A Coffee Story of Heritage and Family
Every cup reflects hard work, heritage, and connection to the land and the people who cultivate it.
1/31/20262 min read
Coffee has been part of my family for generations. Before it became a business, it was a ritual, a way to connect, gather, and pass down family values.
One place shaped me deeply: Oiba, Santander, where I was born. Although my family moved to Boyacá when I was very young, returning to the farm always meant hours on winding mountain roads, with the climate shifting from cold to warm as we drew closer. Traveling from Socha, Boyacá to Oiba, Santander, each visit felt like a reunion, family waiting, helping to carry bags, sharing stories, and walking side by side.
Santander is a beautiful region that deserves a visit. Its sugarcane products and bocadillos de guayaba (guava paste) are unforgettable. And yes, it’s also home to the famous hormigas culonas (big-bottomed ants), a tradition as bold as the region itself.
Boyacá, on the other hand, is hard to describe. As people say, “Boyacá es para vivirla”, (the way to know Boyacá is by experiencing it). The land, the people, the rhythm of life. And of course, it’s home to the best arepas in Colombia from my point of view, known as the arepa boyacense. We also cannot forget Boyaca’s important role in the country’s independence.
My grandparents’ farm was full of life: fruit trees, animals, coffee plants, and coffee drying under the sun on cement floors. I still remember lifting my head and breathing in the air, drawn toward the kitchen where my grandmother roasted coffee in a pan that looked more like a wok. She carefully stirred the beans as the fragrance filled every corner of the house.
Everyone in the family had a role. Some of my aunts and uncles hand-picked the coffee cherries during harvest, others helped process it. Drying the beans was my nono’s (grandfather’s) responsibility, while roasting belonged, of course, to my nona (grandmother). Other aunts and uncles helped with grinding, preparing the final product needed to brew a delicious cup of coffee.
One memory stays with me: my grandmother sitting beside a burlap sack of freshly roasted coffee, ready to sell. So much work for so little income in return for her coffee. My grandparents raised ten children through hard work, resilience, and humility, and a few scoldings along the way. My nona always had a smile on her face.
Because of this, I have always known something essential: Coffee is not just a product, it is hard work, family, and a dedication to preserving coffee-producing traditions.
Today, every cup I drink reminds me of my roots and why I chose this path. Each moment with coffee is a pause to honor my grandparents, my heritage, and the love I carry for the country that shaped my identity now extending to places I never imagined would become home, including the United States and Mexico. I look forward to connecting with more farmers and sharing their stories, showing the world how their dedication becomes exceptional coffee.
I invite you to connect with us, join our journey, and experience our specialty coffee directly sourced from origin.
Lumière Café Colombiano