How it all connects to Bogdan Georgescu and MABÓ Coffee
Few people have changed the world of specialty coffee as profoundly as Sasa Sestic.
Born in Bosnia and based in Australia, Sasa is the founder of ONA Coffee and Project Origin — two projects that have become international benchmarks for innovation, ethics and quality in coffee.
In 2015, he won the title of World Barista Champion, confirming a simple but powerful philosophy: coffee can be an art form, but also a way of building real relationships between people.
From competitions to origins
After years of experience in competitions and roasting, Sasa began travelling to coffee farms around the world. He wanted to understand not only the taste, but also the context behind each bean: the people, the working conditions, and how everyday decisions influence the final quality.
That is how Project Origin was born — an initiative that connects farmers directly with specialty coffee roasters.
Today, Project Origin works with more than 100 farms across 13–14 different origins, constantly investing in infrastructure, equipment and education at origin.
Innovation and processing
One of Project Origin’s most important contributions is the development and popularisation of Carbonic Maceration (CM) processing – a technique inspired by winemaking that brings clarity, sweetness and aromatic complexity to the cup.
This method has become a standard in world competitions and has inspired a new generation of farmers and roasters.
For Project Origin, innovation is not just technical — it is a way for farmers to achieve fair prices and real sustainability, through quality differentiation and full traceability.
The collaboration with Bogdan Georgescu and MABÓ Coffee
The partnership between Bogdan Georgescu (founder and head roaster of MABÓ Coffee) and Sasa Sestic is built on a shared vision: transparency, ethics and excellence in the selection of green coffees.
Through Project Origin, Bogdan selects rare and complex lots every year, which then become part of the MABÓ collections.
Each coffee is chosen for its clarity, for the story of the people behind its origin and for the potential it can reach when roasted.
This collaboration ensures a complete chain — from the farm, to the roaster, to the cup in front of you — built on trust and a shared passion for excellence.
For MABÓ, the relationship with Project Origin is not only a source of professional inspiration, but also a reaffirmation of our values: quality, respect and continuous learning.
The coffees sourced through this collaboration are proof that, beyond origin and processing, what matters is intention.
Every bag bearing the MABÓ signature tells a story about people, balance and the desire to share the joy of a well-made coffee — from the farm all the way to you.
