Faces and portraits
Interview with Krista Maruca
Faces and portraits
Interview with Krista Maruca

For Krista Maruca, coffee is both ritual and passion. “My dad was a big black coffee drinker,” she says. “He always bought whole beans and ground them fresh for pour-over – and this was back in the 1990s in the US, when that was pretty rare.” Weekly Starbucks visits with him (hot chocolate for her) and crossword puzzles before school sealed her love for coffee: “I’ve always been a coffee person.”

Professionally, Krista’s coffee journey began in August when she joined NKG East Africa as Regional Sustainability Manager after years working with staple crops, animal feed and livestock. “I’ve felt incredibly grateful for the opportunity to transition into coffee. It’s a fascinating crop from a sustainability perspective.”

Living in Kenya brings her closer to producers. “It’s awesome to design programs and immediately exchange ideas with the people who will benefit from them,” she says. Her curiosity remains strong: “Someday, I’d love to see how coffee is produced in other origins. I’m sure it would be eye-opening to see how coffee is produced in other parts of the world, and exchange ideas for sustainability programs.”

General Info

NAME
Krista Maruca

DATE OF BIRTH
October 23

COMPANY
NKG East Africa

PLACE OF RESIDENCE
Nairobi, Kenya

POSITION/DEPARTMENT
Regional Sustainability Manager

DATE OF FIRST DAY AT NKG
August 1, 2025

How do you like to drink your coffee and in which situation?
I make an Americano at home to drink on my way to work, and have a drip coffee at the office. There’s no better way to wake up than good black coffee. On the weekends, I’ll make a homemade oat milk latte or have a cortado at a nice coffee shop. I even brought my espresso machine from the US, it’s a must-have!

What makes you laugh a lot?
My kids are hilarious – I have two boys, aged 3 and 6, and they’re so silly. My oldest often gets in a mood where he tries to see how hard he can make his little brother laugh, usually with slapstick humor. It gets us all going!

Do you have any hidden skill nobody expects you to have?
I speak fluent Arabic with a strong Moroccan accent, since I lived there for several years as a Peace Corps volunteer, which always surprises people. I also worked for a year when I was in my 20s as a baker, decorating cupcakes and making French macarons – we even won the Food Network’s cupcake wars while I was there. So people are always surprised that my baked goods are homemade, they often look like they’re from a shop.

What was your most beautiful moment during a visit to a coffee farm?
Coffee is grown in the most beautiful places in this part of the world – up in the mountains, often near forests. It’s always a nice trip!

What small changes in everyday life do you believe can have a big impact?
Checking in with someone, even just a quick WhatsApp message, can really be impactful. It shows thoughtfulness and gives a moment of connection, even if you don’t see them in person often.

five things you like

Dark beer

A good camembert cheese

Karura Forest (in Nairobi)

Podcasts

Arts and crafts with kids

.gif us an answer

How are you feeling?

How do you show “I need coffee” without using words?

What's your go-to dance move when you're feeling happy or excited?

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