Today we’d like to introduce you to William Salamanca.
William, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I came into the coffee world in 2014 with the goal of helping the children of coffee farmers! Specifically, we wanted to raise money to provide them with musical instruments. We started with the support and mentorship of one of the best coffee producers in El Salvador, Señor Raúl Rivera. He has won many awards, like the 2019 Cup of Excellence with his Pacamara beans grown on his farm in Santa Rosa. It has been a privilege to work and grow this business with his guidance.
The coffee that Café 503 serves is the best El Salvador has to offer. In 2019 I started this mobile coffee shop with a goal in mind: to share our love of coffee with the people of Atlanta. We now serve four times a week at our local farmers market in Peachtree City and the biggest car show in Georgia: Caffeine & Octane and Caffeine & Exotics.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Translating a dream into reality is certainly hard work. I’ve found that taking the 1st step is the hardest. Selling the 1st bag of coffee and mailing it wasn’t simple or intuitive to navigate; however, after selling a few bags and reading customers reviews, I knew I was on the correct track. I knew I was offering a special service and creating not just a business – but an experience. I believe the biggest struggle was facing the uncertainty of walking into a new world, but with the right tools and the support of family and friends, I’ve found that even far off dreams can be actualized.
Cafe 503 – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Our company is the bridge between the best coffee El Salvador has to offer and you. We focus on specialty coffee that reflects the hard work and dedication that is put into every bean, from harvest to your first sip. The biggest thing that sets us apart is our love of what we do, the guidance we receive from our world class mentors, and the hard work we put into every cup. Now that we have our mobile unit and pop-up station, our next goal is to open a brick-and-mortar coffee shop soon!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Our 1st event at Caffeine & Octane. The feeling of people coming back, just to tell us how much they loved our product was incredibly encouraging. Since that event we’ve created a customer base that really feels like family. The best part is seeing them time and again at all of our local farmers markets!
Pricing:
- Our price per pound is just $15.00
- Double espresso are only $2.50
Contact Info:
- Website: www.coffee503.com
- Phone: 3479626700
- Email: willrza@gmail.com
- Instagram: Cafe503
- Facebook: Cafe503
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