Lex Wenneker: Coffee Insurrection Hero Chapter #14

Published by Tanya in Coffee Insurrection Hero · 16 July 2021
Tags: Lex_Wenneker, Friedhats_Coffee, Amsterdam, The_Netherlands, Interview

1_ Introduce yourself: who are you, where are you from, where do you work and what’s your job.

My name is Lex, I live in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I work at Friedhats Coffee as a coffee roaster and barista and packer and some more stuff. I do the green buying as well.

2_When and why did coffee become important to you?

It used to be important for me just to wake up. About 13 years ago it became important to me for the flavor of it. Around that time I started to become more interested in the process of making coffee and about a year later I knew that coffee would be a main thing in my life. I’m not really sure why but I just like everything surrounding coffee: The flavor, the machines used for making it, the origin, the people in coffee.

3_ Do you remember the first coffee you had that was more than “just a cup of coffee”?

It was probably my first natural processed coffee. I was really amazed coffee could taste like fruit (: Changed everything.

4_ What’s your favorite thing about going to work in the morning?

I guess that I really like what I’m doing. And if I don’t feel like doing it I can do something else. Also it’s very close to where I live so I don’t need to go there by car.

5_ What’s your favorite brewing method and why?

Hard to say. Also changes from time to time. Overall I would probably go for the Aeropress as a allround brewing device. But at the moment I really like my espresso machine in the morning

6_ Which is the best coffee you ever tasted?

The one I used for the WBC in 2018. Colombia Cerro Azul Gesha XO from Las Margaritas. And close second is the Sudan Rume Natural from that same farm. Both very complex and powerfull coffee’s but at the same time super clean.

7_ Is there a country of origin that you tend to favor coffee from? Why?

I think Colombia because it’s just so diverse. I’ve had many different flavor profiles from Colombia. Also helps that my favorite farm is located in Colombia.

8_ Suggest us a roastery to check (not the one you working at/you use at work).

Ripsnorter Coffee in Rotterdam. New kid on the block

9_ What’s the most important things you’ve learnt while working in the business?

That planning will only get you so far. Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith

10_ How your work and the specialty coffee world are coping with Covid and the new challenges for hospitality?

We’re doing fine actually. Our café just does takeaway and that goes really well. The roastery was a bit quieter in the beginning, but has already picked up again. So we can’t complain luckily.

11_How do you the specialty coffee scene in 10 years?

We will be delivering coffee with drones out of the office, regular coffee will have been swapped out by avocado’s. Specialty coffee will not be special anymore. But, I see that as a good thing because that means we will all be drinking the coffee we now think is special. Which means we’re all drinking nice coffee. Unfortunately our roastery will no longer exist because Amsterdam will be under water by then.

12_ Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I will be somewhere in the mountains, either climbing or producing coffee.

13_ Any last word? Any tip or suggestion you wanna share with someone that want to start this path?

I can definitely recommend it if it’s something you love doing. It’s hard work but that doesn’t matter if you like doing it. It’s very rewarding, in my opinion, to start your own business and take the thing you love and make it yours