We were lucky to catch up with Marlen Mendoza recently and have shared our conversation below.
Marlen, appreciate you joining us today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.
My parents taught me at a young age that work ethic speaks volumes. In order to see the success you had to really put in the time and effort. My parents had first come to this country with very little to their names. They took on odd jobs and worked for the life they have built for themselves. The saying was, if you didn’t know how to do the job then you would just learn how to do it. There is never I can’t do that… but, I will learn to do that.
Marlen, 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 began my coffee journey as early as 2015 but started to take it seriously in 2019 and right as the pandemic started in 2020. I had worked for many coffee companies and cafe’s and always felt compelled to create something of my own. I then had the amazing opportunity to visit Honduras on a coffee origin trip. I had such a special experience and was determined to make coffee my full time job, life style, passion.
After starting off with roasting coffee on a 1lb Behmor machine, I then began bottling beverages like Horchata Coldbrew and Tamarindo Coldbrew, using on the resources available to me at the time. I began delivering to homes, shops, restaurants, stores and eventually got my bottles on shelves and it just took off from there.
Now after countless pop-ups, farmers markets, special events and collaborations in Houston, Austin, and even New York , I have a full extensive coffee line up of bottles, roasted coffee, and have partnered with chefs in Houston to create a concept called EMA.
Amanecer Co. is a very unique brand because it is my own personal experience. From growing up in South Houston living in a mobile home to shifting my identity in college and learning about myself through a community that understood my story, to then fulfilling exactly what I aspired to achieve, It is only going up from here.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I believe in the connection that can be created between people when you give them your full vulnerable self. Whether that is in my work, or my day to day interactions. People are supportive of that and it cultivates raw and real relationships with the community that supports me and my product.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
I worked several jobs all my life and continued when I needed to maintain the capital for my small business. I used my actual time and filled it with whatever I could to make supplemental income to support Amanecer. It takes a toll on you sometimes but I am so invested that in the end I am still grateful for it all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amanecer-co-coffee.square.site/
- Instagram: @cafesitahtx