Today we’d like to introduce you to Bertha Gross.
Hi Bertha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
La Vela Coffee began in Venezuela in the 1950s, founded by our grandfather and shaped by the generations that followed. What started as a family craft became a family promise: roast coffee with intention, consistency, and real pride in the cup.
When we moved to South Florida, we brought that craft with us. Today, La Vela is still rooted in the heart of it all, our family, our standards, and our love for great flavor. From the first roast to the last sip, we’re here to make every cup feel like an everyday luxury.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For reasons beyond our control, we uprooted ourselves from our homeland and started over from zero in South Florida. In 2004, we opened a small breakfast and lunch spot inside an office building, bringing our coffee craft with us one cup at a time.
Building a name in a new place wasn’t easy. Introducing the La Vela brand took patience, hustle, and a lot of early mornings. Catering became our stepping stone, letting people taste what we were about at events, meetings, and celebrations. Little by little, those moments helped our coffee travel. From there, we grew into the roasting and catering operation we are today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
When we moved to florida, In 2004, we began with a small breakfast and lunch location inside an office building. Introducing a new brand in a new place was one of our biggest challenges, so we leaned into the most honest way to earn trust: showing up, serving people well, and letting the coffee speak. Catering became our stepping stone, helping us get noticed one event at a time, and it’s a big part of how we grew into the roasting and catering operation we are today.
What we’re known for: consistent, flavorful coffee and elevated coffee experiences that still feel welcoming. We specialize in roasting coffees that are approachable but never ordinary, and in providing elegant coffee catering for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations.
Today, we roast specialty coffee and focus on freshness. When customers order from us, we roast to order so the coffee arrives at its peak. We offer three house blends along with a rotating selection of single-origin coffees, and we also have decaf available. What sets us apart is the balance: premium flavor and presentation without the “exclusive” attitude. We care about the details, but we never forget the point of it all, making people feel taken care of. What we’re most proud of is building a brand that’s still family at its core. Every cup comes from the heart of it all: our roots, our standards, and the community that helped us grow.
What sets us apart: we balance premium taste and presentation with an approachable, down-to-earth experience. We care about the details, but we never forget the point of it all, making people feel taken care of.
What we’re most proud of: building a brand that’s still family at its core. Every cup is coming from the heart of it all, our roots, our standards, and the community that helped us grow.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I like best about Miami:
Miami’s multicultural flair is what I love most. Even though it’s Latin at its core, it’s also a true mix of cultures, languages, and traditions, and as Latin Americans we feel right at home here. Miami reflects what’s best about this country: people arriving from all corners of the world and building something together. Through our coffee and catering work, we get to be part of people’s life celebrations and milestones, and it’s a beautiful way to see the city’s personality up close. You can learn a lot about someone by the way they drink coffee, and in Miami, every cup tells a slightly different story.
What I like least about Miami:
Traffic, no contest. And the weather can be unpredictable, one minute it’s bright and calm, the next it’s a full-on downpour. But honestly, even that adds to the energy. Miami stays exciting, keeps you on your toes, and never feels boring.
Pricing:
- 12 oz bag of house blend specialty roasted coffee beans $14
- 2 lb bag of specialty roasted coffee beans $28
- 12 oz bag single origin specialty coffee 14.5
- catering services start at 570 plus tax
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lavelacoffee.com
- Instagram: @lavelacoffee
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaVelaCoffee
