Oliver Kraus left a career at a major German airline to found Pottschwarz in 2016 with his wife Martina and their children, opening a cafe in Saarn followed by a dedicated roastery the next year. The family roasts on a 12 kilogram Probat drum roaster they have affectionately named Emily, sourcing beans directly from farmers in El Salvador, Costa Rica, Brazil, and Myanmar. Oliver's defining specialty coffee moment came at the 2018 World of Coffee in Amsterdam, where a Rwandan coffee opened his eyes to what the craft could achieve. The business has since grown to include multiple locations in the Ruhr Valley, and a lovingly restored 1964 VW T1 Bulli named Jürgen that serves as their mobile coffee bar at markets and events. Pottschwarz also runs barista seminars, making this family operation a genuine hub for coffee education in the region.