From Soil to Service Part 1: Interview with Cat and Cloud Green Coffee Buyer, Dulce Venancio - Ep# 449

Cat & Cloud Podcast  Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/ From Soil to Service Part 1: Inside the World of Green Coffee - Ep# 449 In this episode of the Cat & Cloud Podcast, Chris Baca and Casey Ryan sit down with Director of Coffee Dulce Venancio to explore the journey of coffee “from soil to service.” Dulce shares how her background in agriculture, her connection to producers in Mexico and Central America, and her growth within Cat & Cloud led her into green coffee buying. The conversation dives into how coffee is sourced, how relationships with producers and importers are built, the realities of the global coffee supply chain, and the intentional work behind selecting coffees that reflect Cat & Cloud’s values. Along the way, they discuss cupping, flavor development, competition culture, mentorship, and the importance of consistency, transparency, and community throughout every step of the coffee process. Chapters 00:00 Soil to Service Series 03:00 What is a Green Buyer 05:02 Origins and Early Trips 06:39 Dulce Backstory and Motivation 08:30 Landing the Green Role 11:21 Imposter Syndrome and Learning 18:17 Money Flow in Coffee Buying 21:13 Mills Exporters Importers Explained 25:36 QC Lab and Flavor Decisions 27:51 Building a Tasting Palate 30:30 Training Your Palate 31:52 Competition Feedback Loops 34:22 Baby Steps Cupping 35:43 Pressure of Green Buying 37:39 When Coffee Gets Rejected 40:22 Direct Trade Versus Importers 42:49 Building the Coffee Menu 46:58 Respect for Producers 50:14 Origin Country Cafe Culture 53:58 Competing and Creative Goals 55:50 Closing and Green Coffee Jingle Cat & Cloud: Instagram: www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore: Buy Our Coffee! www.catandcloud.com/ Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first. Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them.  The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations.  Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby Produced by Casey Ryan May 2026