Diego Bermudez, co-founder of Native Coffee Co., is a man of many trades. 

Diego hails from the science community, a trained physicist and engineer with a penchant for precision. Before he imagined a future where he co-owned a café arabica farm in Colombia and a roastery based in Texas, Diego had mastered the skills required to succeed in coffee production. 

Diego Bermudez is now a world-renowned coffee producer, known for pioneering some of the industry’s most creative and experimental processing methods. At the same time, he operates Native's roastery from the sunlit hills of Colombia only miles away from where much of their green coffee is grown.

Origin-Roasted Coffee

Native Coffee Co. is one of the few roasting companies in the world who can roast coffee in the same month that the cherries have been harvested, every 15 days thanks to Colombia’s staggering growing cycles that last year-round.

This practice gives Diego the freedom to analyze Cafe Arabica plants and predict how its coffee will taste (measurable by volatile aromatic compounds) even before harvesting takes place. From there, he can create a bespoke processing method for each plant, bringing out the most sweetness, vibrancy, and flavour distinction to every coffee.

Roasting coffee where it’s grown also comes with its advantages: it creates a harmony between the cultivation and roasting process, where those responsible for crafting the end product have the unique advantage of intimately understanding its beginning.

With their approach deeply rooted in a passion for science, technology, and elevating the ordinary, Diego and Native Coffee Co. are bringing the best Colombian coffee into the homes of North America. 

Advocating for Coffee Farmers

Native Coffee Co. compares coffee to wine; both are grown, cultivated, and harvested from plants and are traded globally, providing an income to hundreds of thousands across the world. And, both coffee and wine undergo alchemy, utilizing the magic of fermentation to become a beverage we all know and enjoy.

According to Native, the two industries have a key difference, and that is who mostly benefits off the sale of the final product.

In wine, the producers are typically celebrated as the heroes and storytellers of their product. But when it comes to the coffee industry, it’s the roasters and traders who play this role. 

So, Native Coffee Co. has adopted the core mission to be an advocate for the unsung heroes of the coffee industry: the farmers, who are tasked with supplying the demand of a 101.6 billion dollar (USD) agricultural industry. Native upholds the belief that, despite their massive importance to specialty coffee roasters and consumers, farmers are seldom given the appreciation they deserve.

Apart from sourcing coffee from Diego Bermudez's Columbian farm, Native also chooses other high-quality producers throughout Latin America and Africa, maintaining only transparent and sustainable relationships. 

Regardless of where coffee comes from, Native creates real change by paying coffee farmers 3x-4x more than commodity traders and a bonus percentage from the sale of roasted coffee. 

Where to Find Native Coffee Co.

Good news for Canadians: Native has officially joined Eight Ounce Coffee’s roaster program! So, you can always find full bags of Native Coffee online (or in-store) while enjoying free shipping over $75. 

Also, the Coffee Club Mix’s “Latin America Mix” is available now, a collection of coffees that have been sourced from top-quality producers in Latin America – like Diego Bermudez! 

October’s mix also features two Native coffees, Dragonfruit Spritz and Lumen, both of which come in 100g bags. This is a perfect choice if you’re an enthusiast who wants to sample premium roasts without spending a fortune. 

The aptly-named Dragonfruit Spritz features tropical notes of dragonfruit, raspberry, and lychee, while the Lumen tastes like cheesecake, golden delicious apple, and pear. 

Both of these coffees are only available in October’s Latin America Mix for the rest of the month or while supplies last. Meanwhile, check out the full collection for more sample-sized coffees from the world’s best roasters! 

Photos by: Native Coffee Co.

@thenativecoffeecompany