Finnish couple Sari and Henrik Haavisto founded Populus Coffee in Berlin Neukölln around 2015, choosing the German capital over Helsinki for its more favorable startup environment. Henrik, a journalist by training, had his coffee awakening on a trip to Guatemala in 2014, and the couple built their roastery on the conviction that relationships throughout the supply chain deserve transparency. That commitment is tangible: Populus publishes transparency reports disclosing producer names, importers, and purchase prices for every coffee they sell. Their Nordic inspired light roast profiles have earned them a place among the World's 100 Best Coffee Shops, and they co founded Communal Coffee, Germany's largest co roasting space hosting twelve independent roasteries. The brand has also expanded internationally with a roasting operation in Shanghai, carrying its people first philosophy far beyond Berlin's borders.