On a memorable afternoon in Copenhagen, the future of coffee farming and the pleasure of learning from people who truly care about their craft.
There are certain things we find ourselves returning to, wherever we travel. Beautifully made objects, interesting spaces, good food and, inevitably, coffee.
For Maria, coffee has long been more than something to wake up to in the morning. It is a genuine interest, one that has grown over the years through discovering different roasters, learning about origins and appreciating the remarkable amount of work behind something as seemingly simple as a cup of espresso.
So, during a recent visit to Copenhagen, an invitation to spend an afternoon with Norwegian coffee pioneer Tim Wendelboe was particularly special.
An Afternoon at CABIN
The gathering took place at CABIN, an intimate coffee bar created in collaboration with Danish design studio FRAMA.
Copenhagen has a wonderful ability to bring together design, craftsmanship and everyday life without making any of it feel particularly complicated. CABIN reflects that sensibility. A considered environment where the focus remains firmly on the coffee and the people who gather around it.
It was a fitting setting for an afternoon devoted to one of the more fascinating questions facing the specialty coffee world: how can exceptional coffee be grown in a way that is better for the land it comes from?
From Colombia to Copenhagen
Tim Wendelboe has spent much of his career exploring what makes truly remarkable coffee, from cultivation and processing to roasting and brewing.
His Finca El Suelo project in Colombia takes that curiosity back to its source.
The farm is an ongoing exploration of regenerative agriculture, soil health and the relationship between farming practices and coffee quality.
Rather than treating the land simply as a means of production, the project considers how healthier soils and more thoughtful agricultural methods might contribute to a more sustainable future for coffee.
It is an approach that requires patience, experimentation and a willingness to question established methods.
During the afternoon, Maria had the opportunity to taste coffees, learn more about the project and exchange ideas with people who share a similar appreciation for the craft.
What made the experience especially interesting was the connection between what happens on a farm thousands of kilometres away and what eventually arrives in our cups.
Coffee is an agricultural product before it becomes a carefully prepared drink. And the decisions made long before the beans reach a roaster can be just as important as anything that happens afterwards.
Bringing It Home
At Haus Mannenberg, coffee has always occupied a particular place in our approach to hospitality.
We believe that the everyday things deserve just as much consideration as the more obvious details.
That is why we chose to work with MAME, the Zurich-based specialty coffee roaster, and why our kitchen is home to a La Marzocco Linea Mini and a Mahlkönig grinder.
Not because we believe everyone needs to become an expert in coffee, but because we appreciate the pleasure of something being done properly.
There is something wonderfully reassuring about familiar rituals.
Grinding the beans. Preparing an espresso. Sitting down with the first cup of the morning, preferably without too many immediate plans.
Most of the time, it takes only a few minutes.
Yet behind those few minutes lies an extraordinary network of growers, producers, roasters and people whose curiosity continues to push the boundaries of what coffee can be.
The Value of Curiosity
What Maria brought home from Copenhagen was not simply a greater appreciation for a particular coffee.
It was another reminder of why we are drawn to people who devote themselves to understanding and improving their craft.
Whether it is furniture, architecture, textiles, ceramics or coffee, the most interesting work often comes from a combination of knowledge, curiosity and a willingness to take the time to do things well.
And sometimes, a single afternoon offers a glimpse into a much larger world.
Our thanks to CABIN and Tim Wendelboe for a memorable gathering, and for reminding us that there is always more to discover behind a good cup of coffee.
Copenhagen, October 2026.
