From the Roots: Why Mayorga Represents More Than Coffee

When I was in my early 20s, I was grappling with the complexities of my identity as a Latino immigrant, my desire to make an impact across Latin America, create financial stability, and the inevitable decision to start a specialty coffee company. I had to make the decision on what exactly to name this company.  I thought about it, considered different "brand" names and inevitably decided to name the company after my family name...Mayorga. It wasn’t about ego or branding strategy...it was about accountability, pride, authenticity--and honoring my heritage.

A Commitment to Accountability

Starting a company in the coffee industry meant more to me than selling a product. I wanted to challenge a deeply flawed system—one rooted in centuries of exploitation, inequality, and disconnection. By putting my name on the company, I was making a promise. A promise to the farmers I partnered with that I would operate with integrity, to my customers that I would deliver quality, to my future team members and to myself that I would never compromise my values for the pursuit of profits.

Mayorga isn’t just a name on a bag of coffee; it’s my family’s name which is my reputation and my legacy. It was all I had when I started the company and the biggest asset I will leave my children: identity. This level of accountability ensures that I don’t take shortcuts, shy away from tough decisions, or forget why I started this journey in the first place.

Pride in My Heritage

As a Latino, my heritage isn’t just a part of who I am—it’s the foundation and part of the differentiation of Mayorga Coffee. My family’s roots in Nicaragua and Peru--along with our continuous movements through Guatemala, Costa Rica, and finally the US--taught me resilience, the importance of community, and the beauty of our cultures. These lessons inspired me to build a company that would empower the very communities I came from while representing the people who had paved the way for me to end up with the incredible opportunities afforded to me in the US.

Naming the company "Mayorga" was a declaration of that pride. It was my way of saying that this brand would celebrate the rich traditions, flavors, and stories of Latin America. It would honor family, community, and the farmers who dedicate their lives to cultivating exceptional coffee, and it would provide a platform to amplify their voices.

Authenticity Above All

In an industry full of buzzwords, empty promises, and sophisticated marketing campaigns, I wanted Mayorga to stand out for our simplicity and authenticity. I’ve spent years on farms, learning the realities of the coffee trade and building genuine relationships with producers. Naming the company after myself was a way to signal that this wasn’t just a business—it's very personal.

Authenticity isn’t just about words; it’s about actions. By naming the company after myself, I set the standard that every decision we make—from sourcing to sustainability to how we treat our employees—must align with the principles I believe in. 

A Legacy I Can Stand Behind

Today, when I see "Mayorga" on a coffee bag, I'm reminded of the young man who took a risk, not just on a business, but on the idea that one person’s name can carry the weight of something much bigger and that our actions can change lives for the better.  So when you drink Mayorga Coffee, you’re not just supporting a company. You’re part of a legacy of accountability, pride in heritage, and a commitment to authenticity. That’s something worth putting my name on.

Con Orgullo Latino,