In my journey of learning the intricacies of the coffee business, I realized early on that simply offering pre-roasted, imported coffee beans wasn’t enough for my customers seeking the freshest flavors. This insight led me to a pivotal decision: to start importing green, unroasted coffee beans and roast them locally here in the U.S. By doing so, I could deliver a fresher product and have full control over the roasting process to create unique, high-quality coffee brands. Roasting my own coffee not only allowed me to bring down costs but also offered a new level of independence in my business.

Even for those who don’t have roasting equipment, toll roasting provides a cost-effective option, allowing companies to maintain quality without significant investment. My exploration into roasting made it clear that understanding green coffee beans was essential for long-term success in the coffee industry. I turned my focus to Colombia, not only out of a personal love for the country but also because I genuinely believe Colombian coffee is among the best in the world.

Today, as a coffeehouse owner in the USA, I roast my own beans, supply roasted coffee to other coffeehouses across the country, and even sell green coffee beans to other roasters. Expanding into green coffee distribution has allowed me to connect my passion for coffee with my Turkish heritage, bridging the two countries. Although Turkey isn’t a traditional coffee-growing nation, it has established itself as a coffee export.

In summary, coffee has become my life and work, and my role in it is threefold: a coffee shop owner in the morning, a roaster in the afternoon, and a green bean importer at night. This dynamic path has connected me to an international coffee community, and every day I’m proud to bring people exceptional coffee that’s both fresh and thoughtfully sourced.

Email to Cem Gulden