By Hope Benjamin
Elm Staff Writer
Starting a business can be challenging and full of many steps, but entrepreneur Andrey Perez gave us insight into how he started Crezia Coffee. Over six months, his business has had fifteen thousand in sales.
Perez is a senior majoring in economics and chemistry. In June 2023 when he visited his family’s coffee farm, he got the idea from his uncle to bring the coffee to America. Perez’s coffee farm has been in his family for generations, where they sold unroasted the green coffee. Perez comes from a very hardworking family and has been devoted to starting and keeping up with his business so far.
“We have so much history in our family. I thought it be a good idea to bring it here under my family’s name,” Perez said.
Perez always makes sure to ask people if they know where their coffee came from, so making sure it is sourced from a place that grows the coffee beans on rich farmland like his family’s was especially important for him because of the connection he has to that place.
“I grew up running in those coffee farms, going there with my family, and it has a lot of sentimental value to me. Also, being close to my uncle who helps me with this, talking to him three times a day, this bond is so important to me,” Perez said.
The origins of his coffee brand’s name come from his grandmother. Her last name was Lacrezia, and he wanted to honor how special she was to him and his family.
His grandfather worked for the National Federation of Coffee Growers as an engineer extensionist. He taught other farms how to plant their coffee beans and how to make them efficiently grow. In the 1980s, he bought a piece of land and cut everything down to start growing a part of his family business.
“My uncle started a pretty big coffee farm with machinery, as he did plan on upscaling his business profits already. He eventually bought and took over my grandfather’s coffee farm that started in 1980, and now he runs both of those,” Perez said.
Last year, Perez used resources on campus such as the business department, the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, and Perez even consulted Bianti Danaj ‘24, who graduated last year and started his own olive oil company. Perez was five months behind Danaj in starting his business, so Perez would reach out and ask questions and get Danaj’s advice. Perez also sent about 100 emails a week reaching out to those who would be willing to start selling his coffee.
“If you were to buy a bag online, that would be retail, and then we also sell wholesale at Modern Stone Age Kitchen. We give them pre-roasted they can use but also roasters, called green coffee,” Perez said.
The biggest tool to have when starting a business is being proactive, according to Perez. When you start something like a business, you should care more about being focused on the company more than anything else. Don’t wait for other people to help you out.
“On paper it looks like I do this all by myself, but in reality I am always reaching out to others for support and advice on my weaknesses. It is worth reaching out to professors, friends, and family,” Perez said.
According to Forbes, there are a couple of notes to keep in mind when starting a buisness of your own. Skills such as having a good mindset, being consistent, and determining your next steps for the fututre both short and long term. Another beginning step for starting a buisness is brainstorming your business idea, like thinking of your passion and what you are good at. There can be a lot of questions to consider but there are many resources and support out there for any aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start a business.
Sophomore Tiyaba Jamil has tried his coffee and says it is phenomenal when she tried it this most recent summer.
“It explores hints and flavors that you don’t normally see, such as lemongrass. It blends so well and creates a delicious taste. I also enjoyed how the flavors remain prevalent despite how you make the coffee, whether you use a French press or an espresso machine. There really is no limit to the experience one bag can get you,” Jamil said.
Senior Stephen Hook also loves Crezia Coffee and thinks it is inspiring that a fellow student is helping lead his family business. He also believes in supporting local businesses like Perez’s coffee brand.
“Perez is extremely passionate about Crezia and bringing the best product to their customers. I know that the brand will continue to grow as more people get to try it. It really is delicious coffee,” Hook said.
You can find Perez’s coffee on creziacoffee.com and at Modern Stone Age Kitchen, Night Kitchen Coffee in Denton, and recently he has expanded to Oklahoma, Texas, and a couple other states. Make sure to try a cup of his coffee whether you buy it online or go downtown to Modern Stone Age Kitchen.
Photo courtesy of Andrey Perez.
Photo Caption: Andrey Perez stands at his family’s coffee farm, which has been in his family for generations and is now being brought to the United States.