Entrepreneur stories.

Areli Barrera de Grodski

“A lot of the history and literature that I learned about are deeply rooted in our menu and a lot of historical knowledge about Latin America and Indigenous people plays a role in how I look at the trading system. Being in the position of sourcing green coffee is not something that I take lightly. I’m always striving to uplifting and supporting Black, Indigenous women, and producers of color at origin.”

"My father came from Iran, but his heritage was very removed from our lives and he didn’t like to talk about it. Researching recipes and connecting with other Iranians and my extended Iranian family helped me uncover the mystery of my own background. Finding myself through the food of my heritage is an ongoing process in my life."

Louisa Shafia

Vince Nguyen

"I launched Nam Coffee to honor my culture and show that, yes, Vietnam can make fresh-roasted coffee that’s amazing. In Vietnam, coffee is not just a drink – it’s a way of life. Just like in America, we drink it every day, from morning to night. But I think one thing Vietnamese people do differently is that we love to enjoy the process of making coffee slowly, using the traditional ‘phin filter.’ Vietnamese coffee is very unique because of its bold taste, good aroma, and high caffeine."

Frentz Neptune

"My wife and I started Avanti Coffee Company to help Haitian coffee farmers in rural mountain villages earn a living wage for their premium, organic beans. We especially wanted to help farmers who lost their homes in Hurricane Matthew; Avanti is buying their coffee crops at fair wages, which protects them and their families. I want to build a company that can get Haitian coffee on the map again. It will help both of the countries that I love so much."