After passing the Illinois state bar, Vikram Patel practiced law for two years while simultaneously nurturing a green coffee business that has since revolutionized the perception of Papua New Guinea (PNG) coffees among numerous U.S. roasters.
Patel, the founder and director of Chicago-based Benchmark Coffee Traders, first became enamored with coffee during a summer in PNG amid his environmental law studies. The trip coincided with the coffee harvest season, sparking a passion that would shape his future.
“When I returned to law school, I made a dedicated effort to learn everything I could about coffee,” Patel told DCN. “I began brokering containers for producers, with my first buyers being large, established importers. During this period, I also visited roasters in my own time to immerse myself in the coffee industry.”
Balancing his growing connections with PNG producers and leveraging family ties in the region, Patel formally established Benchmark in 2015. Initially targeting all grades of PNG coffee, the company soon attracted interest in the U.S. market for high-end specialty coffees, particularly those linked to social initiatives.
“My sense of buyers in the third and fourth wave markets is that convenience and price are not the only factors — they may not even be the most important ones,” Patel explained. “These buyers seek high-quality coffees sourced as directly as possible, with a focus on production and sourcing integrity. They prefer purchasing from producers or specialized smaller providers closely connected to the coffee.”
Benchmark’s success hinges on its long-term relationships with producers and ongoing social and environmental projects. The company manages several funds, supported by partnering roasters, to provide resources such as school supplies and clean water tanks to coffee-growing communities. A key estate within Benchmark’s network offers free housing for coffee pickers, free schooling for workers’ children, and free AIDS screenings, among other initiatives.
“We don’t just buy and sell coffees,” Patel emphasized. “We are deeply involved with our partners at the farm level and place a significant emphasis on educational support for our roaster-partners in the U.S.”
A primary goal for Benchmark has been meeting the high standards of the specialty coffee market. The company adheres to strict post-harvest processing guidelines for its PNG-grown coffees under the Kula brand. This includes meticulous sorting, raised bed drying, and washed processing.
“We seek out quality-focused producers who achieve more desirable flavors,” Patel said. “We also perform extra processing on most of our coffees to ensure better drying and rigorous sorting. The coffees we offer feature floral aromas, red fruits, hints of tropical fruit, chocolate, raisin, mulling spices, and citrus acidity.”
Patel’s journey from law to coffee has not only transformed his career but also elevated the reputation of PNG coffees, bringing unique flavors and socially responsible practices to the forefront of the U.S. specialty coffee market.