At La Minita, we’re focused on making every step of choosing and purchasing the perfect coffee for your business our priority. With extensive experience in the specialty coffee world and extreme attention to detail, we’d like to understand how we can help your business.

Feel free to reach out to our staff by phone at the numbers listed on our contact page or by email.

Russ has worked in the coffee industry since 1983. He worked at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters through 1993, serving in various capacities including roasting, product development and training. From 1993 through 1995, Russ worked for the Coffee Connection in Boston, Massachusetts. There he was responsible for all research and development and was instrumental in the commercialization of Frappuccino. Since 1995, Russ has worked for La Minita, currently serving as the President of our trading company. He has served on the SCAA's Environmental Committee, the Coffee Advisory Board of Dunkin' Donuts, and has been a frequent speaker and panel member at the SCAA annual convention. His presentation on coffee roasting in 1996 is now a part of the SCAA's published roasting training materials.

Russ Kramer

President

Jim joined La Minita in 2008 and is responsible for green coffee quality in Burlington Vermont and works with our office in Costa Rica and other origins for quality control. He works with Micro Roasters across the country helping develop their roasting portfolio. Jim has been an active member of the Roasters Guild since 2009 and working towards other certifications from SCAA.

Jim McEnaney

senior manager Green Coffee

Casandra joined La Minita Coffee in February of 2011. She is responsible for maintaining purchase contracts, sales contracts, international direct shipments, and fixation requests. She works closely with our US customs broker to manage destinations …

Casandra joined La Minita Coffee in February of 2011. She is responsible for maintaining purchase contracts, sales contracts, international direct shipments, and fixation requests. She works closely with our US customs broker to manage destinations and documentation for US imports.

Casandra Savelberg

Assistant Manager Purchasing, Supply Chain, Contract Administration

Sergio Cruz began his coffee career in 1983 learning wet and dry processing, quality separation, and selection of coffee for export. He later added quality control, blend preparation, and cupping to his toolbox. Three more jobs working for export co…

Sergio Cruz began his coffee career in 1983 learning wet and dry processing, quality separation, and selection of coffee for export. He later added quality control, blend preparation, and cupping to his toolbox. Three more jobs working for export companies alongside people with great cupping skills and knowledge added to his education. Sergio learned to enjoy and value the hard task of producing and delivering a good cup of coffee. Sergio joined Bill McAlpin at La Minita in 1994 and has increased his responsibilities and value to our company every year since. He currently serves as our director of quality, overseeing every aspect of final quality from our mills in Costa Rica, and managing the QC team in San Jose. Together they cup every lot of coffee from Central and South America destined for our customers around the world.

SERGIO CRUZ

DIRECTOR OF QUALITY, CATTICA

Gwen is based out of the Hinesburg, VT office where she is responsible for managing the quality assurance program and sampling department. She joined La Minita in 2017, bringing with her 4 years’ experience in coffee quality, as well as experience i…

Gwen is based out of the Hinesburg, VT office where she is responsible for managing the quality assurance program and sampling department. She joined La Minita in 2017, bringing with her 4 years’ experience in coffee quality, as well as experience in fine tea and chocolate. Gwen is a Certified Tea Taster.

Gwen Russell

Quality Assurance Manager

Scott has worked in specialty coffee since 1988 and joined La Minita in 2009. He has experience in every aspect of the value chain from barista to roastmaster, with extensive knowledge of green coffee sourcing, purchasing, roasting, blend development, and coffee evaluation. Scott works directly with many of our green coffee projects, devoting special focus on certified coffees, and works with customers to source and build up their sustainable coffee positions. Scott has served on numerous international coffee cupping juries, including Cup of Excellence competitions, holds a position on the Editorial Advisory board of Roast magazine, was a founding member of the Executive Council of the SCAA’s Roaster’s Guild, and has served on multiple committees and councils within the SCAA, including eight years on the SCAA Sustainability Council where he spent a three year term as chair. Scott has dedicated his career to furthering coffee quality throughout the value chain, and has emphasized and exemplified fair pricing practices to hard-working producers every step of the way.

Scott Merle

senior Vice President

Drew joined La Minita in 2001 as a sales manager. Drew works directly with our green coffee projects in Sumatra and Costa Rica and is also responsible for working directly with many of our roaster clients in development of their coffee offerings including menu development and blends. He has extensive experience in the development of coffee extracts for various uses.

Drew Zent

Senior Manager Green Coffee

Tucker joined La Minita in 2021, having previously held a variety of roles—from barista to head roaster—within the specialty coffee industry. He works with roasters across the country, helping them find the right coffees for their roasting programs. Tucker is based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Tucker Francis

Green Coffee Manager

Harry was born in Costa Rica and was raised in a coffee growing family. After secondary school he attended Purdue University in the United States and received his degree in Industrial Engineering in 1990.  He additionally earned an MBA from the…

Harry was born in Costa Rica and was raised in a coffee growing family. After secondary school he attended Purdue University in the United States and received his degree in Industrial Engineering in 1990.  He additionally earned an MBA from the University of Illinois.   

Harry spent 15 years working for Volcafe in Costa Rica learning every aspect of the coffee farming, milling and export business.  He was transferred to Peru in 2010 to manage the Volcafe operations there.  In the last ten years, Harry has tripled the volume of coffee produced by Volcafe in Peru to over 45 million pounds.  To quote Harry, “Today we have a company in Volcafe Peru, that provides not just coffee, but a service related to producers, society, sustainability and much more.  We have done this so that our family can have a better possibility for a clean environment and sustainable long term activities (business).  We have believed on the pillars of quality, sustainability and loyalty and it has certainly paid off for all the reasons we can think of.”

 Harry has worked with La Minita in his time in both Costa Rica and Peru.  He is very familiar with our Costa Rican farms and mills and is excited to learn about our US and Colombian operations.

Harry Odio

VP oF FARM operations

JOHN SHUELL

VICE PRESIDENT

Tina Barnes

LOGISTICS COORDINATOR

Tina has been part of the La Minita Coffee team since April 2013.

 

rOBIN hENNIGAN

Customer Service Representative

MIKE FITZGERALD

Customer Service Representative

Kristina Sickmueller

Certifications and compliance