Meet Nicolas Palinginis | Specialty coffee importer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicolas Palinginis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicolas, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started in the coffee business with my two brothers in Piura-Peru in 2017 while studying in university, with a coffee brand called “bueno para dos”. Here is where i learned a lot of the industry, selling mostly in the north of Perú.

After finishing my career, I took a step back working in different industries like fishing and communications, but never quite got the same level of excitement and passion as I had working in coffee.

This motivation along with the friends, contacts, and the know-how I had developed over the years lead me to develop a plan of starting again in coffee, creating “PROSPECT COFFEE FARMS” an importing business focused on specialty coffee from Peru.

In addition, I am part American from my mom’s side. And travel regularly to visit family in Texas, so I got to know the Texan coffee market a little bit and decided to put two and two together.

So, the business came out to be: Importing specialty coffee from Peru to the Texan market. Something small I could do by myself while keeping quality and sustainability as my primary values.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The business is importing green coffee from Perú, I select producers with high standards for quality and consistency and source their coffees from the region and bring them to Lima. Where the coffee passes through a tough test on quality control. If the coffee is approved, then it is offered to roasters specifically in the Dallas area. I currently only work with clients in that area, as I get to know the market and tailor make the offers.

Apart from the tailor-made offerings, since my clients are in Dallas (surrounding areas) I can deliver the coffee to their location. Witch is a big plus in the coffee world, as normally the clients oversee shipping to their locations.

Starting a business from another country is difficult and importing is not the easiest either. I must compete with other companies like myself that ship much more coffee, that allows them to have a cheaper importing cost, and don’t put much effort into giving the producer the best price for their beans.

I have learned a lot on the pricing of coffee in Dallas, and how Peruvian coffee is viewed here. I can offer the same quality of coffee from Peru as a Colombian for example, but I will have to sell cheaper if I want to get the client. And that’s how markets work, putting Peru in a more commercial coffee space, and ultimately because the final consumer will pick the bag that they fell is the best.

In this way, Peru is not there yet, but it is a barrier I want to help brake; making Peruvian coffee as recognized as its neighboring countries will incentivize the growth of specialty farms and ultimately a better pay for producers (which is the main goal)!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Of course! OK I would do a coffee route.

Day one:

1. I would start visiting Kevin from “Noble coyote coffee roasters” in dallas, they have Edwin’s coffee from Peru, cupping classes and a huge array of hand-picked top of line coffees. Get several coffees to compare flavors.
2. Then I would go visit Michael, from elevate coffee trading in Dallas. One of the top guys when it comes to sourcing coffee. Talk with him about what sustainability in coffee actually means, one of the best.
3. For lunch: David Street espresso for lunch for delicious breads with home made jams. or Ascension for their sandwiches.
4. And finish of with Wayward coffee co, for crazy funky coffees from of the best roasters in the US.

Day 2: For a route more on the outskirts of dallas:

1. Native coffee co, has probably the best coffee in the game. They offer coffees from other roasters all over the world.
2. Ryan at Novel coffee roasters is incredibly passionate about coffee and has some amazing stuff.
3. Finish with Lily from Coffee del Rey, they have Edwin Catimor, and they do everything in house. A must stop for a true family-owned local café experience.
4They are so many more….

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This is great! Because there is a lot of people that have shaped me along the years 😊

In the personal side: My parents have not only encouraged me to start my own business, but have been integral in the ideas, finance, and operations in the us. Helping me store, move and deliver coffee to clients.

My brothers, with them I would not be in coffee at all! We started the original coffee company in Peru together, having know idea about the industry. We learned how to work together, how to be kind to each other, and it is a passion we deeply share, and I am so thankful for it.

On the professional side, I must shout out Enid and Erika from Tika Peru. They are not only my quality control In Peru but have taught me almost everything I know about grading, cupping, and selecting coffee to purchase. Hours and hours of classes and advice that I have cherished.

And producers, with out Edwin Quea and other top-quality producers I would not have a business. They are the most important part in this long chain of supply and have my up most respect and admiration.

Website: https://www.prospectcoffeefarms.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prospectcoffeefarms/