Two women, one mission: Rethinking coffee — sustainably, fairly, and with a clear stance. In Isenbüttel, Lower Saxony, Renate and Tina have built a small specialty coffee roastery called WOKE.UP, where pleasure and social responsibility go hand in hand. Their approach is as artisanal as it is politically motivated.
The guiding principle of the founders is intentionally simple: coffee can do more than wake you up. It brings people together, sparks conversations, and can express a stance. For Renate and Tina, the quality of a cup lies not only in its aroma profile but also in the conditions under which it is produced.
Sustainability promises are often inflated
Roasted at WOKE.UP is done electrically rather than with fossil fuels. Packaging is in 100 percent recyclable monomaterial plastic. The beans come exclusively from countries that the two, as queer women themselves, could safely travel to. This selection is not a marketing tool but part of an entrepreneurial ethos: responsibility does not end with flavor.
The coffees are roasted gently in small batches to develop natural sweetness, clear aromas, and a balanced profile. The range spans from velvety chocolate notes to bright, fruity profiles. Each bean carries its own character — while also reflecting the production conditions in its country of origin.
With WOKE.UP, Renate and Tina position themselves in a market that has grown rapidly in recent years, a market in which sustainability promises are frequently inflated. Their project is conceived as a counter-design: specialty coffee, thought inclusively, fairly produced, and passionately roasted — without pathos, but with a clear stance.
Further information can be found on the official website — for good coffee and a good feeling. Or, as WOKE.UP puts it: Every bean counts. (dd/pm)
