Coffee People: Kevin Bwire

Coffee people.
The Better Coffee Standard defines it precisely: everyone whose life and work are bound to coffee, at every stage of the coffee circle — including those working under coercion, economic dependency, or without pay. Their families. Those who keep them standing.

The industry never stops talking about coffee. It rarely stops to talk about the people behind it. Red Ink Coffee exists, in part, to change that.

Coffee People is a series of portraits. Four questions — their voices.

Who are you and what do you do in coffee?

Hi, I'm Kevin, from Nairobi, Kenya — a coffee professional with over 13 years of experience across the coffee value chain, from my first days as a barista all the way to coffee leadership. I currently serve as Head of Coffee Production, where I oversee quality, product development, training, and sourcing, working closely with production teams, suppliers, and management to deliver consistent, high-quality coffee experiences across East Africa.

Tell us about a moment in your work with coffee that you're genuinely proud of.

One of the moments I'm most proud of is helping build consistent coffee quality across multiple countries. I worked closely with production teams, trained staff, developed quality systems, and collaborated with farmers and suppliers to improve sourcing and roasting standards. Seeing those systems improve consistency — from green coffee to the final cup — gave me a real sense of accomplishment, because it positively impacted both the business and the customer experience.

What's one problem you see in your part of the coffee world — and why does it matter to you personally?

One challenge I see is inconsistent quality caused by gaps between coffee producers, processors, and roasters. Great coffee can lose its potential if quality standards are not maintained throughout the supply chain. This matters to me because I've spent much of my career working directly with suppliers, training teams, and improving quality systems — and I know that better collaboration benefits farmers, businesses, and consumers alike.

What would you change if you could — and what would better look like for you?

I would strengthen knowledge sharing and quality education across the entire coffee value chain, especially between farmers, suppliers, and coffee businesses. Better would mean every stakeholder understanding how their role affects the final cup, supported by strong training, transparent sourcing, and long-term partnerships. That would lead to more consistent quality, better incomes for producers, and a stronger coffee industry overall.

You are coffee people. Tell us.

Four questions. Any language. Any format.

1. Who are you and what do you do in coffee?
2. A moment you're genuinely proud of.
3. One problem in your part of the coffee world — and why it matters to you.
4. What would you change — and what would better look like?

Include a short bio and a photo from your work environment. Send your answers to redinkcoffee@thebettercoffee.org