Our passion lies in delivering the finest specialty coffees.
We pride ourselves on providing world-class customer service and logistics while maintaining a relentless commitment to sustainability, producers, and coffee growing communities.
Our Story
In 2019, Mercon Specialty was launched in Seattle with a mission to empower independent roasters by sourcing and delivering the world’s most extraordinary coffees. Our commitment to sustainability, combined with a strong presence in coffee-producing regions and unparalleled expertise in global logistics, allows us to deliver world-class service to our clients.
As a proud member of the Mercon Coffee Group, one of the world’s premier coffee suppliers, we benefit from a vertically integrated approach that spans the entire coffee supply chain. Operating in over 60 countries, Mercon Coffee Group excels in every aspect of the industry, from farm to production, trading, logistics, and risk management. This integrated expertise ensures that we consistently provide the highest quality and most exceptional coffees to our customers.
We are a team of coffee enthusiasts and experts.
We are committed to investments in local coffee-growing communities because we've seen first-hand how this creates a better coffee world. Our LIFT program is a shining example. Finally, like you, we are passionate about great coffee and delight in discovering new coffees whose taste transports us to the other side of the world.
The Mercon family coffee tradition dates back 1953, offering a wealth of knowledge and decades of leadership in the specialty coffee industry. From farming and processing, to blending and roasting, our expertise allows us to tailor our services to every client’s needs.
You can trust our team to be the partner who can help you grow and succeed.
Meet Our Team
Craig Russell
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Craig is passionate about coffee but more importantly, about making an impact in coffee communities. That’s why he is a board member of Seeds for Progress, a non-profit that provides quality education in coffee growing communities.
Jolene Zehnder
DIRECTOR OF SALES & OPERATIONS
Jolene loves coffee and it translates in her passion to giving back to coffee growing communities. She is committed to social responsibility and sustainability in the coffee industry and loves working closely with producers in origin.
Neil Oney
GREEN COFFEE QUALITY MANAGER
A competitive pinball player who happens to be a talented and skilled cupper. He has been a barista competitor, a barista competition coach, and was a primary author of the SCA’s level one barista curriculum. Neil is also an Authorized SCA Trainer and Q Grader.
Michelle Dunaway
SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE
As a Honduran, Michelle is an expert on coffee from this beautiful country and even though she loves talking about coffee from any origin country in the world, she has a soft spot for coffee from her native Honduras.
Camila Topke
SALES EXECUTIVE
Camila Topke was born and raised in Guatemala, where she spent much of her childhood on coffee farms. During her time in Guatemala, she joined the Women in Coffee Chapter of the International Women in Coffee Association (IWCA) and in 2014 became Vice President of the Guatemalan Chapter.
Serena Beze
SALES EXECUTIVE
Serena, a Miami native, has always been passionate about creating memorable experiences for people. She discovered her love for multiple facets of the coffee industry and found that the world of green coffee offered a space to merge her skills and passions.
Crystina McKenna
NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Crystina joins us with over 17 years experience in the coffee industry, having held various roles in cafes and forming strong relationships with roasters. She manages our website and online sales, bringing her expertise and style to create an enjoyable customer experience.
Cynthia Heng
SENIOR MARKETING SPECIALIST
Cynthia joined our team in Seattle with a degree in strategic communications and business administration. She has been working in marketing for corporate office coffee services over the last 5 years and is excited to begin a career in specialty coffee.
Eric Chastain
ROAST PRODUCTION
Eric got to know coffee at the early age of 7 years old, and since then his love and passion for coffee has only grown. He is our primary roaster and is dedicated to quality and consistency.
Bruno Felipe de Lima
SPECIALTY COFFEE COORDINATOR - BRAZIL
Bruno’s love of coffee started early. Growing up on his family’s farm in Brazil, he learned all about coffee farming and how to make it better. Since then, he has been focused on specialty Brazilian coffee, including serving as a judge in the Cup of Excellence and other competitions.
Noah-Briannon Martin
QUALITY CONTROL ASSISTANT
Noah joins the team seven years into their coffee career. They have worked in various cafes as training lead, and obtained their Green Coffee Foundation certification. Noah is thrilled to start their green coffee career aims to continue expanding their knowledge of the coffee universe and obtain their Q-Grade Certification.
Thomas Kennett
Quality Control Assistant
Thomas began his journey as a barista in 2009, discovering a passion for crafting and serving coffee. With diverse roles including café manager, green buyer, roaster, and quality control specialist, he now manages Mercon's roasting space in Kansas City.
Delivering solutions for your sustainable coffee needs is what we do best.
We harness a diverse array of resources, global connections, and a dedicated team of passionate experts. We are committed to fostering the growth of your business.
Whether you're in the market for a single bag or larger quantities, our unwavering support is tailored to meet your objectives. Your success is our mission, and we're here to assist you at every step.
Our Sourcing Model
Broad Network of Producers
We nurture mutually beneficial relationships with producers and suppliers worldwide.
A Global Footprint
We have origin presence in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Brazil, Vietnam, and Ethiopia.
Fairest Trade
Our farmers are paid premium rates and receive technical and financial assistance to enhance productivity.
Coffee That Gives Back
Giving back is foundational to who we are, and we invest in education to support the development of coffee-growing communities.
Quality Control
From purchase to shipment, we follow strict quality controls to ensure all steps of the process are traceable throughout the supply chain.
Curated Offerings
We seek out micro-lot, estate, and premium coffees grown in an eco-friendly and socially conscious manner.