Today we’d like to introduce you to Samuel Sotelo Jr.
Hi Samuel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In February of 2020, I had to move my sickly wife to the Philippines for better medical support. After over 20 years in Guam, we had to make that life changing decision due to her scleroderma condition which had really gone down hill in the last 18 months of her life.
Then Covid hit in March of that year and needless to say, it was a tumultuous time for our family. She passed away the following month in April. We were married for 24 years. She was only 45 years young.
As the country has shut down all international travel for atleast 10 months, Our two sons were stateside in Greenville SC as college students and could not come to the Philippines due to the Covid restrictions. This crushed our spirits beyond measure as they could not be with me during the worst time in our family.
I had no choice but to be stuck there. So I had to keep moving. I decided to plant coffee and name the farm in her namesake “Auntie Tina’s Farm” in Pontevedra, CAPIZ in the Philippines. This is a reminder of her legacy as a devoted Christian as she often shares the goodness of God’s grace of providing mankind with the provision and promise of fruit. She would often be amazed how she could simply pick fruits from the fruit trees and had always dreamt of having a farm someday. Although I was never able to give her that when she was alive, the farm now stands as a symbol of who she was as an incredible Christian woman.
Thus, CAPIZ Coffee Roasters was born. This is the brand that was established in 2020 with 2,500 robusta seedlings planted on the rolling hills of Pontevedra. And today reaps of coffee cherries during the harvest seasons each year. Handcrafted coffee. Hand picked, hand processed, hand sorted and roasted on the farm for the local domestic market of the Philippines.
Today, in 2024, CAPIZ Coffee Roasters has expanded into the US market. The intent of the expansion includes showcasing specialty coffees from all over Asia. Select farms from Asia will be featured and these origins include the Philippines, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and other places in the region.
The green beans are brought in and roasted in Greenville, SC for distribution in the US market. As we embark on this new journey, Tina’s story will always be part of the roots of the brand and it’s origin.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The struggles include sourcing the right quality coffee beans from Asian farms. Since we specialize in the Asian flavors, there has been a challenge in finding these providers.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My background after a 20 year career in Guam was in Marketing, communications and business development. I held high level director positions for brands like Toyota, Lexus, Scion, Chevrolet among others.
I also founded the Jack Event Group with a business partner where i produced concerts that included Boyz II Men, Air Supply, John Ford Coley, Brian McKnight, Vanessa Williams and so many more:.
I also owned and operated a premier coffee shop in Guam that featured a working space environment and specialty coffee.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I attribute my success through the disciplines of my martial arts background. Growing up, Karate has been the greatest influence in instilling disciplines that carried over into both my personal and professional life:
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.methodstrat.com/ and https://www.capizcoffeeroasters.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capizcoffeeroasters
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/HhxSC2hNNfj3qVsx/
