Our Team

Pete is an Indian-born Canadian entrepreneur, an inventor, and a climate champion who founded Forest Bean Inc. in 2019. Currently, he is the Canada Lead for energy decarbonization at the Jacobs Solutions, implementing zero-emission transportation initiatives in Canada.
Dr. Poovanna is the inventor of the U.S. patented technology called nature-inspired capillary-assisted evaporator for sustainable air-conditioning. Pete’s parents are sixth-generation coffee farmers in India who produce the best quality of coffee with the utmost emphasis on sustainability. Pete is a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post, Policy Options, and has several scientific publications related to clean technology. Pete holds a PhD in Mechatronic Systems Engineering from Simon Fraser University, Canada. Before moving to Canada for his PhD, Pete worked with the multinational automotive company Robert Bosch, Germany as a senior mechanical engineer.

Mengo's journey in the coffee industry began after a successful career in senior sales management and corporate sustainability. His passion for coffee developed while creating an office coffee business, leading him to join Mountain Coffee as a partner in 2015. He transformed it into a thriving importer and co-founded the Beanstock Coffee Festival in Canada. After selling both ventures in 2021, Mengo co-founded Finest Beans, specializing in Ethiopian coffee importing. In September 2023, he acquired Coffee Central Roasting, where he trains new roasters and offers white-label roasting services. As a coffee consultant for a Canadian government initiative, Mengo promotes trade with developing countries. Now, as Head Roaster at Forest Bean, Mengo focuses on quality and sustainable sourcing, aiming to enhance coffee profiles and elevate the company's reputation while upholding ethical and eco-friendly practices.