Today we’d like to introduce you to Hector Carvajal.
Hi Hector, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up splitting my time between my grandfather’s farm in the Dominican Republic and the busy streets of New York City. On the farm, I saw how traditional coffee growing was being replaced by harmful chemicals, and in NYC, I noticed more people cared about where their food and drinks came from. That’s what inspired me to start Don Carvajal Café—I wanted to change how people see coffee, from how it’s grown to how it’s enjoyed.
Whether you need coffee catering for an event, want to stock your business with high-quality, responsibly sourced beans, or just love starting your day with a great cup of coffee, I got you. Don Carvajal Café is more than just coffee—it’s a commitment to quality, sustainability, and honoring the rich heritage of Dominican coffee.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being an entrepreneur is never a smooth road. Capital is tough, financing is tough, and there’s no blueprint to follow—you just have to figure it out as you go. I’ve had to learn everything from scaling a business to navigating new opportunities, and that’s not easy when you’re doing it for the first time. Opening a brick-and-mortar shop, managing different departments, handling all the behind-the-scenes work—it’s a lot. But at the end of the day, you keep pushing, you keep learning, and you fight for what you’re building. That’s just part of the journey.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Don Carvajal Cafe?
Back in 2018, I realized there was almost no Dominican coffee in the specialty market. So in 2019, I started Don Carvajal Café with a simple goal: to change that. Our brand is built on sustainability and what I call the “3 C’s”—coffee, community, and culture. We’re here to bridge the rich coffee traditions of the Dominican countryside with the energy of NYC, making sure that Dominican coffee gets the recognition it deserves. But beyond just coffee, this is a movement. We want to bring more diversity to the industry, uplift our communities, and make a real impact.
We offer a carefully curated selection of high-quality coffees from the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Brazil. Whether you’re looking for an incredible cup at home, wholesale opportunities for your business, or a unique catering experience, we’ve got you covered. We even have exclusive merch that reps the culture. If you want to learn more, check us out at doncarvajalcafe.com.
What makes you happy?
Honestly, just being alive. People forget that being alive is like winning the lottery—it’s not easy, but it’s a blessing. I’m grateful every day that I get to do what I love for a living, on my own terms. What really makes me happy is community—being able to build something that brings people together and gives back. If I had a regular job, I wouldn’t have the freedom to do what I do now, to create, to uplift others, and to make an impact. That’s what keeps me going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.doncarvajalcafe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doncarvajalcafe
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonCarvajalCafe
