Coronini: Coffee Roastery from Tolmin

Good coffee in Slovenia can be found throughout the country. Some of the best coffee in Slovenia comes not from the cities of Maribor or Ljubljana but from smaller towns.

Located in the town of Tolmin is a coffee roasting operation of Coronini, offering blends, specialty coffee, and even coffee pods and capsules.

We spoke to a co-founder of Coronini Rok Suligoj.

Overview of Coronini Coffee Roasters

Coronini is a specialty coffee roasting operation based in Tolmin, Slovenia, founded in 2015 by two childhood friends, Tadej Foregotto and Rok Suligoj. They started their journey as coffee enthusiasts, exploring different coffee origins and brewing methods.

After attending a cupping session and discovering the complexity of specialty coffee, they decided to take their passion to the next level by roasting their own coffee.

“One day my friend Tadej just bought a 2kg CoffeeTech roaster, I bought a grinder and we just started roasting. It was a hobby. But very fast we understood that there is a demand for freshly roasted high-quality coffee. Our friends and relatives would ask us for coffee all the time!  So we registered a business. That was almost 9 years ago,” – Rok shares.

The Roasting Process and Quality Control

Tadej is the roastmaster, responsible for developing the roast profiles and ensuring consistent quality. He has attended various courses and read extensively on coffee roasting to perfect his craft. The two friends work together to select the green coffee beans, aiming to offer a range of origins and profiles to satisfy different preferences, from bright and acidic to sweet and chocolatey.

“We managed to find a way to preserve a flavor profile loved by our clients and preserve it during the 9 years of the operation. When choosing a new addition we are looking for the same or similar flavor experience to what we had before. In Coronini we believe that it is more important to have a few well-roasted lots than a wide choice of similarly-tasting coffees. We get our samples roasted and we taste them extensively in espresso. For us consistency is key,” – Rok.

Business Growth and Expansion Plans

Coronini Coffee Roasters started as a hobby but quickly grew into a full-fledged business after receiving requests from friends and companies to purchase their coffee. The partners officially opened the business in 2015 and have been roasting professionally for the past 9 years. They currently supply coffee to local bars and cafes but have plans to open their coffee shop in a larger city like Ljubljana or Maribor in the future. However, they are waiting for the right location and business partner to make this a reality.

“Among other plans, we are looking for a business partner to head a Coronini coffee shop. With the current state of the commercial real estate market in Slovenia, it is a challenge to find a good location,” – Rok.

Roastery Location and Visitor Experience

The Coronini Coffee Roasters is located in Tolmin, near the Soča River, which attracts many hikers and outdoor enthusiasts during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. While the roastery is not open to the public regularly, the partners are open to hosting visitors by appointment for tours and tastings. They have welcomed school groups in the past, providing an educational and eye-opening experience for students to learn about coffee production.

“We are located near very popular trails and making a pop-up cafe during busy seasons is something we are thinking about. For now, we support local small businesses that cater to the demand of tourists by supplying high-quality freshly roasted coffee. Some open up shops with capsule espresso machines and we are happy to provide our bestselling premium 100% arabica blend,” – Rok.

Equipment and Consistency

Coronini Coffee Roasters started with a small 2kg CoffeeTech sample roaster and has since upgraded to a 25kg Joper gas roaster, which they are very satisfied with. The roaster allows them to precisely control and adjust the roasting parameters, ensuring consistent quality for their signature blends. 

Thanks to a masterfully developed coffee collection consisting of blends and specialty coffee, capsules, and even coffee pads and reliable service Coronini is a popular choice for cafes around Slovenia. 

On top of all that, Coronini can provide a cafe business with equipment such as espresso machines and grinders.

Interview

Lev (Specialty Kava Si): When in Ljubljana, where would you recommend going to try Coronini coffee?

Rok (Coronini): I would recommend Lana’s Corner, Zlata Ladjica, and you can’t miss it if you go to TINK. 

Lev: What is your favorite coffee drink?

Rok: Usually I would go with an espresso. But sometimes I get some of the bigger commercial brands of coffee and in this case, I prefer to add a bit of milk, basically making a macchiato. But, in all honesty, I make myself a double ristretto when at the roastery. That’s the best for me. If only more baristas would brew this drink properly. 

Lev: Do you have a favorite coffee? Does it match with the public’s top choice?

Rok: I do have a favorite but it doesn’t match with what our customers prefer. Of course, I like all the coffee lots we have, but I do take part in choosing those after all. I like our specialty coffee lots. But our audience prefers our premium 100% arabica blend. It is our bestseller.  

Lev: Is there a decaf in your offer?

Rok: Absolutely, we do have a pure Swiss water Colombia decaf and a decaf blend. We actually see a rise in sales of these two coffees. Decaf is definitely becoming more popular. 

Lev: I noticed on the Coronini website that I can make my bag of roasted coffee. How does that work?

Rok: In the majority of cases this service is used for making presents when a company has an event, maybe for the new year, Christmas, whenever they want to give something to their partners, to their employees, or so on. It doesn’t have to be their brand. It can just say Happy New Year. But we’re also open to a white-label approach. If you’re a coffee shop and you would like to have coffee under your brand we can do that. 

Lev: Finally, what is your advice for coffee lovers and those who are just embarking on a coffee-discovering journey?

Rok: I would say don’t be afraid to try something different, try something new, or try something that you haven’t been drinking in the past years because you’re not going to be sorry. And do give specialty coffee an extra chance. This kind of coffee is so far away from what most people are used to that the first cup probably won’t be to your liking. The second cup can be an eye-opening experience. 

Lev: Thank you so much for the talk!

Outro

Coronini roastery is a good example of an ever-perceiving roasting operation in Slovenia offering both specialty coffee and premium grade blends. 

Consistency is something that Coronini pays attention to and it shows. We do recommend trying their lots. Look up the map of cafes on the Coronini website to see the nearest venue.