While Aussie coffee culture might be one of our proudest exports, every cup of brew is, in reality, a labour of love undertaken by farmers, artisans and creators from across the globe. Friends (and caffeine fiends) Taaj and Cristian saw the opportunity to celebrate coffee’s international origin story in their own communities, establishing a business that aims to remove the middleman that usually separates Aussie coffee drinkers from farmers. They started by buying and managing a coffee farm in Cristian’s home of Colombia. By 2023, the team decided to take the plunge and bring their single-origin coffee to Brisbane and start GM Coffee – a roastery that wants us to rethink coffee from the bean.

It’s rare for coffee roasters to own and operate its own bean farm, but it’s this unorthodox approach that Taaj and Cristian hope will make GM Coffee thrive. “We cut out the middleman to ensure a direct connection between our Colombian farm and coffee lovers in Australia,” explains Taaj. “This allows us to maintain quality control, transparency and fair pricing while fostering a deeper appreciation for the journey from bean to cup.”

With a direct relationship to the farmers, the duo have total visibility over the quality. As a result, the beans have earned a cupping score of 84+ and 82+, which puts it in the top 6 percent in the world. In layman’s terms, this means GM Coffee has won high praise from coffee aficionados for its depth of sweetness, acidity, body and more.

GM Coffee wants to redefine what we mean by a good coffee by showcasing every stage of the coffee journey and bridging the gap between Colombian coffee farms and Australian caffeine lovers. You can purchase Taaj and Cristian’s unique coffee at local haunt Renegade Roasters and try at Salt Coffee Roasters. Shop online and follow along their journey here.