Projects, Clients and References

(This list is not complete. On the request of clients, we will maintain 100% confidentiality about projects and/or client relationships).

Mill Valley, CA. Managed the sale of a specialty coffee roasting company. (2008)

Mill Valley, CA and Hawaii. Prepared the startup of a roasting facility in Honolulu. The coffee company has been developed to produce up to 1 million lbs of roasted coffee, using high end Kona beans and blends. We have been involved in product sourcing and blend design. Company will specifically produce for the Hawaiian and Japanese market. (2008)

Panama – Managing partner of a brand new coffee estate: Finca Sofia. This is one of the highest farms in Central America! Elevation: 1900-2130 meters. Farm (35+ acres) is being planted with more than 35,000 Geisha coffee trees. Boot Coffee shares responsibility for this project with Equator Estate Coffee & Tea. Finca Sofia has been developed from scratch, starting with land acquisition, development of a nursery, farm preparation, followed by planting and developing of infrastructure. (2008)

Minneapolis – SCAA annual convention. Organized promotional cupping programs at the booth of the El Salvador Coffee Board. At least 40 coffee companies participated during the program. (2008)

Ethiopia – Organizer and coordinator of the “Ethiopia Limited” coffee competition and auction for Ethiopian specialty coffees. (2008)

Mill Valley, CA. Coordinated the startup of a coffee roasting company in the MidWest of the USA. The company already owns two coffee houses and is now adding a coffee roasting operation to the business. (2008)

Mill Valley, CA. Coordinated a consulting program for a chain of espresso drive-through coffee bars. The program focused on the startup of a coffee roasting program. (2008)

El Salvador – Organized and managed a series of promotional tours with the participation of more than 45 roasting companies from the USA and the Coffee Board of El Salvador. The three promotional tours included farm visits, cupping programs and lectures.

El Salvador – Coordinated the launch and startup of the Escuela de Café (Coffee School) in collaboration with the Coffee Board of El Salvador. The curriculum includes cupping, roasting and barista programs. (2207 / 2008)

Mill Valley, CA. Boot Coffee organized a series of coffee courses on coffee roasting, cupping and strategic marketing for more than 70 professionals of coffee companies from countries like USA, New Zealand and Australia. (2007)

Ethiopia – Preparation and coordination of the startup of the ECAFE Coffee Learning Center in Aleta Wondo, Sidamo. Discovery tour through the highlands of Guji, Borena and Yergacheffe (2007).

Papua New Guinea – Head judge and coordinator of the second Pride of PNG coffee competition (2007)

Nicaragua – Presented a lecture during the Ramacafe coffee conference in Managua (2007)

USA - Expert witness and consultant in a legal case involving green coffee damage that was stored in New Orleans during hurricane Katrina. We assisted our client -a regional coffee roaster- to settle a major insurance claim. (2007)

Hawaii - Lead trainer during a series of cupping courses and tasting sessions on the islands of Oahu, Hawaii (Kona) and Maui. The courses included a cupping and training program for local farmers and producers, as well as a series of blind tasting sessions. ( 2007)

Colombia – Lead trainer at the Q grading and cupping training / exam in Quindillo, Colombia. The course was organized by the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) at the “Agrado” quality research and cupping center .(2007)

Ethiopia – Organizer and coordinator of the first ever espresso barista coffee competition for coffee baristas from Ethiopia. (2007)

Ethiopia – Organizer and coordinator of the “Ethiopia Limited” coffee auction for Ethiopian specialty coffees. (2007)

USA – Long Beach. Lead-trainer during a comprehensive cupping course for professional coffee tasters of the Colombian Coffee Federation. The course was organized by the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI). (2007)

Colombia. Head Judge and coordinator of the first coffee competition of Concordia, Antoquia. The event was organized with Café Montes y Colinas (a major producer) and included 12 international coffee tasters from companies like Dunkin Donuts, Alpen Sierra and The Golden Coffee Box. The event received national attention by radio, tv and national newspapers. (2007)
Mill Valley, CA. Boot Coffee organized a series of coffee courses for more than 60 professionals of coffee companies from countries like USA, New Zealand and Australia. (2006)

Colombia-Armenia. Lead-trainer during a comprehensive cupping course for professional coffee tasters of the Colombian Coffee Federation. The course was organized by the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI). (2006)

Panama. Boot Coffee acquired a 5 hectare property and 9000 Geisha seedlings were planted at an elevation of 1700-1800 meters. Willem Boot managed the planting of trees and preparation of the land. (2006)

Panama. Head Judge in the annual “Best of Panama” coffee competition. The following action established a record price level for the winning Geisha coffee. (2006)

Ethiopia. Boot Coffee won a competitive bid with Fintrac Inc. for a 3-year coffee development program called " USAID/Agribusiness and Trade Expansion Activity”. Boot Coffee is responsible for a series of marketing and promotion activities. (2006)

Ethiopia. Head Judge and coordinator of the second ECAFE coffee competition. Organized with ACDI/VOCA a coffee competition and auction for Ethiopian coffee cooperatives. At least 140 cooperatives participated. (2006)

Puerto Rico. Lead-consultant in a feasibility study to investigate the opportunities for the specialty coffee industry. The project is financed by the USDA (United States Dept. of Agriculture). (2006)

Dominican Republic. Head Judge of a coffee tasting event to investigate the flavor profiles of the DR. The event was organized in collaboration with CODOCAFE and CIRAD. (2006)

Panama. Lead-consultant in a project financed by the InterAmerican Development Bank and 13 Panamanian coffee producers. Objectives: to develop a comprehensive appellation system for the Volcan – Piedra Candela coffees. (2005/2006)

USA – Long Beach. Lead-trainer during a comprehensive cupping course for professional coffee tasters of the Colombian Coffee Federation. The course was organized by the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI). (2005)

Papua New Guinea. Organizer and Head Judge of the “Pride of PNG Coffee Competition”, a national coffee event involving thousands of coffee farmers and a team of international coffee tasters from around the world. I was responsible for strategic development, international promotion and all training activities before the event. (2005)

El Salvador – Fintrac. Performed an assessment of coffee quality and coffee production conditions of farming communities in Eastern El Salvador. (2005)

Panama. Head Judge of the annual coffee competition. (2005)

Ethiopia – Addis Abeba. Co-founder and President of ECAFE Foundation. Organized with ACDI/VOCA a coffee competition and auction for Ethiopian coffee cooperatives. More than 140 cooperatives were participating. The online auction generated more than 185k in revenues for the cooperative farmers. (2005)

Honduras – Escuela de Catacion. Presented an intensive training to 20+ junior coffee tasters. (2005)

Zambian Coffee Board. Organized a series of promotional events for the Zambian coffee industry throughout the USA. Well over 30 coffee roasting companies and/ or importers participated in the program. (2004)

CQI and ACDI / VOCA. Trainer during the first organic coffee conference in Chiapas, Mexico. (2004)

CQI and ACDI / VOCA. Trainer / consultant / volunteer for a 4-day coffee tasting workshops in Rwanda. (2004)

DAI/USAID. Lead-consultant to develop a strategic marketing plan for the Zambian coffee industry. Additionally, a 2-day seminar “Quality, From The Cherry To The Cup” was presented to smallholder coffee farmers (2004)

The Cup of Excellence, San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Head Judge of an international panel of coffee tasters during an intensive 3-week coffee tasting program, covering around 800 lots of coffee. The following online auction showed record price levels for the winning lots. (2004)
Chemonics/USAID. Head Judge and Coordinator of an international panel of coffee tasters to select the best lots of specialty coffee from Bolivia during an intensive 2-week coffee tasting program. (2003).

CQI and USAID (United States Agency for International Development). Coordinator and co-trainer of a series of coffee workshops in Eastern Africa: Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia, Uganda and Rwanda. (2003)

National Coffee Company (50+ million lbs per year) – USA. Lead-consultant for the investment bank that purchased this company. Analysis of green coffee purchasing activities and strategies.

DAI/USAID. Lead-consultant with David Roche (agronomist) for a strategic study of the Zambia coffee industry. A report was published with recommendations for production, quality management and marketing. (2003)

Chemonics/USAID. Trainer during an intensive training program for 19 aspiring (young) coffee cuppers in Bolivia. (2003)

De Eenhoorn, Kampen, The Netherlands. Consultant (business planning and product development) for the startup of this specialty coffee roasting / retail business. (2002-2003)

The Cup of Excellence, Managua, Nicaragua. Head Judge of an international panel of coffee tasters in this renowned event where the best lots of specialty coffee from Nicaragua were cupped during an intensive 2-week coffee tasting program. (2002 and 2003)

The First Specialty Coffee Competition of Honduras, San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Head Judge and Coordinator of an international panel of coffee tasters to select the best lots of specialty coffee from Honduras during an intensive 2-week coffee tasting program. (2003).

Fintrac/USAID. Organized and presented an extensive training program for key-members of the coffee industry in Honduras. Performed an extensive review of specialty coffees from Honduras. Assisted a local roasting company with the expansion of its business (2002 and 2003).

Johnson Brothers Coffee, Madison, Wisconsin. Responsible for product development and the design of various roast profiles.

Caffe Pronto, Catonsville, Maryland. Assisted with the startup of the company and was specifically involved in developing roast profiles and signature blends.

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Project - Policies to Manage Quantity and Quality of Coffee in Central America. Team Leader for the IDB project. Developed an extensive report on required government policies to manage quantity and quality of coffee in Central America. (2002-2002)

Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP). Lead Judge of an annual cupping competition to select Panama's best specialty coffees.

BAGSA (Bolsa Agropecuaria de Nicaragua, S.A.), Managua, Nicaragua. Contracted by the IDB to assist BAGSA in the development of a national exchange and a quality inspection lab for the green coffees produced in Nicaragua.

Centro Espresso, Santa Rosa. Responsible for the development of a signature espresso coffee blend for this promising wholesale coffee roasting company in Sonoma County, California.

UNPAP-(Union Nacional de Productores Agropecuarios de Panamá), the National Producer Agricultural Union of Panamá. Consultant responsible for the development of a comprehensive system of appellations for Panama's specialty coffees. This project was funded by the IDB. The project included an extensive review of the coffee producing regions of Volcan, Santa Clara, Piedras Candela and Boquete. (2000-2001)

Giza Foods, Cairo-Giza, Egypt. Contracted to develop several signature coffee blends for a coffee service program to leading hotel chains and restaurants in Egypt and other countries in the Middle East. Two blends required the traditional brewing recipe using cardamom as a flavoring tool.

Mire Enterprises, New Jersey. This company exports Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee from Jamaica and has developed a coffee roasting and wholesale business for primarily exotic coffees like the Jamaica Blue Mountain. Assisted the owners with the entire startup of the company: equipment selection and green coffee analysis.

OPEM, Parma, Italy. Company manufactures packaging machinery for the coffee industry and is market leader in Italy and has more than 600 installations worldwide. Responsible for the business development for North America.

International Coffee & Tea, LLC, Camarillo, California. Company operates 100+ coffee stores in South California and Southeast Asia. Responsible for all green coffee purchasing and for various projects involving blend development and training development.

Bueno Coffee Roasting Company, South Korea. Wholesale coffee-roasting company. Development of all signature coffee blends, design of green coffee purchasing program, intensive training of entire management group.

Coffee Supreme, Wellington, New Zealand. Intensive Coffee Workshop focusing on cupping & tasting, espresso blend development and coffee roasting profiles.
The Golden Coffee Box, The Netherlands. Responsibilities included the startup of the wholesale division of the company.

SCAA, Long Beach, California. Membership of the training committee from 1998 until 2002. Presentation of several seminars and training sessions at conferences of the SCAA