Austrian born Birgit Lienhart Gyawali started Kar.ma Coffee in Kathmandu nearly two decades ago, beginning with pour overs made from supermarket bought beans sold to passersby. The operation has since grown into a specialty roaster sourcing 100 percent single origin arabica directly from small cooperatives and independent farming families across Ilam, Kavre, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchowk, and Kaski, benefiting over 1,100 farmers. Roasting happens twice a week to keep everything fresh. The cafes in Patan and Boudha use exclusively hand brewing methods with no electric machines, pouring through V60 and Chemex on brew stations made of mango wood from trees that no longer yield fruit. Nearly all equipment is made in Nepal.