Curating your own Coffee Journey with TheBeanGeek
TheBeanGeek is building something that many specialty coffee lovers didn’t know they needed: a platform to discover, log, and rate beans while uncovering their own evolving taste profile. We sat down with the team to hear how they’re making “Vivino for coffee” a reality. It made us reflect on what this says about the broader culture of coffee today.
From “Analysis Paralysis” to Clarity
The idea for TheBeanGeek was born out of curiosity, love for coffee and, well... frustration. With thousands of roasters and endless beans on the market, choosing felt overwhelming for Peter (Founder of TheBeanGeek). Often ending in expensive bags that disappointed. Inspired by the confidence of buying wine with Vivino, Peter realized coffee deserved a similar tool. We asked all the questions and can now tell you all the details: what maters more, how is the data helpful for consumers, how ist helpful for roasters, UX, challenges, what is coming.. all of it.
Borrowing (and Breaking Away) from Wine & Beer
Similar to Vivino, TheBeanGeek collects granular data for each bean (origin, process, roast level, tasting notes) but with one key difference: no prices. Coffee bags are short-lived compared to bottles of wine, and taste alignment matters far more than cost. This choice keeps discovery fun and focused on flavor, not budgets.
Structuring Coffee, One Bean at a Time
Data is the backbone of the platform. Every bean, even in blends, gets logged at the most specific level possible. With over 29,000 coffees cataloged, the hardest challenge has been unifying names across languages and habits. But this meticulous approach makes filters and searches genuinely useful instead of gimmicky.
A Taste-Matching Engine That Evolves With You
We were the happiest to learn, that TheBeanGeek’s recommendation system grows with each cup logged. More recent ratings weigh heavier, acknowledging that palates evolve. Matches are based on taste notes, origin, processing, and variety, keeping suggestions fresh without trapping users in their past preferences. This felt key to what we ourselves observe in our shops. Most of our clients start their coffee journeys at a really good but also reliable and traditional blend. However after tasting and trying new brewing methods and beans their palate evolves. If not it would be like going from fast food to Michelin level and being shocked you dont enjoy it.
Partnering with Roasters
The most rewarding collaborations are with roasters who truly want to hear from their customers. Onboarding is smooth, TheBeanGeek does the heavy lifting, but the real magic happens when roasters actively engage, listening to feedback and improving their craft through the community’s insights.
Coffee as CultureCoffee is no longer just a daily habit, something picked up blindly from a supermarket shelf each week. It’s becoming a space for conscious consumerism and cultural expression. Much like IMDB, Goodreads, or Vivino, TheBeanGeek taps into a shift where people want to collect, curate, and reflect on their experiences. Instead of only reviewing cafés, consumers are now building libraries of beans, developing taste profiles, and sharing opinions on the beans themselves. This is a fascinating cultural moment: the act of drinking coffee is being reimagined as both a personal journey and a collective conversation. In some ways, it feels like we’re watching coffee cross into pop culture territory. Could we see a series like Drops of God — but for coffee? Maybe sooner than we think. What’s certain is that coffee knowledge is no longer reserved for Q-graders and SCA competitors. It’s becoming democratized, playful, and fun — and TheBeanGeek is helping capture that shift in real time. |
Who’s on the Platform?
Around 40% of users subscribe to the paid Coffee Expert tier. Their favorite feature: personalized matching insights that break down why a bean aligns with their unique taste profile. Soon, Expert members will also receive “new drop” notifications, meaning: alerts when roasters release coffees that fit their palate.
Discovery vs. Tracking
While discovery is exciting, tracking is what drives retention. Logging just two coffees makes users far more likely to return weekly. The digital coffee diary becomes an addictive habit, and the best way to keep learning.
Coffee Data, Curated with Care
Most coffees are editorially curated into the database, ensuring accuracy and consistency. Roasters don’t need to manage the heavy details — the platform bridges that gap, giving them more time to focus on roasting.
What’s Next on the Roadmap
In 2025, TheBeanGeek rolled out a partnership with the Specialty Coffee Association, becoming one of the trusted apps for official Coffee Value Assessment tracking. For everyday drinkers, a new feature will allow users to mark favorite roasters, and get notified when a matching new release drops. It’s a new way to stay on top of the beans that matter most.
Trends from 29,000 Beans
With a dataset this large, patterns emerge. One surprising finding? Austria leads globally in decaf consumption, and also has the highest blend rate. The UK, US, and Ireland also rank among the top decaf markets.
Building a Healthy Coffee Community
We asked Peter how does he encourage useful reviews over hype, and what does a healthy TheBeanGeek community look like to you?
For Roasters and coffee drinkers reviews matter most when they come with context. That’s why TheBeanGeek asks reviewers to identify their experience level. Beginners and experts bring different insights.
A healthy TheBeanGeek community is one where every review feels valuable, whether it’s from a beginner discovering their first fruity pour-over or an expert with years of tasting behind them. It’s a space where roasters get meaningful feedback, and coffee lovers feel supported in exploring and mapping their own journey.
A Personal Coffee Story
We asked Peter about his personal “lightbulb” moment, and it was so sweet:
It was at a barista course my girlfriend (now fiancée) gifted me. I tasted different pour-overs side by side, and I realized how drastically coffees can differ. That was my first real “lightbulb” moment - the one that kicked off my specialty coffee journey.
That cup ignited the path to TheBeanGeek.
Lessons from Tech & Product
With a background in engineering and product management, the team blends user-first thinking with technical rigor. The approach is to prioritize quality over speed, choosing to build thoughtfully rather than chasing quick MVPs.
I would say to myself "Be patient, quality will take you further than speed. Chasing an MVP too quickly only means you’ll end up back at the drawing board."
Advice for Newcomers
For those just beginning their specialty coffee journey: buy small bags (like our CODOS Sample Sizes), taste widely, and don’t fear new processes or varieties. Home cuppings — especially with friends — are one of the best (and most fun) ways to sharpen sensory skills and deepen appreciation, according to Peter. And honestly we agree.
☕ Coffee is entering a new era, one where taste, data, and culture converge. TheBeanGeek isn’t just cataloging beans; it’s helping coffee drinkers everywhere curate their journey, and in the process, documenting the rise of coffee as a conscious, cultural movement.
Teilen:
Espresso Guide: Dialling in at Home