Marc Tormo Altimira 

Founder of Coffee Ideas!
Coffee Entrepreneur | Roaster | Brewer | Q Grader | Creative Consultant

Marc Tormo Altimira (born February 23, 1971) is a renowned coffee entrepreneur, roaster, Q grader, brewer, and creative consultant with over 30 years of international experience in the specialty coffee industry.

His coffee journey began in Barcelona at the age of 23, when he opened a café boutique with his sister. However, a pivotal moment in his life came during his first visit to India in 1990, where he was deeply inspired by Eastern philosophy and spiritual practices. His travels from Barcelona to Bombay, Delhi, and Kolkata ultimately led him to Auroville—a unique international township in South India—where he has lived since 1996.

Marc has travelled extensively across Ethiopia and South America to immerse himself in the culture of coffee, embracing the holistic “Seed to Cup” philosophy. In India, his exploration of the Western Ghats allowed him to connect with local growers and contribute to the evolution of specialty coffee practices.

In 2008, Marc founded Coffee Ideas!, one of the pioneering companies in India to roast Indian specialty coffee in small batches, while also consulting farmers , estate owners and Café owners. The brand Marcscoffees is known for its work with biodynamic, organic, fair trade, and UTZ-certified coffees, catering to the growing gourmet coffee market.

He is the co-founder of:

  • Marc’s Café, Roast & Taste (2011): A boutique café in Auroville, set in a rustic environment, offering freshly roasted coffee to locals and global coffee lovers.
  • Catami – Dreamer’s Café (2013): A solar-powered, upcycled container café at the Auroville Visitor’s Center, serving Marc’s coffees alongside curated products from Auroville and local artisans.

Marc has consulted on numerous turnkey café projects and marketing strategies for award-winning Indian organic coffees. His contributions have been recognized through various awards and participation in Indian Coffee Festivals, the World of Coffee conferences, and other industry events.

 

Certifications & Accolades

  • Certified Q Grader Arabica and Robusta
  • CQI lecturer
  • Certified Italian Espresso Taster, Trieste Coffee Cluster (Italy)
  • Certified Kaapi Shastra, Coffee Board of India
  • Degree in Advanced Studies in Coffee Excellence, ZHAW University, Zurich

Marc’s interest in cacao has also taken him to Ecuador and Colombia, where he visited plantations, attended workshops, and gained insight into the bean-to-bar journey.

His upcoming research focuses on the indigenous wild coffee species Coffea wightiana from the Coromandel region. This project will culminate in a documentary and a research paper to be released in the coming year 2026.

As a public figure, Marc has been widely featured in newspapers, magazines, radio shows, and food and lifestyle TV programs.

Personal Life

Outside of coffee, Marc enjoys nature treks, running, birdwatching, cooking, and spending time with friends. He has a deep love for music, especially Jazz, Bossa Nova, Reggae, Western Classical, and Indian Ragas. He is married to Matilde Mir, and they have two children, both born in Auroville.