Community Highlight: Wanderlust Coffees

For the team behind Wanderlust Coffees, their business is about more than just coffee — though that doesn’t mean the coffee itself is anything less than absolutely superb.

Founded in 2020, the Wanderlust team is focused on providing, “a quality coffee experience that is beneficial at both ends,” according to Timm Wenger, a co-founder and Wanderlust’s main roaster.

What sets Wanderlust Coffees apart?

“Our coffee is fairly traded, purchased from co-ops around the world that are not only paying their farmers a fair wage, but are also doing good in their communities, to improve the entire community’s way of life,” Wenger explained. “Our coffee is organically grown, so it is free of unhealthy chemicals, and offers a healthier choice for its consumers.”

Wanderlust offers signature roasts from six countries (Peru, Guatemala, Colombia, Ethiopia, Honduras, and Indonesia), plus a decaf roast.

But that’s not all – Wanderlust also offers special coffee blends, designed with local community partners.

“Our blends benefit non-profit organizations,” Wenger shared. “So, on this end, part of our mission at Wanderlust Coffees is to provide quality specialty coffees that help support organizations that are doing good in this world.”

Wanderlust’s delicious non-profit blends benefit eight local organizations including CWS Lancaster, Lancaster City Alliance, Lancaster Education Foundation, and the Lancaster Public Library, among others.

“Proceeds from our non-profit blends benefit educational endeavors, community groups, and humanitarian causes,” Wenger shared. “We are inspired by the life of Elder Dobri, a Bulgarian ascetic who daily walked more than 12 miles to Sofia (the capital) to collect money. He donated all that he received to charities, orphanages, churches, and monasteries. He passed away in 2018 at the age of 103. We strive to follow his example of generosity.”

How did Wanderlust Coffees get started?

Wenger and his wife, Kristina Wenger, founded Wanderlust Coffees in 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Knowing what an uncertain time those early pandemic months were for local nonprofits, the Wengers founded their business on the idea of community involvement.

“During the onset of the pandemic, in 2020, our income was reduced to about half, so we started to explore other ways to help make a living and be involved in the community,” Wenger explained. “We considered buying a friend’s coffee roasting company, and when that didn’t work out, we decided to start our own. One of the deciding factors was the inspiration to work with non-profit organizations to develop their own blends of coffee, as a way for us to contribute to worthy causes and provide a quality product at the same time.”

“In the height of the lockdowns, when we began Wanderlust Coffees, we knew that many non-profits were experiencing a strain on their finances, including being unable to have their usual in-person fundraising events,” Wenger continued. “We checked with a variety of organizations, to see if they’d have interest in a coffee blend that would double as a fundraiser for them. They did — and so we began.”

Each non-profit works with the Wanderlust team one-on-one to design a special roast, unique to their organization.

“We work with each non-profit to craft a blend that they like. They name their blend, and inform their supporters that it exists,” Wenger explained. “Their constituents order the coffee from us, we roast it and package it with that nonprofit’s unique label, then mail it to them or take it to one of the free local pickup sites, and they can enjoy their coffee. Twice a year, we send a portion of the proceeds to the non-profit.”

How are Wanderlust Coffees roasted?

Coffee for a good cause — and made with care: the Wanderlust folks are incredibly specific about where and how they source their beans, as well as the roasting method used to create a delicious, rich, and utterly unique drinking experience for their customers.

“Our coffee roasting method is unique on two counts: first, it is an air-roasting method (called ‘fluid bed’ because the beans rest on a constant fluid bed of air as they roast),” Wenger shared. “Most coffee is roasted using the drum method, in which the beans are in almost constant contact with the sheet metal drum in which they are roasting. This can char the coffee beans, leaving a bitter taste when brewed.”

He continued, “Our coffees are in constant motion in hot air, which means our coffee is always sweet and smooth! The second unique thing about our coffee is that we roast to order, in small batches. This makes our coffee super fresh and delicious.”

When you order from Wanderlust, they roast and mail out your coffee on the same day (generally every Thursday) — which means their beans are not sitting around, going stale, or losing their flavor.

Where can you purchase Wanderlust Coffees?

At the moment, customers can purchase online and choose to pay for shipping or a free local pick-up in downtown Lancaster.

As for Lancaster locals who would like a Wanderlust brew to go, be sure to check out Sweetish Candy’s micro cafe (both hot and iced are available), Nate’s Sandwich Shoppe (for cold brew), or Souvlaki Boys (for bottled cold brew, either agave-sweetened or unsweetened).

And — of course — you can always find Wanderlust’s delicious Cold Brew Kit in the Food is Love Foodie Box!

By: Maddy Pontz