SENS COFFEE: A FAMILY BUSINESS THAT CONQUERS INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

Sens Coffee was born at the beginning of 2022 as a venture of Juan David Puerta, a food engineer, who decided to venture into the coffee industry after completing his training internship in companies related to coffee. After graduating, he had the opportunity to work in companies where speciality coffee was processed and in the Cooperativa de Caficultores del Valle, where he acquired extensive knowledge of all stages of coffee production and the buying and selling of coffee beans both nationally and internationally.

After this valuable experience, Juan David decided to become independent and launch his own project, initially called Sens Tea, processing the coffee husk and combining it with lemongrass or chamomile to sell it in cloth bags as aromatics. However, his vision and innovative spirit soon led him to explore new opportunities.

Over time, Sens Coffee began selling roasted coffee and experimenting with osmotic dehydration of pulped coffee, an innovative process that allowed production to scale up. This innovation caught the attention of a German company during a coffee tasting, which opened the doors to the international market. Amarillo Exports was the first company to trust Sens Coffee, allowing them to send their first eight boxes to Germany. This was the beginning of a path of growth and recognition in the global market.

The La Sirena farm, located in Armenia, Quindío, 1350 metres above sea level, is the heart of Sens Coffee. With 28,000 coffee plants, including Castillo and Cenicafé 1 varieties, this farm is central to the company’s operations. Sens Coffee is not only the main source of income for Juan David’s family, but also has a significant social impact by paying better prices for the pickings and coffee they buy from other farms.

The company is dedicated to adding value to the raw material, improving the living conditions of the people who collaborate in production. Juan David and his team train the families from whom they buy the coffee cherry, teaching them the importance of good agricultural practices to improve the quality of the coffee. This approach not only ensures a superior product, but also allows higher prices to be paid to the producers, generating a positive impact on their lives.

For coffee farmers who sell their cherries to Sens Coffee, it has significantly improved their income, as payment is based on the quality of the cup and is not governed by the fluctuating stock market and dollar prices of the day. In Colombia, many coffee farmers often operate at a loss because the value of the stock exchange and the dollar does not cover production costs. Sens Coffee is revolutionising coffee farming in the region by offering better sales opportunities. This is reflected on the farms, which can improve their drying facilities, fermentation tanks, ensure better raw material safety and apply higher quality fertilisers to the coffee.

Although Juan David does not come from a coffee family, his entrepreneurial and creative spirit led him to work with coffee, combining tradition and innovation. Sens Coffee has managed to establish a business that not only seeks excellence in every cup, but also the well-being of the communities involved in its production.

Sens Coffee continues to grow and consolidate its position in the international market. Its coffees have found an enthusiastic reception in the United States, where the market values the quality and social commitment of the brand. In addition, Sens Coffee is expanding in South Korea and has seen steady growth in Europe over the past two years.

To expand into the Asian market, Sens Coffee discovered after careful analysis that this market values coffees with very floral notes, such as rose, lavender, caramel, blueberry and rose hips. Based on this analysis, they decided to experiment with fermentations using osmotic dehydration, replacing fruits with flowers to add these perfumed profiles to the coffee.

This success demonstrates that passion and commitment to quality can transform a small initiative into a successful and socially responsible venture, positioning Sens Coffee as a role model in the Colombian coffee industry.