La Bonita Coffee

I come from a long line of strong women, and my connection to coffee goes back to my childhood. My family lived on a large coffee farm in Abejorral, a small town in Antioquia, Colombia. It was a family run by women—each of them working tirelessly in the coffee fields to keep the farm going. One of my greatest inspirations is my grandmother. Though she stood only 140 cm tall, she had the strength to carry 50 kg sacks of coffee on her back.

She was a woman of incredible resilience, proving that strength is not measured by size but by determination and willpower. But life took an unexpected turn. Due to economic struggles, my family was forced to leave the farm and move to the city. Not long after, tragedy struck. My grandfather was in a car accident and passed away just weeks later, leaving my grandmother alone with six children to raise.

With little support and nowhere else to go, my grandmother was given a small house to live in—offered to her in exchange for looking after a factory building. She had six mouths to feed, and yet, she never gave up. She fought every day to provide for her family, teaching us that no matter how difficult life gets, we must push forward.

Her story of perseverance has stayed with me. It is one of the reasons I chose coffee—not just as a product, but as a tribute to the women who work tirelessly behind it. Through my coffee business, I want to honour my grandmother’s strength and the countless women like her, ensuring they have opportunities, support, and the dignity they deserve.