Rodrigo Encinales: Coffee from Above

By Olga L. O'Hearn

The first thing you notice when you meet Rodrigo Encinales is how easily he transmits the passion for what he does. And it might be because this Barranquilla native -with roots in the coffee-growing region of Colombia- has plenty to be happy about.

As the owner and CEO of Coffee from Above, Rodrigo has been able to bring to life the vision he once had of owning a business that would provide the best quality product and that would bring joy to millions of people. Coffee; Colombian coffee! The best coffee in the world!

But to arrive to where he is today, he has had to overcome numerous obstacles. After graduating as a lawyer from Universidad Autόnoma del Caribe, starting a family, and practicing law in his hometown, Rodrigo emigrated to the United States initially settling in Miami, Florida, and eventually in Washington, DC. “Those first years were very difficult,” he recalls. He worked, without a break, doing anything he could to support his family, holding numerous jobs at a time. One of those jobs required him to distribute a popular coffee brand around the Miami area. He worked incessantly and became familiar with the product and the market. Upon arriving in Washington, DC, Rodrigo found a gap in the market and decided to not just sell coffee but the best artisanal coffee one can find in the region.

Coffee from Above partners with 20 coffee-growing families in Pueblo Tapao and Génova, Quindío -the heart of the Colombian coffee region- ensuring that only the best coffee beans make it to your cup.

Rodrigo speaks with confidence about coffee and the coffee production process because he is an expert in the field. From a very early age he has been involved in the coffee business. He reminisces playing around coffee farms as a child and learning how to plant, harvest, roast, and grind coffee. Today, his business expands to other regions of the world, including Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the United States, and provides the freshest products to local coffee shops, supermarkets, and specialty stores thanks to his processing factory in Washington, DC. He is currently working on different projects to expand his business, so do not be surprised when you see Coffee from Above on wheels around the area.

Rodrigo has been an active member of PorColombia DC since 2018. Since then, his business has grown exponentially and he is working hard so that it continues in that path. He is improving the image of Colombia overseas, one cup of coffee at a time. “I want to be part of your table, I want to be part of your family,” he states. For more information about Rodrigo Encinales and Coffee from Above, visit www.coffeefromabove.com or contact him directly at rodrigosales@coffeefromabove.com.