Tiny Family Daniel & David Sanchez

The brothers Daniel and David (from left to right) in their roastery with its café in Brauerstrasse in Zurich

Seven years ago, I attended a small, yet refined filter coffee course with the miró brothers. Back then, sitting at the work table with a handful of other delighted friends, I had no idea that the miró roast would one day be enjoyed by Swiss passengers as a matter of course. I'm proud of them both, and even more so that we've been working together since their café on Brauerstrasse opened—it's a little like being on cloud nine.

How would you summarize Miró for us in a few words?

David: We are a specialty coffee roastery with three locations in Zurich. Convinced that excellent coffee should be accessible to everyone, we embarked on an adventure. Our goal is to offer the best possible coffee experience while transforming the way coffee travels from plant to cup.

What makes good coffee for you?

Dani: The foundation is the raw product. The better the green coffee, the better the end result. Of course, the coffee has to be perfectly roasted, and baristas and home baristas have a few things to consider when brewing, but fundamentally, it starts at the beginning. And the better the equipment, the better the result in the cup will be, but a Bialetti or a moka pot can also be excellent if the roasted coffee is top-notch.

You're brothers. Does that make your collaboration work particularly well, or is it sometimes challenging?

David: Of course.

Dani: Of course. Sometimes we get on each other's nerves, or disagree. But hey—it would be weird if that weren't the case.

David: We see it as an advantage. No filter, honesty down to the smallest detail. We believe it should always be this way; it's the only way to consistently question what you're doing and move forward.

Dani: And it's enriching; being a sibling has only deepened. We know each other's strengths and weaknesses very well and trust each other completely. This makes everything so much easier and more efficient when making important decisions.

How do you decide if you don't agree?

David: If we don't agree, we'll work on it until we reach a decision.

Dani: And not everything has to be decided right there and then. Besides, once you've defined common goals, decisions are easier anyway.

And how do you two like to drink your coffee?

David: Cortado in the morning, espresso later in the day.

Dani: Same – sometimes I replace the Cortado with a filter in the morning, but I like to start the day with a milky drink. After that, I prefer filter coffee and espresso.

What utensil should every amateur barista absolutely have?

Both: Above all else, we would recommend a good grinder. In our opinion, a good grind is more essential to brewing than any other tool.

I'm fascinated by your consistent policy of not investing money in external marketing. How did this bold and unusual decision come about?

Dani: Quite simply, if your product is so good that it sells without marketing, you're definitely on the right track. And word-of-mouth works wonders.

Owning a coffee roasting company with several retail outlets sounds like a romantic pursuit. Is it?

David: I think "romantic" is the wrong word to describe it. It's a wonderful job, and we're proud of what we've achieved over the past ten years. We're passionate about it, and so it's fulfilling. But of course, it involves a lot of work. Without a full commitment, it would be difficult.

Dani: I think it only seems romantic when you look at it from the outside. Our impulse to start a coffee roasting company is intrinsic because we're transforming the entire value chain with our concept. In our 'cosmos,' we're creating change: farmers get better prices for their produce, we create good jobs, the consumer receives a great end product, and gains a wealth of knowledge. In short, it has an impact that shouldn't be underestimated.

Do you also enjoy your own Tiny Factory granola mix?

Dani: Of course, preferably with cacao nibs.

David: We sell your granola in our shop and a package has already landed at my house by mistake :-)

The Tiny Factory is for you in three keywords:

Best granola ever!