Andreas Tischendorf, Col Spirit

Role(s): Co-Founder
Location: Germany and Colombia
What he drinks: V60 Filter Coffee
Find Online: https://www.col-spirit.com/ • https://www.instagram.com/col_spirit_/

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When his partner, Maria Mercedes Grajales, was tasked with the challenge of future planning for an inherited coffee farm near Quindío, Colombia, there was more than one path that could have been pursued. Like many small family farms, they could have sold off the land, taken the money, and walked away.

Instead, they decided to continue the legacy of coffee growing. There was just one problem. How would they get the coffee out to a specialty audience who would appreciate the story, the quality, and the work that was going into developing a higher quality coffee?

Together, they launched Col Spirt, a specialty coffee exporting company focused on coffees from Colombia. The first shipment across the Atlantic to Andreas' home city near Frankfurt, Germany was less than a full container. It was an inauspicious beginning. They faced challenges from the jump. The shipment was (temporarily) lost at sea when the shipping company they contracted went bankrupt. It took weeks to locate. When it finally arrived, Andreas and his brother unloaded it alone.

But they pushed forward. Maria and Andreas were separated for long periods. She was working to develop and update the farm. He was finding buyers for their coffee in Europe, but without the benefit of a track record or client list. It was a lot of door-to-door work, all while still working in his family business.

Somehow, they pulled it off. The word got out, and they've gone on to start exporting coffee from a curated list of small specialty Colombian coffee farms. Col Spirit now exports and imports coffee all over the world. They are passionate about traceability. They are involved with the coffee from the farms to the mill to the roaster's doorstep. As farmers' first, they know the challenges facing their farm clients. They've been there. They also have an origin trip program and have begun expanding their farm offerings to include cacao.

EARTHQUAKE

On August 10th, a M_w 7.4–7.5* earthquake struck the department of Chocó in Colombia. At least 335 people lost their lives, thousands were injured, and hundreds are still missing. The damage was drastic. Recovery efforts are ongoing.

Maria Grajales, Co-Founder of Col Spirit, launched a GoFundMe to support coffee farmers impacted in the region.

Click to support the GoFundMe.

*Image ©Michigan Tech School of Engineering website

INTRODUCING MARIA

Maria Jose Hoyos is the reason we had the opportunity to sit with the team from Col Spirit (also shout out to David). Her passion and care for the company came through in every e-mail. Once it was determined they'd be in the Portland area for Roast Summit, it was a no brainer to meet in-person for a cup of coffee.

He estado practicando cómo hablar español. Espero mejorar pronto. Pedí ayuda para escribir esta oración.

COFFEE SMARTER: REDUCING WASTE ROASTER EDITION

I asked a question on social the other day: How can a roaster reduce waste during the roasting process. Some insights have already rolled in.

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