We warned you we were going to be coffee snobs… and now we’re literally walking around saying, “show me your beans.” ☕️😂

In this episode, Erika and Marcella sit down with Linda Rivera, Owner of Rey Sol Coffee in Ridgewood & Morristown, NJ - a Colombian, family-run, from farm to cup coffee brand that turned a pandemic delay into a viral community obsession.

Linda shares how her family went from construction and landscaping to building a coffee legacy rooted in their fifth-generation Colombian farm, and why they refuse to burn their beans, cut corners, or compromise on culture.

We talk about:

Opening Rey Sol in the height of COVID and what it really took to start fresh when everyone else was just hanging on

Going viral overnight, long lines, cold weather, distancing rules, bad reviews and the unexpected explosion of local love

What from farm to cup actually means: soil, sustainability, roasting on site, and why matte beans = magic

Becoming “coffee snobs” in the best way: drinking coffee without sugar, acidity vs sweetness, and what to look for in a good roast

Building a third place for the community where regulars feel like family and coffee becomes a daily ritual of connection

Moving back to Colombia with her twins to live on the farm, raising kids in nature, and redefining success as a woman, mom, and entrepreneur

The beauty and pressure of Colombian beauty culture, and what it means to feel beautiful in your own skin at every stage of life

Navigating business as a Latina woman in a male-dominated, machista industry — both in the U.S. and in Colombia

If you love coffee, small business stories, Latina power, or you’ve ever wondered if you’re allowed to make a big, “this doesn’t have to be forever” life decision… this one’s for you.

Episode Highlights

Why Rey Sol refuses to roast dark and how to tell if your beans are burnt or blessed

The difference between “just grabbing a coffee” and creating ritual and community

How Linda balances motherhood, entrepreneurship, cross-continent living, and staying rooted in her values

Beauty as energy: feeling most beautiful when you’re doing what you love, not just when your serum is working

Colombian culture, faith, machismo, and what it means to be a Berraça woman rewriting the script