BRAND STORY
From senior brand manager to small business owner
Cologne, Südstadt, Bonner Straße: a warm, almost summery Monday in early May 2014. Sunlight floods through the glass front of the Ernst coffee bar. In the retro-furnished space, the aroma of freshly roasted beans fills the air – beans that, just half an hour earlier, were still neatly stacked in 60 kg jute sacks.
The gentle hum of the Diedrich roaster / small 5 kg roaster blends with the irregular whir of the grinder – a sharp “rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrttttt” – followed by the deep, steady “drrrrrrrrrrrrrr” of the polished La Marzocco. It’s early morning. Espressos and cappuccinos make their way across the vintage counter, built with passion from reclaimed wood.
Maren Ernst, wearing her striped shirt, stands at the bar – checking the roast, balancing cups, brewing filter coffee, steaming milk, explaining flavour notes, and greeting guests with a warm smile.
To pursue her dream of opening a specialty coffee roastery with a café, the Cologne-based coffee enthusiast left her role as a senior brand manager at a large corporation to fully commit to the world of coffee. What could have remained just another wild idea was brought to life within just a few weeks.
Since then, Maren Ernst has been roasting and brewing carefully sourced specialty coffee from hand-selected origins – always in search of the next sensory experience and the perfect cup.
Today, the team has grown to include not only a larger roaster and a second coffee bar, but also Sebastian – Maren’s partner in life and business – as well as a skilled and experienced barista team. Together, they share a commitment to high standards in coffee diversity, roast profiles, flavour, quality, and precise brewing – and occasionally raise the bar even further through participation in various championships.
From mindless consumption to conscious appreciation
Bringing out the subtle, nuanced notes of specialty coffees – roasted with a focus on elegance rather than intensity – is at the heart of our philosophy.
Equally important is a transparent and respectful value chain, from cherry to cup, and a commitment to diversity over uniformity: a multifaceted portfolio that gives small producers a platform and highlights exciting coffees, including micro lots.
While the coffee market continues to evolve and new challenges will always arise, our core values remain unchanged: fair trade, craftsmanship, close and long-term partnerships, and a critical perspective on thoughtless consumption.