By Kelli Carmack
When you pick up a bag of A Cup of Organic’s premium organic coffee, one of the first things you’ll see is oil on the coffee beans.
“This is a telltale indicator that our coffee is fresh,” says Doug Torres, owner of A Cup of Organic. “If there isn’t oil on your coffee beans, or a layer of oil on top of your cup of coffee, that means your coffee isn’t fresh, it’s old.”
Along with being fresh, A Cup of Organic’s coffee is also certified organic. The three major benefits to drinking organic coffee are that there is no acidity, no bitterness, and no aftertaste.
Torres outsources his coffee from Honduras, where many members of his family live. In fact, the coffee is from Torres’ brother, Juan Torres, and his sister-in-law’s coffee fields, which are overseen by Juan’s father-in-law.
“We pride ourselves on being family owned,” says Torres. “They pick, roast, grind and package our coffee all in Honduras in a week’s time, and then ship it to me.”
Reflecting on the decade that A Cup of Organic has been in business, the first thing that comes to Torres’ mind is freedom.
“I don’t consider this my job — this is my lifestyle,” says Torres, “It’s such a blessing to spend more time with my family, and also have my family involved in this business.”
Before owning A Cup of Organic, Torres worked in corporate America for 20 years. Driving home from work one day and contemplating on his future, he prayed to God for guidance.
“God gave me an answer — to sell coffee, but with a vision of giving back,” says Torres.
On his first day of business in 2009, Torres set up a tent and generator on State Road 54, near where Mercedes Benz of Wesley Chapel is today. He made handwritten signs to put all over 54 saying “free samples of organic coffee,” and worked from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
He had told himself, “God, if just one person stops today, I’ll continue to do this.” And then, at 11 a.m., as he was packing up, one person stopped by.
The next day, Torres said, “God, if you give me two people today, I’ll continue to do this.” Torres ended up getting two people that day.
“And, from that point on, I didn’t question God anymore and kept moving forward,” says Torres. And he kept his promise to God to give back.
Torres has donated enough money to help build The City of Hope Orphanage in Honduras, which serves as a sanctuary for abused and neglected children. Torres also routinely hosts shoe drives, and gives the shoes to the needy in Honduras.
A Cup of Organic’s newest location is in Land O’ Lakes in the Connerton community. Other locations are in Wesley Chapel, San Antonio, Lutz and Tampa. For more information, visit ACupOfOrganic.com.
20421 Rose Cottage Way, Land O’ Lakes, FL 34637 • 813-546-6659
Published 1/27/21
