We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cynthia McConnell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Cynthia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Cynthia F. McConnell is the Founder of Leafy Beans Coffee LLC. She started her business in 2021 after having searched for that one thing she could put her heart and soul into. She found that through her travels and love of a good cup of coffee in the morning to start out the day, that coffee was in fact her calling. Cynthia searched for the coffee bean that she deemed delicious enough to put her name on. With the ability to speak two languages and with her Mexican heritage, it was only natural that Cynthia sought out beans from Mexico. Cynthia found a family in Chiapas Mexico that has been working with the indigenous people who grow Arabic beans in high altitude, nutrient rich, volcanic soil since 1850. Cynthia contacted them and sent them her desired specifications. What came back to her was pure magic. Cynthia knew at this point she had found the beans that would be Leafy Beans Coffee.

Now it’s Cynthia’s mission to bring her deliciously smooth medium-dark roast Arabica blend to the world. Cynthia wants people to know the delicious coffee beans that Mexico has to offer.

Cynthia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I import and distribute organically grown Mexican coffee. My company is a female minority, 1st generation, Mexican-American owned business. My brand Leafy Beans Coffee LLC., was born out of my love for a good cup of coffee. My deliciously fresh coffee is produced from one single ingredient: Fresh organic beans grown in the high altitude, rich soil of Chiapas, Mexico. My Arabica coffee beans are handpicked by local indigenous farmers who harvest their crops with pride since 1850. All natural organic coffee beans without any additives, just nurturing, water, and rich Tacana volcanic soil.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

I started selling my product, Leafy Beans Coffee, in September 2022. I am able to speak Spanish so I can deal directly with the indigenous family that has been growing Arabic beans at high altitude in nutrient rich volcanic soil since 1850. The family is of Maya descendant and speaks Mam as their primary language with Spanish being their secondary language. Although my business is new, I feel that my business is set apart from other coffee companies because I deal directly with the indigenous people of Chiapas Mexico and give directly back to the community by providing an above average living wage to the workers who pick and process my coffee. My coffee is also sustainable as any unused portion of the beans such as the casing is recycled back to the land. Starting my business was no easy task as I was new to the business world and learning along the way but I persevered. I am now marketing, selling ,and continuing to build my customer base. The most difficult part was learning the export/import process but was able to do so and have the support of friends and family along the way.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think being transparent about how my coffee is grown and processed has helped me. I also believe that telling my story of how I started my coffee business and engaging directly with my customers has helped me as well. Lastly, I feel that my whole hearted belief that I have an amazingly delicious and organic product has helped me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.leafybeanscoffee.com
• Instagram: @leafybeanscoffee