Meet Maria Palacio: Creating the future of Specialty Coffee

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maria Palacio and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maria, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
The one thing that most outsiders don’t know about the coffee industry is that most farmers are producing below margin, creating a deep poverty loop.

What should our readers know about your business?
Progeny Coffe was born out of the dream – “what if we re-invest the coffee supply chain where coffee farmers are actually profitable and yet deliver high-quality coffee”. I was born on a coffee farm in Colombia. I come from a family of coffee farmers. We experience the hardship of the ecosystem, where the market price is less than the production cost, impacting millions of families. Yet, coffee is the second most consumed beverage in the world. With my Co-Founder John T, we set on a journey to change this and open Progeny Coffee in California. We knew if we were going to succeed, we needed to do things differently and change the status quo coffee. Today we are leading the 4th wave of coffee, with a supply chain that goes beyond Faire Trade and Direct Trade, paying the farmers what they deserve and having only the best coffee to our consumers. At Progeny we are never about a blend, but all about a farmer, and thats why their picture is always at the front of each packaging. This journey has come with much sacrifice and challenges, but when you are led by passion, with a deep-rooted mission, it is easy to overcome and keep working. The one thing I would like people to get is that “Your purchase has power”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a friend were visiting my hometown, I would take them to stay at a coffee farm, where you wake up to the sound of the birds and the fresh air. The breakfast at the farm is full of music and color, with a fresh-squeezed orange juice just picked from the tree to a perfect coffee. Then we would get ready, and we would take a tour through the towns, starting with Salento. A small town in the top of a mountain, knows for its Royal street and plaza, with architecture full of color and humble people. We would walk and shop by the local artisan shops, sit at the plaza, and enjoy the moment. Then we would drive to Filandia, where we would have a great cup of coffee, walk up a tower to enjoy the view. End the day in Circasia, eating cheese bread, enjoying their chaotic yet charming streets, where you see coffee being dried at the side walks and farmers trying to sell their coffee. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A big shoutout to Progeny Coffee Team! From our farmers to our Team. This dream wasn’t built by one person only, but by a collective effort that has put sweat and tears, so see this through. Big shoutout to my Co-Founder John T; who never allows me to give up and always push Progeny outside the Box. Daniel Palacio; who is in a constant passion working at the source with the farmers and ensuring our mission happens. Jesse Gonzalez; who has given gone above and beyond to the mission and making sure that all of our customers get the best of the best!.

Website: www.progenycoffee.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progeny_coffee/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-jose-palacio-3ba97324/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/progenycoffee

Image Credits
Phots credited to Jonn Trabelsi