Welcome to the world of CALDAS

Awareness of Coffee – from the very beginning

It all began with a business trip to the lush, green landscapes of Manizales, in the heart of Colombia’s Caldas region. Markus Bischof expected a brief visit – but what he found was far more profound. Surrounded by misty mountains and fertile coffee farms, he quickly fell in love with the region’s beauty, culture, and the warmth of its people.

While exploring the highland fincas, he felt a deep connection to the land and those who worked it. It wasn’t long before Markus – and soon his wife Jennifer – began to imagine a future there. Not as occasional visitors, but as part of the community. The dream of retiring under the forest canopy, cultivating high-quality, shade-grown specialty coffee, took hold. With that vision in mind, they invested in their own finca, planting the seeds of what would become CALDAS Coffee.

Through his extensive professional network, Markus met Olga Bustamante, a seasoned coffee farmer with deep roots in specialty coffee cultivation. Their shared values led to a natural partnership, and Olga’s Finca La Primavera became the source of CALDAS Coffee’s first specialty lot. Today, more local farmers are joining the CALDAS Coffee project.

To bring international momentum and energy to the vision, Caldas Coffee founder Markus invited his longtime friend Sean Taylor, based in Switzerland, to join the team. Sean brought along his close friends Danny and Fabian – and together, they formed the Swiss side of CALDAS Coffee.

More Than Coffee. A Shared Vision. Our mission goes beyond producing exceptional coffee. We’re building a values-driven, community-centered project rooted in friendship, purpose, and the rich soil of Caldas, Colombia. What started as a business trip has grown into a deeply personal journey – and we invite you to be part of it.

Protecting the Tapir – A Commitment by CALDAS Coffee

During his travels through Colombia, Markus also learned of a pressing environmental concern: all three native tapir species in Colombia are now critically endangered, with only an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 individuals remaining in the wild. Often referred to as the "gardeners of the forest," tapirs play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. As a keystone species, they contribute significantly to seed dispersion and forest regeneration. However, their survival is under severe threat due to deforestation for agriculture, illegal hunting, and the encroachment of domestic dogs into protected areas.