A few months ago, I shared with the Coffevine community that I had decided to move to Barcelona. This was the result of some significant changes in my personal life that took me a to a fork in the road.

I could either stay in Amsterdam or I could do what I have wanted to do for years. So I decided to listen to my heart. Since April 2025, I was busy preparing for this move to Spain, which initially also included moving the business.

But after a visit to Barcelona in June, I realized that this was not a good idea. There was simply no guarantee that I would be able to continue offering the same level of service from Spain as I have done from The Netherlands for other a decade.

Thus, the decision was made to leave The Coffeevine where it is and find someone to join the team. This person would be instrumental in keeping the show going, running all of our logistics and ensuring that our monthly shipments go out on time.

Introducing: Kieran Lobo – coffee nerd with a smile

Out of all the people who applied for this role, Kieran seemed the most qualified. He was already working in specialty coffee and conveniently lives right around the corner from the Coffeevine HQ.

After a grab a coffee with him FUKU, it became clear pretty quickly that we also clicked on a personal level. This was super important to me. Kieran, who is originally from sunny Goa, came to Amsterdam with his girlfriend who works at an NGO.

I asked Kieran to answer a few questions so you can now also get to know him better.

Where did you discover specialty coffee and do you remember what kind of coffee you had then?

I think I was around 20 when I had one of my first cups of specialty coffee, brewed in a Moka pot – I remember the beans came from India’s Araku Valley and were roasted by Koinonia, a Mumbai-based specialty roaster.

It was full-bodied, creamy, and tasted like cocoa nibs and dried raisins – tasting notes I would typically associate with Indian specialty coffee, at least back in 2017-18.

My real “discovery” of specialty coffee and the industry through my friend Varun – he had just returned from London, and had worked in specialty coffee for a bit.

He started a small local roastery of his own in Mumbai, and I went along for the ride! I went from thinking, “Who is this weird coffee person?” to cupping, brewing, and learning with him — he’s now one of my closest friends and my coffee confidant!

I think my final coffee would be the one that makes me happiest: this, for me, is a cup of Nescafé instant coffee with milk and sugar!

What is your favourite brew method and why?

This is a tough one! If I really, really (and I mean really, really) had to choose, it would be espresso.

The science behind espresso extraction fascinates me, and I’m a big fan of intense, punchy flavours.

I enjoy pursuing the perfect shot, even though dialling in can sometimes be infuriating! I also tend to associate espresso with hospitality, which is SUCH an important part of this industry.

What would be your final coffee in life?

I think my final coffee would be the one that makes me happiest: this, for me, is a cup of Nescafé instant coffee with milk and sugar!

I know it sounds crazy, but this is the kind of coffee I grew up drinking — and it always reminds me of being at my grandmum’s home, in a train, or by the roadside, seeking refuge from the Indian monsoon.

What’s a funny or unexpected skill that you have?

My girlfriend says it’s “always knowing when the rice is perfectly cooked!”

What’s your biggest coffee goal right now?

Right now, I think of myself as a coffee student, so I’m always trying to take in as much as I can about the coffee value chain.

I don’t know what my coffee career is going to look like yet, but I know my goal is to be a “responsible” coffee professional, regardless of the role.

Today, I’m focusing on becoming a better cupper and brewer. I’d like to compete next year, maybe in the Dutch Cup Tasters Championship!

Join me in wishing Kieran all the best in his new role at The Coffeevine!