Check out this little taste of Colombia in Kelowna

If you asked Camilo Isaza whether he ever envisioned himself at the helm of a coffee business let alone running a bustling shop in Kelowna, chances are the response would have been a resounding no.

However, fate brought him to this point and the brick-and-mortar opening of Model Bean Coffee Co.

After relocating to the Okanagan in 2019 and subsequently facing the setback of a lost job opportunity caused by the pandemic, Isaza embarked on a journey of self-reinvention. Drawing inspiration from his Colombian heritage, he delved into the world of coffee, importing small quantities as a hobby.

But encouragement from friends and family ignited a spark, propelling him and his wife into the realm of the coffee business.

Their humble origins trace back to the farmers' market, a starting point that burgeoned into wholesaling with wineries, restaurants, and even catering private events. Ultimately, this culminated in the realization of their own vibrant café nestled in the heart of Rutland, selling farm-to-table coffee from Colombia.

“It was probably the best thing I've ever done because then this came from that,” he told Kelowna10. “It was weird times because I didn't know anything about the food industry and because I'm Colombian, I thought I knew everything there is to know about coffee, but I had no idea.”

He’s even had the opportunity to go back to his family farm and get a hands-on experience for what it takes to make quality coffee.

“I had the opportunity to go back to the farm and learn about coffee and the techniques of growing coffee. And I just fell in love with it,” Isaza said. “Now we have some of the freshest coffee in Western Canada. I'm proud to say that.”

Since opening in July, the fully family run business features coffee from two different regions in Columbia, but there hasn’t been enough supply to meet demand.

“I didn't stock enough, I guess,” Isaza said. “My next shipment will have a little bit of both [regions] so people can actually experience two different regions and how different they are.”

Isaza began the business with a dream of eventually owning his own shop, and now it has come to fruition in a very short period of time.

“It’s such an overwhelming feeling, and I feel accomplished, but I feel like there's still so much more that we need to do with the business,” he said. “We're very much looking forward to what we will have in the near future. And we invite everybody to come and experience something cool and unique.”