Gardenia Rosales, Founder of Cipota Coffee
Gardenia Rosales is passionate about two things: la cultura and really good coffee. The Salvadoran-American entrepreneur managed to marry both with the 2023 launch of Cipota Coffee, a vibrant brand that offers specialty coffee sourced from El Salvador and carefully roasted in Los Angeles.
A variety of single-origin coffee is available on cipotacoffee.com, but if you’re local to L.A., you can stock up at Arroz & Fun in Lincoln Heights.
Cipota is slang for “girl” in Central America. It’s also what Rosales would be endearingly called by her family growing up. It felt natural to name her business after the sweet moniker and pair it with an illustration of a girl wearing trenzas and hoops that many Latinx customers have said they’ve resonated with.
“Cipota Coffee is rooted in something I love, so seeing others identify with it is rewarding,” shares Rosales. “I am fortunate to contribute to our community by sharing our culture and stories through coffee.”
Get to know this mujer de magia below and learn what inspired her to pursue a career in coffee, how she combats imposter syndrome, and so much more.
Grace Gavilanes: Tell us about the road to launching Cipota Coffee. Did you always dream about becoming an entrepreneur?
Gardenia Rosales: I’ve always loved coffee! Sharing coffee with my parents has always been special. Coffee dates were also always my go-to with friends. There came a time in my life when I was questioning my career path, and the one thing I looked forward to every day was thinking about which coffee I would try the next day. Along with all the questions in my life came a desire to learn more about coffee. I printed articles and books about coffee and read them to my partner every night before bed. It was then that I decided to leave my job and seek knowledge from coffee experts. Through research, I found Academia Barista Pro, a coffee program in El Salvador run by Johanna and Jonathan Rodriguez. Before Cipota Coffee, they taught me everything about coffee and even helped me plan out the initial steps of this venture.
Being an entrepreneur has never felt like a dream. The entrepreneurial mindset was instilled in me since I was a child. When I was young, my father shared stories of his youth when he would make and sell candies with his family to make a living in his hometown of Santa Rosa de Lima, El Salvador. When my father’s family moved to Los Angeles in the ‘80s, my grandmother made tamales and sold them, and my grandfather developed his own carpet cleaning business. The skills my father learned from his parents were carried into his own flooring business. My mother and father ran the flooring business, so I was always in an entrepreneurial environment. When my siblings and I were young, we enjoyed helping our parents answer the business line and taking messages for them.
GG: What is the most rewarding part of your work?
GR: The most fulfilling part of my work with Cipota Coffee has been creating a brand that resonates with people. I appreciate it when people are excited about the brand and share how it has inspired them to create something of their own. Cipota Coffee is rooted in something I love, so seeing others identify with it is rewarding. I am fortunate to contribute to our community by sharing our culture and stories through coffee.
GG: What advice would you give someone looking to follow in your footsteps?
GR: I advise those seeking to start their own business to create and follow their path. With any new venture, there will be change and uncertainty. Be sure to ask questions and seek help when you need it. Seek support from your community and highlight the skills of others by collaborating. Remember, learning as you go when starting something new is okay. You don’t have to know everything all at once.
GG: Imposter syndrome is a very real thing in our community. Have you experienced it? If so, how do you reconnect with yourself?
GR: Imposter syndrome is something I experience daily. There are a few things I have to remember to get myself back to a point of inspiration. First, I have to understand why I am feeling like an imposter. So far, this stems from doubt in my abilities and a fear of failure. I have to remind myself that these feelings do not mean I am a failure.
Second, as I mentioned, you sometimes learn as you go when starting something new. This process itself can make you feel like an imposter. Understanding that there is always something to learn and confronting harsh judgments I make towards myself are two things that help me reconnect to my purpose.
Lastly, don’t forget to talk to someone about your feelings. I am fortunate enough to have a sister with similar life experiences. Conversations with someone who understands my life experiences help me feel like I am not alone. I have also found that writing my experiences and then revisiting those journal entries has helped me visualize my accomplishments throughout the years.
““If I had to describe what makes me Latina, I’d say it’s carrying the culture passed down through generations that I still identify with today, even as a Salvadoran American living in California.””
GG: What accomplishment are you most proud of, both in your personal and professional life?
GR: As a child of immigrants, I connect with wanting to promise my parents the world. My parents have worked hard their entire lives. I am creating something for myself to care for them down the line, if necessary.
The word that best describes my professional portfolio is chanciness. I am unintentionally a risk taker. This personality trait has led me to learn and work in many fields, such as property management, real estate, and even as an English teacher abroad. I am proud of all the skills I’ve learned through these experiences. Without them, I would not be where I am today with Cipota Coffee.
GG: What does being Latina mean to you?
GR: If I had to describe what makes me Latina, I’d say it’s carrying the culture passed down through generations that I still identify with today, even as a Salvadoran American living in California.
GG: How would you say your upbringing and cultural background contributed to your career aspirations?
GR: Whether it was purposeful or not, I was taught to live resiliently. I’ve witnessed my parents work with bravery, even though things aren’t always met with perfection. As a result, I have internalized that my career goals will not come without effort, and if something does not pan out as intended, it’s okay to try again. Historically, the Salvadoran people have had to demonstrate resilience, so I would also say that this manner of navigating my career aspirations is partially due to my culture. Never giving up even through hard times.
GG: What would you tell 10-year-old Gardenia right now if you had the opportunity?
GR: I would tell my 10-year-old self that she was doing her best to navigate what she was going through at that time and to continue to use her voice to help herself or those she loves. I would also hug my 10-year-old self and let her know everything will be okay!
