Meet Madeleine Longoria Garcia | Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Madeleine Longoria Garcia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madeleine, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
The coffee industry is incredibly complex and strings together individuals from around the world and back. There are dozens, if not hundreds or thousands, of hands that touch each and every coffee bean before it lands as an extracted brew in our mugs. It is nothing short of a miracle that this happens every single day and it’s something most coffee drinkers don’t give a single thought to, but I invite people to ask: Where did this coffee come from? How did it get here?
Coffee is a complex agricultural product, primarily grown by people in nations located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Coffee often travels thousands of miles to reach its destination, and it is historically undervalued around the world.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career has been a winding path that I didn’t realize was a career path until I was deep into it. I got here by saying yes to opportunities that excited me, allowed me to learn, and challenged me to grow. I began working in coffee as a barista when I was a university student in the Pacific Northwest. Eventually, I was managing that cafe. When it came time for graduation, I decided I wanted to avoid the 9-to-5 cubicle life for as long as possible, so I did. I travelled for months at a time and paused in new places to work in cafes in California, Hawaii, and Australia so that I could save money before taking off on my next adventure. After a few years, those adventures became focused on learning more about coffee: visiting coffee farms and cooperatives in Indonesia or interning with a coffee producer in El Salvador. My mantra became “never stop learning” and I still haven’t stopped.
I have now run and operated my own business, worked with and learned from countless producers in multiple countries, consulted for dozens of businesses, and traveled internationally for work multiple times a year. I’ve called Hawaii home for over 7 years and I’m preparing for my next adventure soon. None of this has been easy, which is always reassuring because growth is uncomfortable and I truly fear the day when I may become too comfortable. Through it all, I am constantly reminding myself that the only way to move through challenges is by staying true and genuine to myself and seeking the advice of your best supporters and mentors. They aren’t the ones who give you the answers, but the ones who encourage you to think critically and find the answers for yourself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would do so much in a week! Coffee, food, beaches, visiting friends, and going on hikes. Starting off slow, we head to the Saturday Farmer’s Market in Waimea to visit some talented friends who sell their work there and buy some local produce to take home. After a stop at Surf Camp for coffee and grabbing lunch at the Waimea Butcher Shop, we’d head to one of the most beautiful tree-lined roads on the island for a picturesque walk while catching up. We’d end that day watching sunset at a beach by the Honokohau Harbor.
The next day is all things North Kona: grab a coffee at White Nene Coffee, check out the plant stores and art galleries of Holualoa, visit Kona Farm Direct and grab food at Taqueria Potosina before heading to La’aloa beach. We’ll have a pau hana and dinner at Magics Beach Grill to close out the day.
Next up is South Kona for the day. We’ll start with breakfast at Teshima’s—a 100-year-old Japanese diner that has the best breakfast—then head to a tour at Greenwell Farms. We’ll pick up lunch at Super J’s laulau and head way down south to Pebble’s beach for a hike, free diving, and sunset. We’ll stay with friends in the area so we can have an easy start to keep heading south the next day. In the morning, we stop at Aloha Star Coffee Farm for coffee and breakfast! Then, it’s a drive to Ka’u. Our first stop is my friend’s farm where we play with the goats and sheep and pick fresh guava, pomegranates, and oranges. We’ll stop at Punalu’u Bakery for some lilikoi malasadas as we keep heading around the southern tip of the island and back north to get to Volcanoes National Park. Before it gets dark, we’ll hit up the Kilauea Iki trail and then drive to one of the caldera outlooks at sunset to catch the lava glow. We’ll spend the night with friends nearby.
Hilo side is up next, and we’ll take it a bit more slowly to recuperate from the last couple of full days: coffee at Koana Coffee, mochi donuts at Mountain View Bakery and an easy drive to Hilo. We’ll grab some food at Popover and picnic at the Lili’uokalani Gardens. A quick drive to Rainbow Falls and a visit to the Imiloa Astronomy Center before heading to dinner at Moon & Turtle, where all the food is locally sourced and the owners do an amazing job leading their team. We make the drive back home to Kona over Saddle Road with a quick stop along the way to stargaze.
The next day is more restful with a slow morning at home, a drive through Kailua Kona town, and a yoga class with one of my best friends. We’ll grab some massive deli sandwiches at RC Kona and hang out at a small hidden beach near town, wrapping up a full week with rest and sun.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to those who encourage me to keep going and to challenge my ways of thinking. These are people who I’ve not only called mentors and supporters, but who I have also had the privilege of calling dear friends. They know who they are, and I couldn’t possibly list them all; thank you—there are so many ways your words and actions have impacted me for the better.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/madeleine.mlg

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeleinelg/