On October 4th, Caribí had the honor of participating in the Portland Coffee Festival, one of the most inspiring gatherings for coffee lovers, roasters, and importers in the Pacific Northwest. More than just another event, it was a true milestone for our company: it allowed us to publicly share our mission of making trade more human, transparent, and fair—and to see firsthand how deeply this message resonates with key players in the industry.
“At Caribí, we believe trade can be different: by serving as a trusted bridge between producers in Central America and Colombia and buyers in the Pacific Northwest, we build relationships where everyone benefits, and where quality and transparency are the common thread.”
During the festival, we didn’t just present our vision—we connected with remarkable people who share a commitment to doing business with integrity. Among them was the team at Buckman Coffee Factory, a shared roasting and training space in Portland that’s an incubator for small roasters and specialty coffee projects. Buckman showed genuine interest in our mission, and we discussed potential collaborations around Latin American coffees with traceability.
One of the recurring themes was the rising strength of the Latino coffee market. In fact, specialty coffee consumption among Latinos in the United States is the fastest-growing in the country: 46% of American adults drank specialty coffee in the last day—surpassing traditional coffee (42%) for the first time. Most importantly for our vision, 64% of adults aged 25 to 39—a segment in which the Latino population is growing fastest—drink specialty coffee every week, driving demand for products connected to authentic origin stories and experiences.
This insight inspired a bold idea: to develop Spanish-language cupping and roasting courses, designed specifically for Latino professionals and enthusiasts. This project, which we hope to launch early next year in partnership with instructor Mike Nelson, will further strengthen the bridge between cultures and opportunities.
We were also pleased to meet the team from Dear Francis Coffee, who stood out with exquisite Guatemalan coffees and a vision that values origin. We shared stories with Andrés Vega Jaiume, creator of The Colombian Guy and his innovative mobile coffee bar concept in Portland. Through COBA, we opened our first doors in cacao: soon, we will be sending samples of our organic Nicaraguan cacao, expanding our portfolio and connections in this vibrant market.
Another key connection emerged with Kafiex Roasters, respected for their commitment to quality and sustainability in Vancouver, WA. Their work with microlots and sensory events exemplifies how the Pacific Northwest continues to lead in innovation and excellence in specialty coffee.
The Portland Coffee Festival not only reaffirmed the potential of the sector and the Latino market, but also made clear that when we share an honest vision, partnerships and opportunities arise naturally. For Caribí, coffee—and now cacao—are much more than products: they are bridges between people, cultures, and shared values.
