Tim Wendelboe Podcast

timwendelboe

A podcast by award winning roaster and 2004 World Barista Champion, Tim Wendelboe

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20 episodes
Updated June 5

Episodes20

Newest first

June 5 · 1 hr
Episode 56: Evolution, Genetics, and the Future of Coffee – A Conversation with Professor Andreas Tribsch.
In this episode, Tim speaks with Andreas Tribsch, a Professor of Botany at the University of Salzburg. Andreas brings a unique perspective as both an expert in plant evolution and a partner in an Austrian coffee shop, offering insights into the coffee plant from a biological and systematic viewpoint. We dive deep into the history of coffee, discussing how Coffea Arabica evolved as a coffee species in the highlands of Ethiopia roughly 350,000 - 600,000 years ago. Andreas explains the genetic complexity of Arabica, being the only tetraploid species in the coffee family, and how its narrow genetic base makes it both unique and vulnerable compared to other domesticated crops. Our conversation also covers the potential impacts of climate change on wild coffee populations, and the biological importance of diversification on coffee estates to ensure long-term resilience. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
May 21 · 54 min
Episode 55: Ranked No. 2 in the World – Exceeding Guest Expectations with Stephanie Dawn Holm
In this episode, I return to our Oslo studio to welcome back a very special guest: Stephanie, our Espresso Bar Manager, who has been an essential part of Tim Wendelboe for 15 years. As the person responsible for training our baristas and overseeing the daily operations of the espressobar, Stephanie is the heartbeat of our retail experience. We discuss the impact of being ranked 2nd in the world on the 2026 "The Worlds 100 Best Coffee Shops" list, a recognition that has brought a surge of tourists and high expectations to our 50-square-meter space. Stephanie explains her philosophy on hospitality. While she always strives to make every coffee an exceptional one, her main goal is to make every guest feel seen and comfortable, as if they are entering her "living room". Looking ahead, Stephanie and I discuss the challenge of maintaining our quality while managing long lines and trying to live up to our guests expectations. For us, success isn't about opening more locations, it is about perfecting the one we have and ensuring that every cup remains a true reflection of the farm it came from. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
April 28 · 15 min
Episode 54 - The Future of Honduran Coffee: The Biofilia Transition - A conversation with Benjamin Paz
In this episode, I am back in Santa Bárbara, Honduras, to sit down with Benjamín Paz. Benjamín is a key collaborator in our Biofilia Project, an initiative focused on improving coffee production through biological techniques that restore the natural balance of the environment. We discuss Benjamín’s decision to transition his entire farm to the Biofilia system, moving away from the traditional reliance on synthetic NPK fertilizers and fungicides. This shift was inspired by the need for long-term sustainability and the success of similar regenerative practices seen in other world-class farms. Benjamín shares the early results of this transition, noting that while some sun-exposed varieties have struggled with coffee leaf rust, others like Parainema and Geisha have shown incredible resilience and immediate improvements in cup quality. We emphasize that this is a holistic process requiring a "mental shift" and the reintroduction of shade trees to protect the plants and soil. Looking ahead, the goal is to replicate these results across more farms in the region. Benjamín is planning to host workshops for other producers to demonstrate how reducing chemical dependency can lower production costs and secure the future of Honduran coffee. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
April 14 · 33 min
Episode 53 - Adapting coffee farms to prepare for the future – A Conversation with Moises Herrera from Finca el Puente
In this episode, I am in Marcala, Honduras, visiting Finca El Puente to sit down with Moises Herrera. Moises and his wife, Marysabel Caballero, are world-renowned producers we have worked with since 2010. Their operation is incredibly professional, as they manage every step of the process, from the seed to the final export bag, through their own wet and dry mills. In our conversation, Moises shares the harsh realities of the last two harvests. The 2025 crop was severely affected by frost, which damaged about 50% of the coffee of some farms and forced them to sort the beans up to ten times to maintain quality. We also discuss the first year of our TW Biological Project on their land. Moises explains the mental shift required to move away from farming with agro-chemicals and synthetic fertilizers toward biological solutions working with shade trees and soil micro organisms. Looking ahead, Moises and Marysabel are focusing on consolidating their cultivars and increasing shade tree populations on their farms. They are now planting around 10,000 shade trees per year to protect the coffee from stress and support local wildlife. A process that requires patience but is necessary for the future of their farms. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
March 24 · 26 min
Episode 52 - Transitioning to Biological Farming – A Conversation with Diego Baraona
In this episode, I travel to the top of the Tecapa volcano in El Salvador to sit down with Diego Baraona, a fifth-generation coffee producer and the owner of Los Pirineos farm. Diego took over the family business in 2020 after his father passed away and he has since become a vital partner in our mission to produce more resilient and mindful coffee. In our conversation, we focus on the progress of the TW Biological Project, an initiative we launched together in 2023 with the goal of transitioning his farming practices toward a regenerative model over a ten-year period. Diego explains how he has managed to drastically reduce his reliance on chemical fertilizers and herbicides, cutting his annual input costs from nearly $100,000 down to just $12,000. This was achieved by building aerobic bioreactors to grow beneficial microorganisms and fungi, such as mycorrhizae, to restore the natural biology of the soil. We discuss the critical role of shade trees, the use of traditional varieties like Pacamara and Bourbon, and his recent experimentation with new genetics like Geisha from Malawi and Arara from Brazil. Beyond the technical information, Diego reflects on the shift in mindset required to be a modern producer: having the patience to let the ecosystem heal and the desire to create a farm that is not only a source of high-quality coffee, but a thriving home for local biodiversity. His optimism after seeing the first visual improvements on the farm is a promising sign that the path toward regenerative agriculture is the right one for the future of specialty coffee. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
February 11 · 40 min
Episode 51 - Purchasing coffees in Kenya - Live from the cupping lab
This episode was recorded "live" from the C. Dorman cupping lab while Tim was in Kenya in January in order to taste and select coffees for purchasing. Like many of our listeners and followers already know, we prefer to work directly with farmers over years in order to improve the quality of their coffees and their farms. Due to how the Kenyan coffee industry is organised, it is the only origin we buy from where we do not have a direct relationship with a single farmer. This is because the majority of the best coffees are coming from smallholder farmers who sell their coffee cherries to co-operatives, where the coffees are bulked together for processing and drying. Buying coffees in Kenya is therefore a bit different to what we are used to and Tim visits Kenya on an annual basis in order to taste through hundreds of coffee samples to make his selection every year. Listen in on Tim's thoughts around Kenyan coffee quality and how he approaches buying coffees in Kenya.
Dec 29, 2025 · 1 hr 40 min
Episode 50 - 2025 – A Coffee Year in Review
As the year comes to a close, I sit down with Ben Symes, our wholesale manager, to reflect on 2025 and look back on what has made this year special. In this episode, we talk about the farms we work with around the world, reflect on the 2025 harvests, the coffees that stood out to us, and the relationships we continue to build with the people who produce our coffees. We also share highlights from our projects this year, including our biological farming initiative, producing long-format films from the farms, and following the achievements of our team. Alongside the farms, we look back on experiences that made 2025 memorable: being recognized 5th on the 100 Best Coffee Shops list, celebrating Stephanie’s 15-year anniversary and Ben’s 10 years with the company, traveling to inspiring coffee events and destinations, and, for the third year in a row, receiving the Sprudgie Award for Best Coffee Podcast, an achievement we are truly grateful for and could not have done without the support of our listeners. Above all, we want to thank you for supporting us. Every day we strive to make the coffees we roast and share as good as they can be, and we look forward to sharing more great coffee experiences with you in 2026.
Dec 22, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
Episode 49 - A Deep Dive into ROEST and Modern Roasting Technology with Tom Hopkinson - Part 2
In this second episode with Tom Hopkinson, Head of Coffee and Customer Success at ROEST, we continue our conversation about roasting, technology, and the development of modern sample roasters. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, we recommend starting there to get the full story of Tom’s background and the origins of our collaboration with ROEST. In Part 2, we dive deeper into how roasting practices have evolved, the challenges and possibilities of automation, and the way ROEST approaches innovation in both hardware and software. Tom shares his perspective on where roasting technology is heading, what roasters still misunderstand, and how better tools can lead to better coffee. Tune in if you are interested in roasting, sample roasters, and the future of coffee technology. Learn more about ROEST on their website here: https://www.roestcoffee.com/ Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
Dec 10, 2025 · 1 hr 14 min
Episode 48 - A Deep Dive into ROEST and Modern Roasting Technology with Tom Hopkinson - Part 1
In this first of two episodes, I sit down with Tom Hopkinson, Head of Coffee and Customer Success at ROEST, and dive deep in to coffee roasting. Tom found his way into coffee by opening a café with no experience at all. The café lasted less than a year, but his fascination for coffee only grew. He went on to work at Prufrock, where he learned the fundamentals of coffee, before moving to Dublin to focus on roasting. Later, he continued his journey in Berlin, working with The Barn and Five Elephant, and writing courses and educational content for Barista Hustle. Two years ago, Tom decided to settle down and moved to Norway to join ROEST. My collaboration with ROEST began about 12 years ago, when one of the founders, Sverre, presented his master thesis to me and Morten Wennersgaard (of Nordic Approach.) Sverre's goal was to develop a 1 kg home roaster, but both Morten and I did not see a commercial need for a roaster like that. At the time, we were both frustrated with the limitations of the traditional sample roasters in the market and wanted to contribute to the development of something better. We therefore recommended Sverre to develop a modern sample roaster. Some years later the p100 sample roaster was launched in the market and it has been a huge success ever since. In this episode, Tom and I talk about how the ROEST sample roasters have evolved from those early prototypes to what they are today. We discuss the technological improvements, the shift from manual to more automated processes, and how these innovations have made consistency in roasting more achievable than ever before. Tom also shares his perspective on what sets ROEST apart from other sample roasters and how the company has helped influence the wider roasting industry. Tune in if you are interested in roasting, roaster technology, and the thinking behind one of the most influential sample roasters in today’s coffee world. This is Part 1 of 2, and Part 2 is coming soon. Learn more about ROEST on their website here: https://www.roestcoffee.com/ Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
Oct 27, 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
Episode 47 - Connecting Farmers with Roasters – A Conversation with Benjamin Paz
In this episode, I sit down with Benjamin Paz, a coffee producer from Santa Bárbara, Honduras, and one of the key people behind San Vicente, a coffee exporting company working with over 600 producers in Honduras. His role is to connect producers with buyers, helping to build lasting and healthy relationships that allow both farmers and roasters to grow together. Benjamin’s family has been in coffee since the 1950s, but it was through the Cup of Excellence that they became closely tied to the specialty coffee world. He has since won the competition twice himself, in 2022 and 2024, and continues to inspire producers with his belief that hard work makes anything possible. In our conversation, Benjamin talks about the challenges producers are facing today, from unpredictable weather to pests appearing in new areas, and the importance of keeping workers in the country to secure the future of coffee production. He explains the role of the “middleman” in specialty coffee – helping farmers improve their processing, define a strategy for their farms, and find long-term buyers. Benjamin also shares his personal reasons for buying his own farm, running a coffee shop, and starting a roastery – to truly understand the producers’ perspective and to bring the benefits back to the community. Looking ahead, Benjamin is also part of our TW Biological Project and our ten-year plan to transition all the farms we work with towards regenerative agriculture. His farm is one of the pilot sites where we are already seeing promising results: reduced costs, renewed excitement among workers, and a clearer picture of what the land needs in terms of shade trees and biodiversity. With Benjamin’s involvement, we hope this knowledge can spread further in Santa Bárbara, creating a stronger and more sustainable coffee community. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
Sep 26, 2025 · 49 min
Episode 46 - The Next Generation of Coffee - A Conversation with Yurany Roa Sanchez
In this episode, I sit down with Yurany Roa Sanchez, the daughter of Elias Roa and Bellanid Sanchez, the owners of Finca Tamana in Colombia. She grew up surrounded by coffee, first on her parents’ original farm in Acevedo and later at Finca Tamana in Pital, Huila. Now 26 years old, Yurany has a degree in International Business and although her original plan was not to work with coffee, she eventually changed her mind. Today, she manages her own farm while also helping her parents at Finca Tamana and assisting me with my farm, Finca el Suelo, which is located right next to theirs. To manage Finca el Suelo, Yurany works closely with Lalo Perez Varona and Ana Tejedo from Biofilia, who has been supporting us with knowhow since March this year. In this episode, we talk about what Yurani have done so far, the challenges she has faced in coffee production this year – such as finding enough workers during harvest – and her ambitions for the future. Yurany also shares her pride in her parents and their constant drive to improve and develop, as well as her own plans for her farm, Finca Tamana, and Finca el Suelo. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
Jul 24, 2025 · 1 hr 23 min
Episode 45 - Behind the Camera - A Conversation with Håkon Rydningen from Rammelaus
In this episode, I talk with Håkon Rydningen, filmmaker and founder of Rammelaus. We have had the pleasure of working with Håkon for the past five years – he is the person behind many of our videos, including the subscription videos. In 2023, Håkon travelled with me to Finca Tamana in Colombia to film the daily life on the farm and document all the work we have done with Elias and Bellanid over the years. Earlier this year, he also joined me on my annual trip to Honduras and El Salvador, where he filmed at Los Pirineos, Finca el Puente and Finca Nacimiento. In this episode we talk about Håkon’s background in film and photography, his relationship with coffee. Håkon has been a coffee enthusiast for quite some time which opens up for a conversation about what he knew about coffee before we started working together, and what his experience with coffee is today after seeing how coffee is produced. Håkon shares his thoughts on what it was like to be a “fly on the wall” during our trips to origin and how spending time on coffee farms changed his perspective on what quality coffee really means. We also talk about the similarities between filmmaking and coffee production, what Håkon has learned along the way, and how he now views the work we do at origin. If you have not yet seen the videos from Finca Tamana or Los Pirineos, you can find them on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@TimWendelboeCoffee Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
Jun 26, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
Episode 44 - Norwegian Cup Taster Champion: A Conversation with Damian Bialek
In this episode, I sit down with Damian from our team, who became the Norwegian Cup Tasters Champion in March this year. Damian works both as a barista in our espresso bar and as a roaster in our roastery, and he has been part of the team since 2023. We talk about his journey into coffee, how he ended up working with us, and what it is like to work in Norway compared to his previous jobs. We also discuss how he brews coffee at home, what motivates him to keep learning, and how he approaches tasting and quality control in his daily work. As part of his prize for winning the national championship, Damian travelled to Honduras to take part as a judge in the Cup of Excellence – a competition for high-quality coffees. He shares his impressions from visiting coffee farms for the first time, what he learned from producers like Jobneel, and how seeing the production side of coffee has shaped his perspective. This week, Damian will represent Norway in the World Cup Tasters Championship in Geneva. We talk about his goals for the competition, how he has been preparing, and what he has learned about himself through the process. Music by my uncle, Jens Wendelboe.
Apr 16, 2025 · 1 hr 23 min
Episode 43 - Why is regenerative coffee farming the future? A conversation with Lalo Perez from Biofilia
In this episode, I sit down with Lalo Perez to talk about biological agriculture and how it differs from conventional coffee farming. Lalo begins by sharing his background in coffee, and how a frustrating remark, that there is no good coffee from Mexico, sparked his journey into biological agriculture and led to the founding of his company, Biofilia. We discuss what biological agriculture actually means, why it is needed, and how coffee farming must evolve in response to climate change. Lalo explains how farmers can make the shift in a practical and meaningful way, with a strong focus on bringing life back into the soil. We also speak about the commitment I have made to the farmers we work with: within ten years, all the coffee I purchase must be grown biologically without the use of harmful fertilizers and agrochemicals. All of them have agreed to take part in this transition, and we have launched pilot trials on six farms as part of what we call the "TW Biological Project". In these trials, we compare biological and conventional farming practices side by side in order to assess their impact over a three-year period. Lalo and his team at Biofilia are key partners in this project, and we are working closely with them to implement trials on all the farms we collaborate with. We talk about the changes we hope to see, and how we are working together to reach our long-term goals. Music by my uncle, Jens Wendelboe.
Apr 11, 2025 · 1 hr 14 min
Episode 42 - Our 10-Year Plan for Regenerative Coffee Farming - A Conversation with Maren Myhre Gullvik
The biggest project we are working on right now is what we call our "TW Biological Project". Our goal is that all the farms we buy from in 10 years will be practising regenerative and biological farming. We are currently testing this on six farms in latin-America, where we are comparing biological farming techniquea to how they are currently working (conventional farming) on two similar areas of each farm to see what the results will be within three years. We are discussing the results we expect and how we plan to work to reach our goal. In this episode, I sit down with Maren from our team. Maren has worked with us since 2021, having previously worked as both a barista and a coffee roaster, before moving to Italy to complete her Master's degree in local development. She has now finished her degree and is currently our project coordinator for sustainability. She is leading the development of our sustainability strategy and works closely with me and the farmers we buy from. We talk about regenerative agriculture, what it means and why it could be the future of coffee. We discuss topics such as biological farming vs conventional farming, sustainable consumption, greenwashing, certifications in coffee, climate change effects , and labour on coffee farms. One of Maren's main focus right now is EUDR (European Union Deforestation Regulation). The main objective of the regulation is to uncover potential cases of deforestation related to coffee production, and end the supply of products on the European market that has contributed to deforestation. We need to map and have an overview of the farms we work with to verify whether or not deforestation or forest degradation has taken place, which is a lot of work – even for us, as we only work with a handful of coffee farmers. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
Feb 5, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
Episode 41 - Coffee in Kenya - A conversation with Stephen Vick
In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Stephen Vick during my recent visit to Kenya. Stephen shares his journey in the coffee industry, which began in Oregon, USA, and has since brought him to Kenya. Together, we reflect on how the industry has evolved over the more than twenty years we have both been a part of it. Stephen works for the Danish Coop, a grocery store chain in Scandinavia. He oversees their roasting and export of roasted coffee from Kenya to Scandinavia. He explains how his work in Kenya operates and the impact of exporting roasted coffee as opposed to unroasted coffee makes locally. We talk about the supportive barista community in Nairobi, where sharing knowledge has become more common and important for growth. We also discuss robusta coffee and the increasing interest in experimenting with new cultivars. Additionally, we talk about the rise of organically certified coffees in Kenya, which is still relatively rare but showing promising growth. Finally, Stephen shares what excites him most about the future of Kenyan coffee and the local coffee community. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
Dec 23, 2024 · 1 hr 21 min
Episode 40 - 2024 - A Coffee Year in Review
In this episode, I sit down with Ben Symes, our wholesale manager, to reflect on the highlights of 2024. We discuss our favourite coffees of the year, including the washed coffee from Tatmara and the Java from Finca Tamana, as well as developments on the farms we work with. Tim also shares insights from the farmer symposium he held in Honduras and our plans to help convert all the farms we work with to biological farming practices. This year brought many memorable experiences, such as time spent in Kenya with Klaus Thomsen, our pop-up at the Coffee Collective in Denmark, the Ljubljana Coffee Festival with James Hoffmann, and a special dinner at Noma to mark the close of our chapter with them. Being recognised as the best roastery by Roastful was a standout moment, made possible by the dedication of our team across every aspect of the business, from roasting and packaging to serving in the espresso bar and managing orders. But we would not be where we are without the hard work and dedication that all the coffee producers we buy from put in every year. Finally, we reflect on what it means to be the "Best Roaster" and look ahead to 2025 with new harvests and plans. Join us for a review of 2024 and a look at what is to come. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
Nov 8, 2024 · 1 hr 12 min
Episode 39 - Q&A Part 2 - We answer questions from our followers. With Ben Symes & Tim.
In this episode, I am joined by our Wholesale Manager, Ben Symes, to answer your questions. This is the second part of our Q&A podcast episode, where we answer questions sent in by our followers. In this episode, we focus on your questions about brewing, as well as other topics such as coffee buying and origin. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
Oct 28, 2024 · 53 min
Episode 38 - Q&A Part 1 - We answer questions from our followers. With Ben Symes & Tim.
In this episode, I am joined by our Wholesale Manager, Ben Symes, to answer your questions. Earlier in October, we invited you to send in any questions you had for us. We received such a great response that we had to split the podcast into two parts. In this episode, Ben and I will be focusing on your questions about roasting and tasting. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.
Aug 9, 2024 · 1 hr 52 min
Episode 37 - Coffee in Ethiopia - A conversation with Mats Fredheim Vidby
In this episode, I’m joined by Mats Fredheim Vidby, our roastery team leader and one of our dedicated coffee roasters, who has been with us since 2021. Our conversation this time takes a deep dive into Ethiopian coffee, focusing on how we select and buy coffees from the birthplace of coffee. We will be discussing the farms we work with, Echemo and Tatmara, and go in to details about the fresh harvest that has just arrived at our roastery. We will also provide updates on the latest developments at these farms over the past few years. Mats has come prepared with some interesting questions about Ethiopian coffees, and we have also gathered a selection of questions from our Instagram followers, which we will be answering at the end of the episode. Tune in to hear Mats and me talk about Ethiopian coffee and learn more about why these coffees are so special to us. Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.