Martinez Coffee – Brand Story

Martinez Coffee is rooted in Seven Sisters, London, but its heart beats in the mountains of Anserma, Caldas—a place where hardship, resilience, and deep family ties shaped the legacy of the Martinez and Alvarez families.

The story began with Sabor Coffee, a green-coffee import project focused on bringing high-quality beans from selected farms across the Coffee Belt to roasters in the UK. Among those farms, one stood out—not only for the quality of its coffee, but for the remarkable life behind it. That farm belongs to Nelson Martinez.

Nelson has lived between Colombia and the UK for more than 25 years, carrying with him the memories and teachings of the man who shaped him: Juan Bautista Álvarez, the grandfather of Sabor Coffee and a larger-than-life coffee grower.

The Martinez siblings arrived in Anserma, Caldas, after their sister , Anaes , married Eliecer Álvarez, son of Don Juan Bautista. Having lost both parents during La Violencia of the 1950s and 60s, the siblings grew up in an orphanage in Belén de Umbría. When Anaes married into the Álvarez family, Don Juan Bautista opened his doors—and his heart—to the rest of the Martinez children. He offered them a home, stability, and purpose.

For Nelson, Don Juan became the father figure he desperately needed. He provided mentorship, discipline, and work on his farm in San Antonio, in the rural area of Betania, Anserma. Under his guidance, Nelson learned the craft of agriculture and coffee cultivation. He brought his partner Inés, started a family, and built a future working the land alongside the Álvarez family.

But Colombia’s political instability—especially the violence brought by left-wing guerrillas in the coffee region—forced Nelson to abandon the land he loved and seek safety in the UK. Despite the uprooting, despite the years spent building a new life in London, Nelson’s heart never left the farm. Every saving that remained after raising a large family went into keeping that land alive.

Today, with improved political stability in Colombia, Nelson is back to continue building his legacy for his children and grandchildren. The farm is where he is happiest, and every member of the family can attest to that.

Nelson is a proud coffee producer committed to clean, sustainable agricultural practices. He has improved the farm’s processing facilities, drying patios, and family home. His dedication results in a coffee that carries the terroir of the land: Milk chocolate, citrus, and dried fruits—flavours shaped by the region’s rich vegetation.

Scoring 84 points on the SCA scale, this is fully traceable, hand-picked, sun-dried Colombian coffee produced with integrity from tree to cup.

Now, through Martinez Coffee, the family is finally able to share their own harvest directly with London—closing a circle that began decades ago with hardship, migration, and hope.

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