CORRECTION: Pablo reached out to let us know that he meant he sold to 170 clients last year, not 270. We had just been speaking about the number of clients he works with. The number changes, but he stays in contact with more than 200.
Guests: Pablo Lara
Role: Trader AT InterAmerican Coffee (Part of NKG or Neumann Kaffee Gruppe)
Based: San Diego, CA
Online: https://interamericancoffee.com • @interamericancoffee • @coffeeplaytime What they drink: Single-origin espresso with a side of drip, but he likes to sample everything and sometimes have a cortado for breakfast.
Listen/Watch on: Spotify
“Coffee is a medium for social change. Like, that’s why I’m in it. I truly believe that it can be something that can bring two worlds together, and communities together. I want to see San Diego, as a community, be connected to communities in the producing countries.”
• Pablo Lara
A green coffee trader is a salesman. They connect roasters with specific coffees. They connect producers with buyers that understand the value of their product. For traders to properly navigate the green coffee supply chain, they have to understand the needs and motivations from both sides. Pablo Lara does that at InterAmerican, but it takes more than making introductions.
The coffee supply chain is a complex system impacted by climate, politics, logistics, and market trends. A ripple in any of those strings creates waves across the others. Each day Pablo takes a moment to investigate any ripple of the connected strings to see if it will cause a tidal wave across the others. Developing a daily narrative enables him to educate his customers and himself. Coffee is a continuous process of learning, and traders can act as a guide for the roasters.
Some key takeaways from the show:
It is necessary for a trader to be super organized and care about the customers.
An alignment of values is an essential component to doing business. Pablo wants to be transparent with his clients because trust gets built over time.
Entrepreneurs are often focused so closely on their business that it can be easy to forget that your partners on the other side are people, too.
I clearly had an itch on my nose during this episode.
It’s never a dull day in coffee. Especially, post-Covid-19, there have been a lot of not-normal changes to the industry’s operations. The logistics changes have been intense, but Pablo is embracing the opportunity to find creative solutions to the daily problems.
Borders don’t constrain climate change. It is impacting prices. It is changing farming practices and constraining crop yields.
Keys to having a successful relationship with your trader:
Communicate and be flexible.
Be prepared.
The market is changing. Prices are increasing, but this is where the prices should have always been! Coffee is a business. If there is a supply vacuum, new producers will step in or new products will be innovated.
Don’t just focus on sustainability as only the producer’s concern, rather apply the concept holistically to your entire business. Most waste occurs on the consumption end.
Even if coffee is your business, give yourself other outlets.
Pablo has a particular passion for coffees from Mexico stemming from his first supplier visit.
Visit the InterAmerican coffee lab.
Roasters, even small ones, can collaborate on projects for good. Pablo can help you connect with farms or producers who need assistance. Have an idea, share and connect it with Pablo at: pablo.lara@nkg.coffee
WATCH THIS PODCAST ON YOUTUBE
NATIONAL PARKS
There are a lot of National Park and US Forest Service employees hitting the job market. The story of Brian Gibbs, a probationary national park ranger who was recently fired, is just one in a sea of people who may be needing some support. We’re big proponents of drinking coffee outside—often in a park. If you have an opportunity in your coffee business near an impacted park or forest service land consider tagging the appropriate job boards.
We’re members of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). They’ve been sending out regular updates on the status of the park system.
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