Our origin
*
Our origin *
What would be the result of blending a Brazilian (Paulistana) and a Colombian (Rolo) Naturals? Well, besides two lovely children, we are the founders of Coffea Espression – the realisation of a family dream.
We have dedicated a significant portion of our professional lives to academia. It was back in 2010 at the University of São Paulo (Brazil) where we first met. Surrounded by a white atmosphere of biologists, cells, and chemicals, a life in a lab has been instrumental in shaping our destiny, forging excellent friends, and building the family we have now. We are deeply grateful to science.
In 2019, we decided to move from the warm and remote southern part of the US (Georgia) to the northern and chillier, but lovely medieval town of Durham, UK. Here, while Brian was working on a project about nucleotides in parasites, he ended up testing the action of caffeine (a nucleobase) on the sensory response of a disease-causing parasite. Brian’s curiosity about this molecule led him to delve deeper until he tasted it in its pure form and noted how bitter it is. But perhaps the more intriguing aspect was the learning that in coffee, sweetness perception does not necessarily mean sugar content, and amino acids are key to enhancing or ruining a cup of coffee. This was a striking realisation since Brian’s PhD work was about amino acid metabolism, but it was the perfect trigger to take the idea of embedding in the coffee enterprise more closely. Then, Brian’s focused on roasting science and put the hands on as a home roaster.
Flavia, on the other hand, has always been fascinated by the life science. Following a decade immersed in the intricacies of parasite biology, her life began to alternate between the laboratories and motherhood. It was during this juncture that Flavia realised that reigniting a desire initiated in Brazil could not only be an opportunity to continue exploring her passion for biology while working with this natural product but also to establish something familiar and more stable for her and her family.
Now, we have decided to join the Coffea family from a different angle. Coffea is the name given to the plant species that produce coffee. And coming from two of the major producers of these seeds globally, we will combine our knowledge about coffee and professional experiences to express ourselves in a coffee bean.
Our mission
Coffea Espression’s mission lays its ground in three core principles (QAS)
** QUALITY **
Our coffees are carefully sourced by Brazilian and Colombian farmers.
We have set our minimal standards through custom cultivation, harvesting, and processing methods.
The coffee beans undergo careful sample roasting, tasting, profiling, and scaling.
Aroma and flavour are key attributes of our beans.
We ensure ideal storage and roasting conditions for freshly roasted, small-batch coffee.
Quality defines us as more than just a 'Speciality Coffee' supplier.
** ACCESSIBILITY **
While coffee prices are influenced by the international market, we take pride in our direct trading relationships with most of our suppliers.
Direct trading enables producers to access international markets despite barriers like language and export logistics.
We aim to build a community that accesses unique coffee affordably.
As academics, we value knowledge without complicating coffee appreciation. Enjoying coffee and maximizing each sip is crucial. We'll use our platforms to highlight the intricacies of the coffee supply chain, processing, and brewing.
** SUSTAINABILITY **
We aim to build a sustainable business, addressing global challenges with actions that extend beyond delivering beans.
Our workflow reduces carbon footprint by: using energy-efficient roasting machines, fully recyclable packaging and cups, and allocating e-commerce revenue to an international climate change fund.
The coffee we source generates two by-products for downstream applications:
Chaff: This nitrogen-rich by-product from roasting is available locally for gardening. Contact us if you’d like some for home use.
Coffee Grounds: We aim to partner with a company to collect and recycle used coffee grounds for repurposing.
Vision
Source coffees primarily from two remarkable Latin American countries that we take immense pride in and hold dear for those who enjoy morning caffine shots, espresso-based beverages, or has a delicate palate
Distinct profiles, origins, and processsing techniques will ensure each member of the Coffea family can discover their favourite brew.
We aim to showcase the best of Colombia. Although the country and its diaspora bear the burden of the country's dark history, we want to ensure that there are many other positive reasons to talk about this country, and certainly, coffee plays a significant role.