Sierra - coffee specialist & freelance writer (part 3)

Vava Angwenyi - coffee exporter & author

I talk to Vava Angwenyi, a multitalent within the coffee industry. She is the founder of Vava coffee, Gente del Futuro (co-founder) and the author of COFFEE MILK BLOOD, a book she created to challenge the colonial narrative in coffee production. In this episode, we try to provide the listener with a surface level understanding of the coffee trading in Kenya and discuss topics like "the typical Kenyan coffee" and it's limiting implications but also the variety of coffee grown in the country and it's potential if we could re-envision what a coffee from Kenya can be.

If you like this episode, be sure to listen to the Guest Episode with Vava & Jake Green where they talk more about Gente del Futuro and COFFEE MILK BLOOD.

Big thank you to:

Vava Angwenyi - @vavacoffeekenya

Gente del Futuro - @gentefuturo

La Dulce Toro Cafe - @ladulcetorolamu

COFFEE MILK BLOOD - @coffeemilkblood

https://www.vavacoffeeinc.com/

https://www.gente-delfuturo.com/

https://www.coffeemilkblood.com/

Jesse Raub - for creating the music accompanying this episode.

Ashley Rodriguez - for everything

Guest episode: Vava Angwenyi & Jake Green - Gente del Futuro & coffee in Kenya

Today’s episode is a guest episode by Vava Angwenyi & Jake Green.

Jake is a photographer based in London, who also authored the book COFFEE KENYA - "KUNYWA JASHO LANGU".

Vava is an entrepeneur who released a book called COFFEE MILK BLOOD, challenging the colonial narrative on coffee production. Vava is the founder of Vava coffee, a Kenyan coffee trading company - or social enterprice - focusing on creating positive social and economic change and to drive sustainability within the coffee industry. Furthermore, Vava is also co-founder of the project Gente del Futuro in an aim to drive producer profitability and next generation involvement.

In this episode, Vava and Jake talk about how they first crossed paths and came to collaborate, they discuss issues in the industry and the power dynamics that exist within. Furthermore, they present how the project Gente del Futuro started, evolved and where it stands today.

Big thank you to:

Vava Angwenyi - @vavacoffeekenya on IG

https://www.vavacoffeeinc.com

Jake Green - @jakegreenstudio on IG

To learn more about:

Gente del Futuro - @gentefuturo on IG

https://www.gente-delfuturo.com

La Dulce Toro Cafe - Lamu - @ladulcetorolamu on IG

To find the books mentioned in the episode:

https://www.coffeemilkblood.com

Matt Kitayama - event barista - Brew for Ukraine project

I talk to Matt Kitayama, an event barista who started a project he calls Brew for Ukraine. Apart from volunteering, Matt brings coffee to the volunteers at Hauptbahnhof - bureaucracy hindering him offering coffee to the refugees as well. Matt shares some of his hospitality story and explains his project further. 

Berlin Arrival Support - @berlinarrivalsupport

Big thanks to: Matt Kitayama for sharing his story and his coffee - @no_sugar_latteart

Jesse Raub - for creating the music accompanying this episode.

Ashley Rodriguez - for helping making this podcast happen.

Ashley Rodriguez aka Boss Barista - freelancer & podcaster

I talk to Ashley and she shares what it is like to be a freelancer in the coffee industry. We also discuss some problematic aspects of "going to origin", tipping, work safety and more. 

Big thanks to: Ashley Rodriguez for all the help in starting this project, for giving so much of her time and insights.

Jesse Raub - for creating the music accompanying this episode.

Narumi Mastrocianni - barista & freelancer

I talk to my friend Narumi and we learn her coffee journey. We discuss our love-hate relationship with the hospitality industry and the specialty coffee industry. 

Big thanks to: Narumi Mastrocianni for sharing her insight and time - @erosandbotany

Jesse Raub - for creating the music accompanying this episode.

Ashley Rodriguez - For helping making this podcast happen.