Our Story

Destined for coffee.

Shalo with advisor & investor Zev Siegl, co-founder of Starbucks.

Great Coffee Needs
a Great Leader

Our founder, Jacques Shalo, was born into the coffee world. Literally. Born on his family’s coffee farm in Cameroon, Africa, he grew up surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells of the crop that would later shape his career. In his late teenage years, Jacques decided to pursue business opportunities in the United States, where he gained valuable experience in sales and marketing. However, he never forgot his roots in coffee, and after several years away from the industry, he found himself yearning to reignite his passion.

It was then that Jacques discovered the unheard-of and game-changing air roasting technology — a revolutionary roasting method that roasts coffee fresher than anything on the market.

With a mission to pay farmers more and disrupt the industry with air roasting, he founded Kribi Coffee Air Roastery. He established partnerships with coffee farmers worldwide, and under the advice of Starbucks’ co-founder Zev Siegl, Jacques reconnected with his Cameroonian roots and began sourcing our flagship coffee of choice, Mt. Oku.

At Kribi Coffee, we're not just about brewing premium coffee — we're building a community that values hard work, innovation, and fair trade.

Shalo established an 11-acre farm for Kribi Coffee in Cameroon and formed ties with over 600 coffee farmers worldwide. Our farmers harvest 500,000 pounds of green coffee beans annually.

 

I was determined to act on my legacy and bring as much sincerity and heart to Kribi Coffee as I could. My sister, who was actually waiting for me to step up, connected me with friends and relatives who worked on coffee farms in Cameroon.

— Jacques Shalo, Founder

Partnering Up

Kyle Abongnwi, our partner, oversees the management of over 400 of our coffee farmers. He provides guidance to help them enhance the quality of their produce, and he compensates them with two-to-three times the market price for their coffee. Thanks to Abongnwi's assistance, we can now collaborate with our farmers directly and acquire beans through sustainable sourcing methods.

Meet Our U.S. Team

Meet Our U.K. Team

Jacques Shalo as an infant in Cameroon, Africa, after his family’s first coffee harvest of 1958.

About us

  • Our Approach

    We know how important your coffee is to you. That’s why Kribi Coffee is dedicated to making coffee with care.

  • Air Roasting

    Traditional drum roasters are bad for the planet and your coffee. So we don’t use them! Our patented air roasting process sustainably eliminates the burnt taste and bitterness often associated with coffee.

  • Coffee Origins

    You know us for providing the best coffee in every way—from the growing and harvesting to your cup. Learn more about our beans, who farms them, and how we harvest them!