Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Olivares.
Daniel, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started El Cielito Cafe a little after dropping out of Cal State Los Angeles. I was 21 years old and was in way over my head. It was difficult at first and business was extremely slow. It was really a test of character and I had to work from opening till closing, alone, 7:30 am – 10 pm, daily. But I was dedicated to my dream and my goal, which was to have a coffeehouse that truly represented Latin America, provided a space for both young and older Latinos and Latinas, and with a cause. I felt that there wasn’t enough representation of Latin America, as a whole, in coffee. What fueled me is that almost all Latin American countries provide the world with great coffee, and coffee shops love to sell the coffee, but not represent the countries nor give credit to where it’s due. As a Mexican- American who grew up with Latinos of different countries, I felt the need to build a coffeehouse with proper representation.
Has it been a smooth road?
It was extremely difficult. First of all, I was a 21-year-old kid college dropout with no business experience. I was being overlooked and underestimated by other coffee shop and business owners due to my age and lack of knowledge. I had to learn fast. I had to adapt. I had to build thick skin. I wasn’t making any money and I was spending all day and night at El Cielito. There were many times that I felt like giving up.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the El Cielito Cafe story. Tell us more about the business.
El Cielito Cafe is a coffeehouse that is dedicated to representing Latin American culture to the fullest. But it doesn’t just end there. The coffee that I roast and serve comes directly from farms and/or their representatives, cutting out the middle man, and ensure that 100% of the money from the purchase goes to paying the farmers higher wages and improving the community around the farms. El Cielito also hosts community events to provide a safe space for artists, poets, and local vendors of South East Los Angeles. What I am most proud of is that the business is not only able to sustain itself, but sustain and improve the lives of farmers in various Latin American countries. The thing that sets El Cielito apart from the rest is its engagement with the community, its representation of Latin America, and that 100% of the coffee is directly from the farms.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Hopefully, the industry begins to follow our lead and makes directly-from-farm deals a norm. The coffee industry is also shifting and will continue to shift, from commodity coffee, Starbucks, Coffee Bean, etc., to specialty coffeehouses.
Contact Info:
- Address: 8015 Long Beach Blvd. Unit B
South Gate, CA 90280 - Website: www.elcielitocafe.com
- Phone: 323-484-9944
- Instagram: @elcielitocafe
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elcielitocafe/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/el-cielito-cafe-south-gate-3
Image Credit:
Ezequiel Barrera, Jolen Reid
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