S10:E7
Guests: G. Dennis Garsinii & Shane Himmelman
Company: WAFI Coffee (West African Farmers Initiative)
Role: Co-Founders
Based: Los Angeles, CA (for now)
Online: @westafricanfarmersinitiative • https://www.waficoffee.shop/
What they drink: Shane-black coffee (hot or iced) & Dennis-same but with honey
Hey everyone,
Before we get started, here is a little logistical update. I intended this episode with WAFI Coffee to come out three weeks ago. Things got a little crazy with the travel efforts to the Specialty Coffee Association Expo and the R!WC recording and publishing calendar. I had forgotten that when you drive across the country by yourself, you have to do all the driving! Besides the time, it took a surprising amount of energy, considering you’re just sitting there.
Anyway…
Shane and Dennis have an easy rapport. While we chat, they’re sitting side-by-side and I can hear the sounds of New York City in the background. It isn’t hard to imagine them brainstorming late at night as their enthusiasm for the idea of starting a coffee company ramps up. With WAFI, they are starting with coffee and cold brew, but the future is expansive. They hope to showcase the talents of West African farmers across the spectrum of products.
A bit of the commentary you’ll hear about me traveling or references to things happening in the week prior, are a bit off-date. The content and the conversation with the burgeoning entrepreneurs of WAFI Coffee are still relevant. I hope you enjoy it.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE POD
Here’s the link to Eater Magazine article where I first learned about WAFI Coffee.
These guys were not coffee guys. They were looking for an opportunity and found it in coffee.
Dennis’ family has been growing coffee and cocoa for over 300 years in West Africa in Liberia (central). His family history ties him to the land despite the more recent familial generations leaving for school and jobs in larger communities. There was always the kernel in the back of his mind that they’d be responsible for this farming legacy at some point.
Covid motivated Dennis and Shane to take a wider view of what they were doing in the market and in their careers.
They’re trying to restore value to farmers in West Africa by keeping the focus and brand attention on the farmers.
The cart, primarily operated by Dennis, can be found on the West Side of LA.
Their GoFundMe is still running: https://www.gofundme.com/f/wafi-coffee.
WHAT THE $%@ IS A COMMODITY?
I wanted to be sure I understood what the WAFI guys were talking about. I found the answers on Investopedia. Common commodities include: coffee, gold, oil, lumber, etc. See the full article on commodities here.
Commodities are raw materials used to manufacture consumer products. They are inputs in the production of other goods and services, rather than finished goods sold to consumers.
In commerce, commodities are basic resources that are interchangeable with other goods of the same type. The quality of a given commodity may differ slightly, but it is essentially uniform across producers. When traded on an exchange, commodities must also meet specified minimum standards, also known as a basis grade.
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Coffee People: Dennis Garsinii & Shane Himmelman, WAFI Coffee