Tim Wendelboe Podcast

Episode 29 - Three star coffee service: Coffee at restaurant Noma with Carolyne Lane

In this episode, I'm joined by Carolyne Lane, one of the driving forces behind restaurant Noma's celebrated tea and coffee programme. Having honed her skills over 5 years at Noma, Carolyne provides an in-depth look into the meticulous approach that defines Noma's unique coffee service.

We delve into how Noma, one of the worlds most renowned restaurants, has changed how they prepare and serve coffee since their beginning, and discuss the new brewing method we developed with them that was recently introduced in their service. 

Tune in and listen as we discuss the fundamental distinction between a restaurant serving coffee and a coffee shop serving food. We further contemplate the importance of context in the coffee experience; is it solely about the most pronounced flavours, or can subtlety and body be equally impactful? Wrapping up our conversation, we address the much-speculated topic of Noma's future. Join us for this insightful exploration into the intricacies of quality coffee within the setting of one of the world's most esteemed restaurants.

Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

Episode 28 - Jens Wendelboe: Mastering the Symphony of Success

This episode takes a detour from our usual discussions about coffee, but trust me, it’s a conversation you won't want to miss. I’m absolutely thrilled to introduce you to a guest who has shaped my life in countless ways: my Uncle Jens Wendelboe. An accomplished composer, conductor, and musician, Jens is not just family, but an inspiring role model in brand building, career development, and a whole lot more.

In our conversation, we delve into the essence of building a successful career, navigating the challenges, and the rewarding experiences that come along the way. From his amazing experiences working with music legend Donna Summer, to an unforgettable encounter with Neil Armstrong, Jens takes us on a journey of discovery. We'll also discuss why sometimes, not saying no can open doors, the importance of quality control in any industry, and how I’ve applied these principles when setting up my own coffee business.

You can learn more about Jens on Spotify here and on YouTube here.

Episode 27 - Meet The Producer - Caballero Farm’s Marysabel Caballero and Moises Herrera, Part 2

Delighted to welcome you back to Part Two of my in-depth chat with the visionary behind the Caballero coffee farms, Moises Herrera. This episode holds an extra special treat as we are also joined by Moises' wife, Marysabel Caballero, a third-generation coffee farmer and a vital pillar of the Caballero enterprise.

In this episode, we retrace the steps that Marysabel and Moises took when they first embarked on their coffee journey. We explore their passionate resolve that saw them through a trying period in the early 2000s, where they nearly lost their farm and business.

Join us as we discuss their ascension to the coveted 'Cup of Excellence,' and analyse how this recognition has transformed their business and made a broader impact on the world of coffee. Learn straight from them the immeasurable value they place on hard work and loyalty, not only as the cornerstones of business success but as key ingredients to a fulfilling life.

During our conversation, the couple paints a vibrant picture of their business ethics, sharing the profound importance they place on relationships - with customers and farmworkers alike. They offer an intimate look into their daily operations, their diverse coffee offerings, their meticulous processing methods, and their incessant strive to elevate their craft every passing year. We also learn about their philosophy that the way forward for their farms are deeply embedded in its rich past.

Packed with enlightening narratives and insights, this episode is an intriguing story of the hard work and visionary thinking that animate the Caballero family's coffee farms.

You can learn more about the Caballero farm, on our website here.

Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

Episode 26 - Meet The Producer - Caballero Farm’s Moises Herrera, Part 1

In this episode, I’m delighted to welcome a dear friend and esteemed coffee producer of the Caballero coffees in Honduras, mr. Moises Herrera.

Moises is part of a family that has helped shape the high-quality coffee production industry in Honduras, and his stories and experiences are nothing short of inspiring.

We journey through Moises’ own history in coffee, recalling when our paths first intersected. Our conversation takes us through the colourful spectrum of coffee varieties and on the unique challenges and rewards associated with each type.

As we discuss labour dynamics, you’ll hear about Moises’ commitment to fair wages and profit-sharing – a testament to his belief in the value of every hand that helps create his product. We’ll also delve into a transformative drying experiment we conducted together, and you’ll hear Moises’ perspective on the trend of ‘Funky Coffees.’ This is an episode rich with the passion and complexity that drives the world of coffee production.

You can learn more about the Caballero farm, on our website here.

Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

Episode 25 - Meet The Producer - A conversation with Diego Baraona at Los Pirineos

In this episode, I am joined by Diego Baraona on his farm Los Pirineos in El Salvador.

I have been working with the Baraona family for many years. In 2020 our dear friend, pioneering coffee producer Gilberto Baraona sadly passed away. During his time leading Los Pirineos, Gilberto transformed his farm from being an average farm to becoming one of the most spectacular farms in Central-America. Following his passing, Gilberto's son Diego took over the running of the farm and today is continuing his fathers legacy.

In this wide-ranging conversation with Diego, we discuss our long-standing relationship, the different processes that Diego and his team manage on the farm, the challenges and opportunities of running a coffee farm in 2023 and more.

You can learn more about the Los Pirineos farm, on our website here.

Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

Episode 24 - Coffee in Kenya - A conversation with Morten Wennersgaard

In this episode, I am joined once again by my good friend Morten Wennersgaard. Morten is one of the founders of Norwegian green coffee import company, Nordic Approach. He has been buying coffee in Kenya for a long time and even lived in Kenya for a small period when he started his company.

Our conversation this time focuses on Kenyan coffee, how it is grown and sold. We have both recently been in Kenya for the latest buying season and through our long running experience in working with Kenyan producers, we try to break down the ins and outs of coffee in Kenya.

Tune in and listen to Morten and I discuss how Kenyan coffee is grown and traded and find out why these coffees are our all time favourites.

Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

Episode 23 - Sustainability in coffee — A conversation with Anja Bakken Riise

In this episode, I speak with Anja Bakken Riise, who is the president of Norwegian environmental and solidarity organisation Framtiden i våre hender (The future in our hands).

The organisation, which now has over 45,000 members, has been instrumental in promoting sustainability in Norway. Recent achievements include helping the Transparency Act come into effect; a law giving consumers the right to know how over 9,000 Norwegian companies safeguard human rights and ensure decent working conditions within their supply chains.

Anja and I have a wide-ranging conversation about coffee and sustainability, a subject that I believe is such an important topic in our industry and one that touches everybody, from farmer to consumer.

You can learn more about Anja by connecting with her on Instagram and about Fremtiden i våre hender on their website here.

Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

Episode 22 - 2022 - A Coffee Year in Review

In this episode I’m joined by our wholesale manager Ben Symes.

For our final episode of the year, we’re reviewing the highlights of the past 12 months, in both our business and the wider coffee industry. 

We discuss how our company has grown and evolved in the past year, my farm Finca el Suelo’s recent second harvest and plans for the project in 2023 and take a look back at this year's coffees.

We also cover changing coffee prices, organic farming and our 15th anniversary which we celebrated earlier this year. Brew yourself a coffee and enjoy our reflections as we approach the end of 2022.

Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

Episode 21 - A conversation about our coffee farm Finca el Suelo

In this special episode, Tim swaps seats and becomes a guest on the show, handing over hosting duties to our customer service consultant, Sebastian Dyrdal.

To celebrate the launch of its second harvest, Sebastian and Tim talk about Tim's coffee farm project, Finca el Suelo.

Finca el Suelo is a 7 hectare farm located in El Vegon, in the municipality of El Pital in Huila, Colombia. Tim's goal with the project is to figure out how to raise coffee quality and increase production with regenerative biological farming practices, and hopefully inspire other farmers to do the same.

Listen to the full episode to learn about the work being done at the farm, gain an understanding of the project's background and why Tim is working there, along with what the future holds at Finca el Suelo.

Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

Episode 20 - What Does a Coffee Importer Do? A conversation with Morten Wennersgaard

In this episode, I speak with Morten Wennersgaard, who is one of the founders of the Norwegian green coffee import company, Nordic Approach.

Morten and I have been good friends for many years, and we have collaborated on a number of interesting projects, including Nordic Approach.

Our main focus in this conversation, is about how a coffee importer works, and how green coffee is bought and sold. Morten explains how Nordic Approach came to be and how they help roasters all over the world, by working at origin where it can be difficult for small roasteries to operate. He explains their work processes and how they ensure that roasteries, regardless of their size or quantity requirements, can be sure that the green coffee they are buying has a guarantee of both quality and transparency.

Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.