Tim Wendelboe Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Yurany, the farm manager at Finca El Suelo in Colombia, and the daughter of Elias and Bellanid at Finca Tamana.

We reflect on a year of farming under the Biofilia Project and discuss the challenges and progress of managing the farm using 100% biological techniques, without synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and fungicides .

The year brought extreme drought and intense sunlight, highlighting the importance of shade trees for protecting coffee plants and soil.

We also discuss the difficulties of establishing new Sudan Rumé coffee trees and the use of biological inputs such as compost, biochar, and soil drenches to improve soil health and plant resilience.

Despite the challenges, the coffee quality has been very encouraging. Around 120+ samples from Finca Tamana and Finca el Suelo were cupped, ranging between 84 and 88 points, with clean, fruity, juicy and sweet profiles.

Looking ahead, we discuss the importance of establishing shade before planting new coffee, as well as the farm’s new partnership with a new exporter named A Coffee Family, to improve milling, quality control, and shipping to Norway.

 

Music by my uncle Jens Wendelboe.

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.

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.

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.

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.