Welcome to The Sprudge Twenty Interviews presented by Pacific Barista Series. For a complete list of 2021 Sprudge Twenty honorees please visit sprudge.com/twenty.
The Sprudge Twenty interview series continues today, featuring a conversation with Nadine Rasch of Primavera, an import/export firm based in Guatemala. Rasch’s work is internationally recognized with high quality Guatemalan coffee, working with hundreds of independent producers across the country. Today the brand represents Nadine Rasch’s life spent in coffee, from growing up on her family’s coffee farm to studying finance in the United Kingdom to today running one of Guatemala’s premier global green coffee companies.
“Nadine Rasch is a truly inspiring coffee professional. It’s an honor to work with her every day at Primavera, an exporter, and importer based in Guatemala. During the Guatemalan coffee harvest and the months that follow, she works tirelessly managing every aspect of Primavera’s buying program, keeping up relationships with producers, cupping (she’s a Q grader and Q processing professional), and coordinating milling/shipping. She is an expert on coffee economics particularly in Guatemala, and she explains this information so succinctly both to coffee roasters and to coffee producers, always with patience and sincere helpfulness. I’ve admired her commitment to sustainability at every level of the supply chain, from engaging with marginalized producer populations to pursuing more environmentally sustainable practices from farm to export. Finally, her collaborative spirit and passion for innovation make Primavera a great place to work. I’m proud to nominate her for the Sprudge Twenty!”
Nominated by Hillary Rodriguez
How have the challenges of this last year informed your work?
This past year has challenged us to have difficult conversations both with producing partners and roasters. Due to the changes in demand and the restrictions in movement locally, this forced us to have open, honest and direct conversations.
What issue in coffee do you care about most?
Economic sustainability is one of the key factors that I am most concerned about.
What cause or element in coffee drives you?
The amazing improvement in quality producers can have with dedication.
What issue in coffee do you think is critically overlooked?
Producer product knowledge and the importance in valuing the product.
What is the quality you like best about coffee?
The fact that it unifies so many different cultures and countries.
Did you experience a “god shot” or life-changing moment of coffee revelation early in your career?
Not particularly, but I do love a clean, juicy, and sweet filter.
What is your idea of coffee happiness?
Drinking coffee in Atitlan Lake, Guatemala.
If you could have any job in the coffee industry, what would it be and why?
I quite like the one I currently have :) I get to meet producers and see their final product offered by roasters and cafes. Pretty sweet to see the whole process.
Who are your coffee heroes?
Coffee Producers in Guatemala when it first was introduced as a crop.
If you could drink coffee with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?
My great-great-grand father who came to Guatemala from Germany to work in a coffee estate in the 1880s.
Do you have any coffee mentors?
My father, both my mentor and my opponent in many debates.
What do you wish someone would’ve told you when you were first starting out in coffee?
That I would never leave.
You’re the first barista on Mars. What’s on your brew bar?
Latte with stardust.
Best song to brew coffee to at the moment.
“You and I” – Wilco
Where do you see yourself in 2041?
Spending more time in a coffee farm.
Thank you!
Welcome to The Sprudge Twenty Interviews presented by Pacific Barista Series. For a complete list of 2021 Sprudge Twenty honorees please visit sprudge.com/twenty.
