Today we’d like to introduce you to Gardenia Rosales.
Hi Gardenia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the Founder of Cipota Coffee. I was born and raised in Los Angeles to two immigrant parents from El Salvador. I grew up with the Salvadoran culture being a big part of my life. My fondest memories include sharing traditional dishes, coffee, and pan dulce with loved ones. Every morning when getting ready for school, I was tasked with making my dad the perfect cup of coffee. This is where my love for coffee began because I had to taste the coffee for perfection (or at least to my dad’s liking). No matter what my focus was at the time, I always shared with my parents how I would love to go back to El Salvador with them and visit a coffee farm. After receiving my business degree and trying my hand in different fields, I finally decided to follow my dream and started Cipota Coffee. I quit my 9 to 5 and went to El Salvador in late 2022, where I attended Academia Barista Pro, a coffee-focused school that taught me everything from green coffee to roasting and brewing. Through this experience, I met the amazing producers I work with today. Being able to visit their farms and connect with them personally has been a highlight in the development of Cipota Coffee. Soon after, I connected with Sumi and Tony of YezPlz, and we formed a natural bond, and they have been incredible partners and collaborators in the roasting process.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting a business is never easy, but I believe the challenges make the journey meaningful. I have put everything into my business, and sometimes that means giving up personal time and luxuries to make it happen. I want to build something that honors my family because they gave up so much for me and my siblings to have greater opportunities. I embrace my obstacles and accomplishments because, in the end, the purpose of Cipota Coffee is to represent the identity of my family and others with similar stories.
As you know, we’re big fans of Cipota Coffee. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Cipota Coffee is a specialty coffee company that sources high-quality coffee from El Salvador. The brand of Cipota Coffee has several goals. First, we strive to show people the rich coffee culture of El Salvador and the quality of beans being grown by the kind and hardworking producers of the country. I’ve had the opportunity to meet my coffee producers, and I want to share their stories along with their coffees.
Another goal of Cipota Coffee is to inspire my niece. I want the younger generations to know that it is possible for people to be successful while also doing something they are passionate about. I want them to know that even if they’ve had very little growing up, it should not hold them back from doing what they love and being the best at it. I feel honored when people tell me they feel represented by our branding, especially young women.
Cipota Coffee is available through our website and also at Arroz & Fun in Lincoln Heights. There you can catch me pulling espresso shots and making signature drinks with Salvadoran flavors, such as our popular El Morro, a cold brew with a morro seed cream topping.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
A podcast that keeps me motivated is Life Lnxx | Latina Podcast by Consuelo Crosby. I love to listen to how other powerful Latinas are changing their industries and making a difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cipotacoffee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cipotacoffee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cipotacoffee/
