• Maker Series
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Maker Series

A Maker is a person who has been significantly influenced by and has made notable contributions to Ninety Plus in our journey to produce the best coffee in the world. In our Maker Series, we highlight these individuals to share how Ninety Plus has affected their lives and celebrate the impact they in turn have had on Ninety Plus.


Camilo Sanchez

Camilo Sanchez grew up in the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca, an Indigenous reservation area in Panama. He began his journey with Ninety Plus in 2012 as a harvester, engaging in the grueling work of hand selecting coffee cherries up and down the steep slopes of the Ninety Plus estates. Nicknamed El Tigre for his enthusiasm and grace on the hiking trails that wind throughout the estates, Camilo now oversees all agricultural operations for Ninety Plus and has traveled the world to share Ninety Plus taste experience.

Original answers were given in Spanish and live-translated.

WHEN WAS YOUR FIRST SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE WITH COFFEE?

In 2015, I was invited to attend a tasting session at Ninety Plus Gesha Estates. I could not believe the taste differences from one coffee to another. There were many world-class baristas there as well, and everyone had an excitement for the different coffees and an understanding of coffee that I did not yet comprehend fully. I didn’t know how to react to the differences as everyone else, but I did know that I was experiencing something special. Before that experience I had not had the opportunity to be in such rooms and at such tables.

As a child my experience with coffee was limited to visiting family members who worked on coffee farms. Later in life, around 2012, I was harvesting coffee for Ninety Plus but saw it just as work. I did not see it as something to be passionate about or as a future career. But during my time harvesting, the farm manager came across my detailed notebooks and recognized my organizational skills. He brought this to the attention of Joseph and asked me to begin managing the Red Room, where coffee is dried. Later, I also managed the area where coffee was received and processed. Even while working so closely with the coffee I did not have a passion for it. It was only when I had that first tasting experience in 2015 that I found that I had a bigger passion for coffee that I had not yet unlocked.

Once I started working with Joseph I truly began to understand the world of coffee. This fueled my passion even more. I got to learn more about the values of the brand including taste, humanity, and ecology. This understanding allowed me to put more of myself into it.


WHAT DOES NINETY PLUS COFFEE MEAN TO YOU?

Whenever I think of Ninety Plus I think about how it is the best. Not only in coffee but also in its values. The brand is working for a better future with sustainable harvesting practices and a sustainable mission. When I speak of sustainability I mean not only environmental sustainability but also happiness in the process. It is a brand that is looking to the future for sustainability of the environment and its people.


WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE WITH NINETY PLUS COFFEE?

I have had many experiences with Ninety Plus and there are many more to come. But the time when I first learned to roast coffee comes to mind. When I first learned to roast I couldn’t sleep, as it was overwhelming to try to understand everything about the process. I was thinking of the coffee at all times. There were so many things to learn about fermentation, the ripeness of the cherries when picked, and so many other variables.

I also remember the first time I tasted notes of strawberries in a cup of coffee. Every time something new happened it was impactful. It continues to happen now. There are new experiences and new coffees that are discovered and I am excited to share them with others. It is like exploring nature. There are new waterfalls, new trails and spaces to discover, just like coffees. The moments are endless.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE FUTURE OF COFFEE?

I think the future of coffee is in the flavors. I believe that the innovations we are making at Ninety Plus are already having a positive global impact within the coffee industry and beyond. There are many opportunities to introduce new varieties and flavors and it is important to enjoy those in the present but to not stop there and look to the future and grow little by little. And to make it known that coffee should not be limited to historical standards but have room to expand.

WHAT LASTING IMPACT DO YOU HOPE TO MAKE ON COFFEE?

Each time I find something amazing in the coffees my instinct is to share it with everyone. At first I was hesitant to share these discoveries, but over the years my confidence has grown and I am now confident and excited to share each discovery.

I want to look back on my life and think of how many people I have taught. If I have only learned for myself and not taught others it will have been for nothing. I want to share the knowledge I have learned, especially with those in my community. Indigenous communities are equal to others and I hope by sharing my knowledge there will be more presence from my community in the coffee industry. I am the only person from my community who has captured coffee in this way and I hope to pass it to the next generation.