OUR STORY
Juan and Mario are more than lifelong friends and founders of Jaguar Coffee. They share the same ancestry of Michocán, Mexico, a region where its heritage and heart is tasted inside every cup.
MARIO ESTRADA
Mario is a self-professed coffee addict who began his journey into the coffee world by enjoying a cup or two with friends. These memories inspire him to create these special coffee moments for others. Mario’s role at Jaguar Coffee is to research the best coffee in the world so he can bring it to you and your friends. After the coffee mug is empty, he enjoys cooking, playing guitar, and spending quality time with his family and friends.
JUAN VARGAS
Juan is a lifelong coffee enthusiast. Having annoyed his mom as a toddler for “cafecito” he would later chomp on chocolate covered coffee beans to get through college. When Juan isn’t busy hunting for bigfoot he handles the “bidness” side of things at Jaguar Coffee. He is most at home at the family farm in Michoacan, MX.
HISTORY OF MICHOCAN
Once the center of the Purepecha Empire, Michocán, Mexico runs deep with history, culture and an endless passion. It was an empire the neighboring Aztecs, their powerful, but fierce rivals, failed to conquer, a testament to the indigenous warriors then donning jaguar attire to represent determination, grit and resiliency.
PRESENT DAY MICHOCAN
Modern day Michocán tells a different tale. Entire families struggle on under a dollar a day. Yet the area rains rich with happiness and heritage that is the pulse of Latin America. Everywhere you look, the world’s most vibrant colors thrive in the artisanal crafts, Purepecha artwork, and abundance of Monarch butterflies. In all the hardship here, the people embrace something far greater, far more powerful.
The farmers too exhibit passion as they give heart for the lands as they do their families, doing so with integrity and conviction. The sun beats upon their backs as they cultivate the land beneath them with care. Swirls of soil fill the air . These are badges of honor for the hard-working people who remain thankful for all the land rewards. Nothing is taken for granted. Everything is appreciated.
A SHARED HERITAGE
Friends Juan Vargas and Mario Estrada saw this firsthand. Residents of Illinois today, they reminisce over their beautiful homeland from where they descended and where Vargas’s family owns a 16-hecatre farm. They also embrace the hearty stories told over fresh breads and coffee. It is a time for family, for slowing down, for laughter, and for connection. Vargas and Estrada know this is why they must share the coffee with the world.
THE COFFEE
The beans are a balanced and clean roast emitting sweet natural flavors born from the Latin American soil. They perfect their craftsmanship through classes, (Mario obtained his Specialty Coffee Association Roasting Certification in 2018) observations, and any chance to infuse these natural flavors with subtle hints of chocolate, hibiscus, vanilla, doing so with heart and without complication. Cups hold more than coffee here. They carry the pride and beauty where tales of Latin American heritage forever live. This is our story. Now we invite you to share yours. Share with friends and family over the delicious, roasted flavors of Jaguar Coffee.
Slow down. Breathe in this beautiful life, and enjoy all of its heartwarming flavors, one sip at a time.
Shop Now