The Coffee Connoisseurs of Cambodia

September 10, 2010, 11:25 am
Filed under: Uncategorized

Three Corner Coffee Roaster, a product of Cambodia

Three Corner Coffee Roaster in Phnom Penh

Sorting out the bad beans

Kelle by the Fluidized Roasting and V-Line Blender Machine

Located on the south side of Phnom Penh is the finest and delicious coffee bean shop called “Three Corner Coffee Roaster”. Their unique blends are specially created to allow the beans to complement each other in the best possible way, creating the perfect cup that every coffee lover will enjoy.
Owned by Kirk and Kelle Richter, Three Corner Coffee Roaster provides the best premium grade coffees from the South East Asian region, finely roasted in Cambodia. Three Corner Coffee Roaster hand select only the finest beans from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, exhibiting the aromatic flavors that have made the region famous worldwide. The name “Three Corner” is derived from the three countries; Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. On the map, the three corners of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam are connected, forming a triangle.
The Richter’s have lived in Phnom Penh for over 8 years. In 2002, Kirk moved his family from San Antonio, Texas, to Cambodia, where he worked as a Contractor and Project Manager for the building of the U.S. Embassy. This year commemorates the 60^th Anniversary of the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia. Kirk and Kelle are Christian missionaries, working for the HOPE organization, a non-profit group dedicating to assisting survivors of physical, sexual, and mental abuse. Currently, Kirk is the Project Manager for the building of Mercy Hospital. Along with their son, Wesley, (18), daughter, Hannah, (13), the Richter’s is rebuilding Cambodia, both physical and spiritual. Their other son, Chase (21), currently lives in Texas.
Kelle gave me a tour of her facility, where she explained the process of how the coffee beans are roasted. Each bean, from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, are individually hand selected, sorting out the bad beans, and then processed in the Fluidized Roasting Machine, to tailor each individual bean releasing the full flavor potential within. No additives or additional flavorings are used. Next, the coffee beans go into the V-Line Blender Machine, integrating the superior flavor of Cambodian beans into the Laos and Vietnam beans. Finally, the coffee beans are packaged in a sealed, gold bag, to keep out the moisture in the air so the beans will degas through the one way valve, keeping the aroma flavor of the beans. “An important element of the process is keeping the room temperature consistent and cold, so each bean will not lose its moisture and flavor once it goes into the machine to be roasted”, stated Kelle. “We never compromise and always provide top quality beans in our packages, guaranteeing fresh coffee beans with a lasting aroma flavor.”
I spent the past month chatting with Kelle when she is having lunch or taking a break at Jacob’s Well Café & Restaurant. This is where I spend my time posting my blog, checking emails, and reading the latest sports updates on ESPN.com. Three Corner Coffee Roaster is located below Jacob’s Well. Kelle is an extraordinary woman, full of life and positive energy. She is passionate about everything she does. We always compare life in the U.S. and here in Cambodia, and our experiences are very similar. Kelle mentioned that her father was ill and she was able to spend time with him before he passed away. You could feel the love for her father as she spoke about him. She commended me for staying with my father as this is truly a gift of love, and she also believed that this is a soul searching experience for me.
Kelle has met many wonderful and inspiring Cambodians, which she suggests I meet, so I can write about their stories. She is a fan of my blog. I always ask Kelle for recommendations to pharmacies, American food markets, and restaurants. Kelle has been living in Phnom Penh for awhile, and she is very familiar with the businesses and culture here. She is my American tour guide, and now a friend.
I applaud Kirk and Kelle for their charitable work with the HOPE organization, and bringing the business of coffee beans into Cambodia. The Richter’s is the coffee connoisseurs of Cambodia, with hearts of gold.
Three Corner Coffee Roaster is a social enterprise company that hires men and women from vulnerable background. A social enterprise business applies market-based strategies to achieve a social purpose.