From Farm to Shipment: Where Coffee begins
From Farm to Shipment: Where Coffee begins
Where our coffee’s journey begins
Before coffee leaves its origin, it goes through several crucial steps. At NKG, we are part of this journey from the very beginning: from farming and supporting producers to processing and preparing coffee for export. While we operate three farms ourselves, most of our work happens in close collaboration with millions of producers worldwide. This first part of our series takes you behind the scenes of these initial steps – and shows how much expertise and dedication is involved before coffee is shipped all around the globe.
So, in this issue, we want to open a window into this world – to share insights, stories, and perspectives from some of our committed colleagues who make it all happen.
NKG Stories from origins and beyond
After exploring the first steps of the coffee’s journey, let’s dive into what you can expect in this edition. We have packed it with insights and stories that make the beginning of the coffee supply chain tangible. You’ll find a first quick overview in Coffee Production: Facts in a Nutshell. We also have some highlights from colleagues in origin: Anna Fath takes us on a Field Trip through Peru, and Patrik Avelar from Fazenda da Lagoa shares some very special insights into the farm in our Virtual Tour, both showing how we support coffee where it grows.
Behind every step, there are passionate people, and we want to make them visible: Meet Paula Caetano from NKG Stockler, Daniel Vella from IAC Australia and Krista Maruca from NKG East Africa, who share their stories in our interviews. Also, watch out for their great gifs! 😊 Plus, don’t miss this issue’s Three by Three Questions: Roles and Impact of Women in Coffee-Producing Countries – a thought-provoking look at women’s contributions in origin countries such as Honduras and Mexico.
Finally, we explore how coffee enters the market. One must read recommendation (editor’s note): On a Coffee Auction with Jad Belmezouar – a behind-the-scenes look at the excitement and complexity of coffee auctions. What else should definitely not be missed? Of course, our popular quiz is back! Search the seedling challenges your eyes and comes with an incredibly practical prize: a multifunction tool that will be useful in many situations.
Explore the Articles from various coffee producing countries
Where to next?
To make this journey even more interactive, we’ve added a map feature as you can see above: click through the regions, see where these stories take place, and discover the articles linked to each region.
Another fantastic new feature in this issue of our MAG: You can now also listen to our articles – we have an Audio version at the end of each of them. Listen to it on the go, in your breaks or whenever you feel like it. We were supported in the creation of the audio versions by artificial intelligence.
And if you have ever caught yourself thinking: I have been working here at NKG for five years, I just cannot ask anyone “Does coffee make you addicted—or is that just a myth?” – now, this is your chance! Check out our Frequently (Un)Asked Questions on the homepage of this magazine. In case we should have missed an important question, please feel free to send it to us – no question is too silly, and we would love to hear yours. Find answers, share your thoughts, and send us what’s on your mind.
And this is just the beginning – next, we will follow our coffee across the oceans. So, stay tuned, but first of all: dive into the articles, discover insights, and enjoy reading!
“My coffee passion started here, at Stockler — I didn’t even drink coffee before!” says Paula Caetano. Growing up in Santos, where coffee has always been key, she adds: “Once you enter this world, you never want to leave.”
For Daniel Vella, coffee has always been part of his life. “Growing up in an Italian family, coffee was omnipresent,” he recalls. His professional journey began at 22 with Valcorp, then the Australian distributor of Lavazza. “That role gave me access to their barista training center and some excellent, passionate mentors – and my journey began!”
For many, coffee is a daily ritual. For others, it’s a lifelong passion. For one American now based in Nairobi, it’s both.
