Testimonials

 
 

RAPHAEL LOQUELLANO -photographer : coffee consultant

This origins trip is the perfect introduction retreat to people who have worked in coffee and those who simply love it. The KWC team led by Juan is a fun and professional team that will leave you wanting more. The team members are experts of their craft and are helpful in helping you understand all things coffee. I loved being able to tour and stay at some coffee farms as well as visiting different towns in Colombia with plenty to offer. The memories on this trip are definitely one for the books. I would highly recommend it.

 

ADRIANA CUSCO - barista : future cafe owner

As a future cafe owner I came into this with so many questions and excitement. The KWC team really does a great job and helping everyone individual in their interested field. Anyone from a home baristas to someone who is starting a coffee business this a great place to start learning about all the hard work that goes into making that cup of coffee in the morning. I can’t wait to be back again and experience a new farm and origin with KWC.

 

MICHEAL DORGAN - coffee enthusiast : videographer

After being a barista for a couple of years, I thought I had a pretty good understanding of the coffee process, and how it travels from origin to my local coffee shop... But on my trip with KWC, I quickly learned that I had only scratched the surface with how much there is to know about coffee, and I actually ended up with more questions afterwards! Juan, has done a great job tailoring this experience to fit all people who are interested about coffee-- no matter what their background. Whether you drink coffee casually or you are training to go to barista championships, there is something for you on this trip. And with the boundless coffee knowledge and experience that will be coming your way, there's also plenty of culture, good food, new friendships, and much more fun to enjoy along the way. This is a trip that is packed with value and absolutely cannot be missed out on!!

 

JUAN CAMILO - coffee farm owner : enthusiast

I am actually a coffee farm owner who wanted to understand what all the speciality coffee talk was about. Fortunately enough for me I found KWC Retreats through a network of mutual friends and came out to the trip and it was amazing. I am inspired by the team and the work they are doing. Thank you for allowing me to come along, I learned so much and hope to put what I learned to practice at my farm soon!

 

BASTHIAN - 9 year old local, grandmother helped host KWC.

Grateful to have been a part of KWC 1.0, they were very inviting and I was happy to become part of the retreat. Being able to work along side of you all and be excited was a lot of fun. I usually picked coffee with my grandmother during harvest for fun and really didn’t know that people from all over the world found what we did here was so excited. Thank you Juan.

 

SEBASTIAN CELIS- owner of 11.11 roasterie

KWC I appreciate your motivation and time spent at my families farm. Huge thank you from 11.11 the roasterie it was an honor to be able to work together on this first adventure of many. I hope more people catch on to what you guys are doing and achieve huge things. Keep spreading the love around Colombia!

 

NATHAN WIRRIG- coffee roaster/professional/owner of La Neta Coffee

This surely was not my first origin trip or will be my last. I had to come on this trip because I had never been able to experience Colombian coffee sourcing and the origin itself. KWC does a great job and breaking down the coffee chain for all types of levels. I really was able to enjoy Colombian culture, coffee, & food all while working along side of farmers and coffee professionals. I will definitely be back and already I am roasting some KWC sourced coffee too !

 

JULIA TRISKA-barista/enthusiast/coffee lover

Thank you for such an amazing experience and sharing all your knowledge KWC. Anyone with dreams of growing in coffee should do one of these retreats you won’t regret it. Being there talking to farmers and listening to there story was priceless.

 

NORBEY MUNOZ- coffee leader at co-op

Thank you everyone he came out on the retreat. This was an experience for me. Being able to drink coffee and hear about how coffee is served in other countries was very exciting. We appreciate the sustainability projects that KWC is leading and will forever support anything they need. I hope coffee lovers and baristas continue to come on origin trips and experience this life for a week with more people like us.

 

ELISABETH JOHNSON-coffee competitor/professional

My first trip with KWC was my second coffee trip to Colombia, but it was different and remarkable in its own way. It was very real and personable in that I got to meet and interact with the farmers who grew coffee we share. I got to work on the dirt and feel the experience of planting coffee myself. It was dirty, it was hard, and it was so worth it. It wasn't just a tour of the farm, but a walk-through experience of planting the baby tree, picking, roasting and cupping. It's as close as it gets to a real life seed-to-cup experience and that is irreplaceable. I think anyone who works in coffee should experience what coffee is from the dirt up! That being said, it was a good balance of work vs play, and we got to experience a lot of Colombia vistas and culture besides coffee itself. I have a huge respect of Colombia for its a experimental coffee production and this trip showed me that and more. 10/10 would recommend this trip to anyone working in coffee who wants hands-on experience and to anyone outside or coffee who is curious about what speciality coffee is all about.

 

ESTEBAN AMORISI- kwc long time supporter/coffee drinker

Before KWC I used to just drink coffee. In a positive way KWC ruined coffee for me. I can’t just drink coffee anywhere anymore. I am constant in search of a quality cup. This trip really gave me some insight into the world of what coffee in general is and great example of what speciality coffee is. I recommend it even if you’re not a barista or professional.

 

MICHELLE DANIEL- supporter of a retreater

Juan thank you for this experience it was unforgettable. I will say this experience made me appreciate the small things from home. It made me appreciate my morning cup of coffee. I will never just drink coffee and not remember being on the edge of a steep mountain planting baby coffee trees with this group.

 

ANGELY MUNOZ

Thank you KWC for bringing this experience to my hometown. I had so much fun sharing time with everyone who came. My father is a coffee grower and leader of the co-op here in Titiribi I know that when people visits it inspires us. We appreciate that everyone took there time to come out and make us feel seen as well. From our family to yours thank you. I will never forget this week and will forever miss you all!

 

JON NOETH

I was invited to KWC as personal photographer by friends I travel the world with surfing. I knew they loved coffee but wow never could imagine all the work the goes behind it. Speaking from my experience I was blown away everyday more and more. I was over impressed by Juan from KWC and his way of showcasing to us what speciality what about and as we continued to journey from farm to farm it made so much sense. Thank Papi Diaz!

 

ASHELY LINNEKIN

This was not my first origin trip but it sure felt like after meeting and working with the KWC team. They organized the most unique and memorable experience for us. Personally I have been roasting coffee for 10+ years and just in the last couple years I felt the need to feel more connected to the raw side of the product. If you’re a roaster or cafe owner like myself I 100% recommend you come out to a KWC retreat. We now source with KWC souring for all our Colombians and QC roast with them when we can. Not for a moment that this would go farther then origin but Camilo & Juan go above and beyond to help us get better everyday. Thank you guys so much with love -Ashley

 

ERIC LINNEKIN

Oh gosh where to begin! I have to say KWC exceeded our expectations. It’s not to say we had a low one but rather that we could have never expected for everything to go so smoothly and organically workout they way it did everyday. I came with a purpose of learning what it takes to source our own coffee direct and Juan showed us the way and best practices. KWC is nothing but transparent on the journey from crop to cup and that exactly what we need to elevate our coffee game and elevate our guest experience. Needless to say we will be back and hope to travel with Juan to a new origin one day. Thank you so much!