Inception

Now operating under the name LF Coffee, Leuchtfeuer was established in 2017 in Wedel near Hamburg, investing heavily in technology from the outset with two Loring roasters designed for energy efficiency and minimal carbon footprint. A smaller Loring is used to develop individual roast profiles, which can then be transferred automatically to the larger production machine for consistent batch replication. For competition coffees and their Premium Picks line, a Stronghold roaster handles small batch work with additional precision. Quality control is extraordinary: two color sorters operate before and after roasting to remove impurities and inconsistently developed beans, while five destoners catch any remaining debris. Green coffee is stored in a climate controlled room at 15 degrees Celsius with humidity maintained between 50 and 55 percent year round, and the roastery pays on average four to five times the Fairtrade minimum price, rising to 80 or 90 times for exclusive lots like Panamanian Geishas and premium Kenyan selections.