendo y estos cafés increíbles lleguen así a más personas en todo el mundo.
De esta manera me despido y nos preparamos con mucha emoción y gratitud para la cosecha 2021-2022, esperando con ansias nuevos procesos, nuevas relaciones y muchos cafés por disfrutar.”
Maria Paula Rojas - Lab Manager
Loving Ogahpah production space
Selva bags at a roastery in LA - Cognoscenti
As we have been fortunate enough to be spending some good time with a handful of our partner roasters; we’ve been noticing a common theme. They have all expressed such thankfulness for our visits and introduction into working at origin. We continue to see that roasters are diversifying their buying portfolio and looking to each country for a point of contact - rather than consolidating all their supply from very few, nearby importers. It warms our hearts to see this trend and appreciation for assisting in the new direction of working closer to origin.
All in all we are hooked on the concept of visiting each other and convinced that it elevates everyone involved. We always say that without people coffee couldn’t exist. As people we are impacted by connections with others and the relation that has with what we consume. By coming together, for even a brief amount of time, we can strengthen the bond and make coffee that much better.
Spencer showing us Selva bags at Peixoto
Visiting old coffee friends! Bulat at Mythical