Winter '26: From the slopes Los Pirineos to the Stages of Copenhagen & Gothenburg.
It’s hard to believe it has been two years since we officially launched Paso Paso. What started as a "crazy idea" shared between friends has grown into a living, breathing model for what the coffee industry can be: a roastery owned by the very people who grow the coffee.
The first festival on 2024
This winter, that journey took me back Diego's farm in El Salvador and weeks later to the high-energy stages of the Nordic coffee scene. This dynamic is exactly with we are all about: connecting both sides of the coffee world. There is nothing like discussing the harvest with the producers one day and serving their coffee the next.
Back to the Volcano: The Evolution of Los Pirineos
Stepping back onto the soil of Los Pirineos this year felt different than my last visit in 2023. Back then, the air was heavy with a sense of transition. Diego Baraona had recently taken the reins of the farm following the passing of his father, the legendary Gilberto Baraona. In 2022, the focus was on stability—honoring a legacy while keeping one of the world’s most famous coffee farms running amidst global uncertainty.
Bram and Diego at Los Pirineos
Returning in 2026, I saw a revolution. Diego has moved from preserving old methods to radical transformation. The most striking change is his commitment to regenerative agriculture and organic practices. Since 2024, Diego has abandoned all synthetic inputs, focusing instead on soil microbiology and home-made fertilizers to feed his trees. A lot of uncertainty comes with these changes, however it assures an independent future.
By fostering a diverse canopy and nutrient-rich soil, Diego is ensuring that Los Pirineos isn't just producing world-class Pacamara and Bourbon today, but for the next fifty years. It’s a brave move for a farm of this stature, but it’s one Diego is making with a "producer-first" mindset. At Paso Paso, we aren't just buying his coffee; we are equity partners in his evolution. When you drink a cup of Los Pirineos, you are directly funding the compost teas and shade-tree nurseries that are reshaping his farm.
Diego with his Bio new composter.
Transparency on the Global Stage: Copenhagen & Beyond
From the quiet sunrise in El Salvador, I traveled to the buzzing energy of the Copenhagen Coffee Festival. We presented Paso Paso in the Roaster Village, meeting the local coffee community and trying coffees from other roasters. It is always inspiring to see new orders come in from the cities we join coffee festivals in. Some of you may be reading this here, for that we thank you. It is each order that re-assures us of our crazy model and drives our grind. A special thank you goes out to Konsjös who are currently featuring Paso Paso in their shop.
Furthermore, we joined a panel with Klaus and Jonas from Copenhagen legends Coffee Collective and Prolog. The conversation centered on a question: ''Is Specialty Coffee becoming mainstream''? We all agreed that it is and in that there are winners and losers. Generally, the consumer win - better coffee is becoming more available everywhere. Yet, producers may not reap the same benefits. As more commercial parties shift to selling Specialty Coffee, they are unlikely to uphold the same values as Specialty Coffee was once build upon.
Danish Coffee Festival
This ended up being my inspiration for my talk at the Nordic Coffee Fest. Here I had the privilege presenting an example of the complete cost-break down of one of our closed-loop supply chains with Jorge Vásquez and Caffe Bar B. We will soon present the full findings upon launching the new harvest.
In the talk I argued that knowing the FOB price is not enough. True transparency is only relevant when all the data and context is known. That's not an easy feat, yet possible when the supply chain is aligned or in Farmer Owned initiatives like Paso Paso.
Presenting at the Nordic Coffee Fest
Lastly, we returned to the Roaster Village of the Nordic Coffee Fest for the third time, again marking our birthday at the festival. We were joined by Erik from Baristashopen.se and highlighted not only Farmer Owned Coffee but also our local distribution model in the Nordics.
Two Years of Paso Paso.
Reflecting on our 2nd birthday, I’m struck by the milestones that seemed like distant peaks just 24 months ago. We didn't want to be just another "Direct Trade" roastery; we wanted to change the architecture of the business. Here is what we have learned so far.
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The Model is Working: We’ve officially proven that a farmer-owned roastery in Europe can bridge the cultural and logistical barriers to make a tiny multi-national company function.
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A Growing Community: I am always astounded to find out people from all over the world have heard about Paso Paso and Farmer Owned Coffee. This is a never ending mission - creating awareness for different trade models is forever our primary goal.
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Continuous Improvement: There are still many hurdles to overcome which keeps us on our feet. Nevertheless, a strong base has been build which allows us to invest in our company and keep pushing boundaries.
Two years of DHL not picking up packages as well.
The Next Step
The name "Paso Paso" was chosen because we knew this wouldn't happen overnight. It is a slow, intentional march toward equity. To our existing customers: your loyalty is what has made it possible to survive the first two years. To those just discovering us: welcome to a roastery where the farmer isn't just a photo on the bag—they’re the boss.
Here’s to many more years of changing the game, one harvest at a time.