The Founders | A Mi Manera Coffee Co.

THE FOUNDERS

Tío y sobrina. A mi manera.

IN ENGLISH

How we got here.

Coffee is a connector. It connects us to friends, family, and memories. It connects me to being a little kid, just dropped off at my grandma's house in the morning. She sings church songs as she's frying up some eggs and chorizo, "Éste es el día, que hizo el Señor. Día de alegría, y de gozo". The smell of coffee wafts to where I'm sitting, watching PBS.

Decades later, when Leilani pitched the idea of starting a coffee shop, more memories came back: drinking cafecito and eating conchas with family in Jalisco during novela commercial breaks, drinking espressos in Sevilla with my best friend after we both left the military, and drinking instant coffee with my mom during my first visit back home after leaving California.

I spent most of my career trying to blend in to fit the archetype. I worked hard to get into the top schools, get the fancy title, and make my family's struggles worth it. No matter where I've traveled to or what I've achieved, the memories I cherish most are the ones with family and friends. I've realized that stories, our culture, are what I cherish. For me, coffee is a conduit into creating these memories, these connections, this trust and support within our community.

(Leilani) Creating a community is the most valuable part of this project. I wanted those who have been overlooked to finally feel welcome. Nothing can compare to having something delicious while being around those who care about you. Steven, my uncle, was the beginning of this community. He has a ton of experience but that's not why I proposed this to him. I knew he believed in me and he is always someone who brings people together. We're both Chicano but have embraced it in different forms. I bring the flavors, he brings the business.

Chicano identity is rooted in being stuck between cultures. Our perspective is rooted in influence from both sides, moving across the United States, understanding cross-generational struggles, and the valuable lessons that come from a supportive, loving, shit-talking family.

As we looked around at the different coffee shops serving our communities, we saw whitewashed, contemporary, corporate staleness. Chicanos are hard-working and proud. We don't stay quiet.

We started A Mi Manera Coffee Company to build the table we weren't invited to sit at. We're here to represent, to share traditional flavors, to help create memories, and to serve some good fucking coffee.

Not for everyone.
Solo para ti.

EN ESPAÑOL

De donde venimos.

El café conecta. Nos conecta con los amigos, la familia y los recuerdos. A mí me lleva a cuando era niño, recién dejado en casa de mi abuela por la mañana. Ella canta canciones de iglesia mientras fríe unos huevos con chorizo: "Éste es el día, que hizo el Señor. Día de alegría, y de gozo". El olor del café llega hasta donde estoy sentado, viendo PBS.

Décadas después, cuando Leilani me propuso la idea de abrir un café, regresaron más recuerdos: tomar cafecito y comer conchas con la familia en Jalisco durante los comerciales de la novela, tomar expresos en Sevilla con mi mejor amigo después de que los dos salimos del ejército, y tomar café instantáneo con mi mamá en mi primera vuelta a casa después de irme de California.

Me pasé la mayor parte de mi carrera tratando de encajar, de dar el perfil. Le eché muchas ganas para entrar a las mejores escuelas, conseguir un puesto importante y hacer que valieran la pena los sacrificios de mi familia. No importa a dónde haya viajado ni lo que haya logrado; los recuerdos que más atesoro son los que tengo con la familia y los amigos. Me he dado cuenta de que lo que de verdad valoro son las historias, nuestra cultura. Para mí, el café es el conductor para crear estos recuerdos, estas conexiones, esta confianza y este apoyo dentro de nuestra comunidad.

(Leilani) Crear comunidad es lo más valioso de este proyecto. Quería que quienes siempre han sido ignorados por fin se sintieran bienvenidos. No hay nada como disfrutar de algo delicioso rodeada de la gente que te quiere. Steven, mi tío, fue el fundador de esta comunidad. Tiene muchísima experiencia, pero no fue por eso que le propuse esta idea. Sabía que él creía en mí y que siempre ha sido alguien que une a la gente. Los dos somos chicanos, pero lo hemos abrazado de formas distintas. Yo pongo los sabores; él pone el negocio.

La identidad chicana nace de estar atrapada entre dos culturas. Nuestra perspectiva proviene de la influencia de ambos lados, de movernos por todo Estados Unidos, de entender las luchas que se transmiten de generación en generación y de las lecciones valiosas que vienen de una familia amorosa, que te apoya y que se echa carrilla.

Cuando vimos las distintas cafeterías que les sirven a nuestras comunidades, lo que encontramos fue algo blanqueado, moderno, con esa frialdad corporativa sin chiste. Los chicanos somos trabajadores y orgullosos. No nos quedamos callados.

Empezamos A Mi Manera Coffee Company para construir la mesa a la que nunca nos invitaron a sentarnos. Estamos aquí para representar, compartir sabores tradicionales, ayudar a crear recuerdos y servir un café bien chingón.

Not for everyone.
Solo para ti.

Co-Founder

Steven

Born in Monterey Park and raised in the Inland Empire, I grew up immersed in Mexican culture. Birthday parties, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and whatever other holiday we decided to get together meant we were rolling deep. With 20+ cousins in my generation alone, parties meant a packed house, chisme, cervezas, and delicious food. I grew up playing soccer and finding different ways to make money. We didn't grow up with much, but that taught me the importance of staying adaptable. As my professional career progressed, I felt like something was missing. I had gained so much from my community and the people who believed in me. It was time for me to contribute and help others connect with each other. A Mi Manera is our way of shining a light on beauty and craft that may have been overlooked or underappreciated. While Leilani is the heart and soul of our brand, I am the midfielder. I see patterns and create opportunities for people to score. I've worked in Spain and Latin America, living there for months at a time. I studied Political Science and have an MBA with a concentration in Strategy and Innovation. That's not to hype myself up, but to show the value I have received from being given a shot. I may not be the one pulling your espresso, but best believe I'm in the back making sure we're represented.

What I drink: Iced Horchata Latte

Co-Founder

Leilani

I was born in San Bernardino County, California, but grew up a military kid. I spent a lot of time immersing myself in different cultures, but ultimately, I was raised in El Paso, Texas. Being raised on the border, I got to eat some of the best food and experience different parts of my culture. Food trucks, house parties, and coffee! My community was so tightly knit that it left a permanent mark on me. I got my first job in my Senior year of high school. I was a barista at Rally Point Coffee, and I had no idea what I was doing. My managers really paved the way for me. I got the opportunity to create flavors and menus for events, which changed my outlook on literally everything. I had customers who would come just to see me. I never realized I could make such an impact on people, not only with a cup of joe but also with a conversation. People I cared about were rooting for me, even if it was over their daily cup of coffee. I didn't go to college or university. I knew what I looked like to society. I'm a young Latina with tattoos, piercings, and no corporate experience. My uncle, Steven, however, had that experience. He gave me a chance. A Mi Manera became more than an idea; it became an opportunity. I never fit in, so I would make myself fit. I'm going to make sure everyone else fits in too.

What I drink: Salted honey cold brew with honeycomb

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