Ep 7: Building a Bridge Between Farmers and Roasters with Ruth Ann Church of Artisan Coffee Imports

On this episode, Trevor and Josiah sit down with founder of Artisan Coffee Imports Ruth Ann Church to discuss her experience intentionally importing coffees from East Africa. Madcap works with Ruth Ann and Artisan Coffee Imports to contract Ejo Heza, a delicious coffee grown by an all-womens group within the Kopakama Co-Op in Rwanda.

Shenanigans include: 

Ruth Ann’s unconventional start in the coffee industry, moving her family to Rwanda for a year, and the challenges of growing a small remote team.

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Episode chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Artisan Coffee Imports
02:44 Ruth Ann's Journey into Coffee Importing
05:26 The Importance of Economic Development in Coffee
08:12 The Role of Women in Coffee Production
11:18 Sustainability in Coffee: A Holistic Approach
14:36 Building Relationships with Coffee Producers
17:25 The Impact of Education and Training
20:31 Team Growth and Management Challenges
23:24 Creating a Positive Team Culture
43:48 Planning Team Bonding Activities
45:53 Creating a Social Environment
48:34 Team Growth and Future Plans
53:09 The Evolution of Coffee Culture in Michigan
57:45 Challenges in the Coffee Industry
59:31 Building Relationships with Producers


Check out Madcap Coffee:

Website: Madcapcoffee.com

Everywhere on socials: @madcapcoffee 

Check out Artisan Coffee Imports: 

Website: artisancoffeeimports.com

Socials: @artisan_coffeeimports

Music: Blue Shell by Connor Price and K. Keed