Today we’d like to introduce you to Julio Itriago.
Hi Julio, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our story really begins long before BravePro.
My twin brother Jorge and I are industrial maintenance engineers — we graduated in Venezuela. At 22 years old, we made the decision to leave our home country and move to Argentina in 2017–2018 in search of better opportunities.
Like many immigrants, we had to start from scratch. We began working in a coffee shop — not as owners, but behind the counter. What started as a job quickly became a passion. We fell in love with the craft, the precision, and the culture of coffee. That led us to formally study barismo at the Centro Internacional de Coctelería (CIC) in Buenos Aires.
In November 2021, we moved to Miami. Once again, we started from zero, working in events as servers and support staff. But this time, we were paying attention. We saw how coffee could become a premium experience at events — not just a beverage station, but a moment of connection.
In 2022, María, Jorge’s wife, joined the vision. In 2023, my wife Samanta joined as well. That same year, in August 2023, we began offering barista training courses in different cities across the U.S., sharing our knowledge and helping others start their own journey in the coffee industry.
BravePro officially launched in 2023, and in 2024, Jorge and María made the strategic decision to move to the state of Georgia to expand the business and reach new markets. That expansion marked a new phase for us — operating in multiple states while continuing to grow our presence in South Florida.
Then in November 2025, we reached another major milestone: launching our own specialty coffee brand. Moving from serving coffee to developing and branding our own specialty blend was a defining moment in our evolution.
Today, BravePro represents resilience, reinvention, family, and growth. From engineers in Venezuela… to immigrants starting over at 22… to building a multi-state coffee experience and education brand in the U.S., every chapter shaped who we are.
And we’re still building.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.
Every stage of our journey came with challenges. When we emigrated at 22, we left behind stability, family, and the careers we had studied for. Starting over in Argentina meant working jobs outside our profession and adapting to a completely new environment.
Then moving to the U.S. in 2021 meant starting from zero again — new country, new system, new language, new market. We worked long hours in events, sometimes doing whatever was needed just to stay afloat while we slowly built BravePro in the background.
One of the biggest struggles was building credibility in a competitive market like South Florida. As immigrants, you don’t have established networks. You have to prove yourself over and over again. Every client, every event, every opportunity had to be earned.
There were also financial challenges. Building equipment, investing in branding, launching our specialty coffee in 2025 — none of that happened overnight. We reinvested constantly and made careful decisions to grow sustainably rather than quickly.
Another challenge was expansion. When my brother and his wife moved to Georgia in 2024 to grow the business into a new market, it meant restructuring operations, coordinating across states, and managing growth strategically rather than emotionally.
But every struggle forced us to become more disciplined, more patient, and more intentional.
Looking back, none of it was easy — but every challenge shaped the strength of the brand we have today.
As you know, we’re big fans of Bravepro. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
BravePro is a premium specialty coffee catering company operating in Florida and Georgia. We specialize in elevated espresso bar experiences for corporate events, luxury brand activations, private celebrations, and large-scale lifestyle gatherings.
What sets us apart is that we don’t just serve coffee — we create an experience around it.
Our background as industrial maintenance engineers gives us a unique operational mindset. We focus heavily on precision, logistics, efficiency, and execution. At the same time, our barista training and passion for specialty coffee ensure that quality is never compromised. Every detail — from equipment to presentation to customer interaction — is intentional.
We are especially known for:
• High-end mobile espresso bars
• Sealed iced coffee cans prepared on-site
• Professional baristas with strong hospitality training
• Clean, modern, luxury aesthetics
• Consistency in high-volume events
Another pillar of our brand is education. Since 2023, we’ve been offering barista training courses in different U.S. cities, helping people start careers and businesses in specialty coffee. In November 2025, we launched our own specialty coffee brand, which we proudly serve at our events and use in our courses.
Beyond operations and quality, BravePro is backed by a multidisciplinary team. María and Samanta both hold degrees in Social Communication, and Samanta also has a Master’s in Business Administration and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Event Planning in Spain.
Their expertise plays a key role in our branding, marketing strategy, client experience design, and long-term growth vision. Our engineering background gives us structure and precision, while their communication and business expertise elevate the brand.
Brand-wise, what we are most proud of is building something from scratch as immigrant entrepreneurs — creating not just a service, but a recognizable brand with standards, structure, and long-term vision.
We want readers to understand that BravePro is not just about coffee. It’s about excellence, discipline, growth, and creating premium experiences that leave a lasting impression.
Looking ahead, BravePro is evolving beyond a catering company. We are building a platform that will allow aspiring entrepreneurs to grow within our ecosystem — whether through education, partnerships, or future expansion models.
Our goal is not only to build a strong brand, but to create opportunities for others who share our discipline, standards, and passion for specialty coffee.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t believe luck built our business — but I do believe preparation allowed us to take advantage of opportunities when they appeared.
Emigrating at 22 years old forced us to grow up fast. We worked in jobs that were far from our original engineering careers, and at the time it didn’t feel like luck — it felt like survival. But looking back, those experiences placed us in the hospitality industry, where we discovered specialty coffee. That shift changed everything.
Was that luck? Maybe.
But what truly mattered was choosing to study, train, and take the craft seriously.
In business, there are always moments that feel like “good luck” — meeting the right client, landing a key event, launching our brand at the right time. There are also moments of bad luck — slow seasons, canceled events, financial pressure, immigration challenges.
What we’ve learned is that luck favors consistency. The more disciplined and prepared you are, the more opportunities you can convert into growth.
So I would say luck may open a door — but work ethic, vision, and resilience are what allow you to walk through it.
Pricing:
- Our premium espresso bar experiences typically start at $800+ depending on guest count, event duration, and level of customization. • Corporate activations and large-scale events are custom-quoted based on logistics, branding integration, and service hours. • Barista training courses range from $350–$445 per participant, depending on city and format. • Specialty coffee catering packages are tailored to client needs, with options for unlimited service or per-guest pricing. • We also offer custom branding add-ons, sealed iced coffee can services, and luxury presentation upgrades.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.braveprousa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braveproflorida
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@braveprousa
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/bravepro
Image Credits
Rubenpinofotografia
Samanta Martino
María Hernández
Jorge Itriago
Julio Itriago
