Meet Our Founder

Born in Guatemala and raised in Los Angeles, Tony Arevalo combines deep coffee heritage with a lifelong passion for building meaningful connections. His roots trace back to grandparents who worked coffee farms near Lago de Amatitlán, inspiring an appreciation for coffee that would later become his mission.

After a 26-year career in aviation maintenance and more than 16 years as a hobby roaster and world traveler, Tony developed close relationships with small coffee producers throughout the Guatemalan Highlands. Through these experiences, he witnessed the challenges many farmers face and recognized the imbalance between those who grow exceptional coffee and the value they receive.

In 2024, Tony founded Aviator Coffee Imports to create direct, transparent relationships between independent producers and coffee lovers. His work has helped communities like Candelaria revive historic coffee infrastructure and produce award-winning specialty coffees. Today, Tony continues expanding opportunities for rural coffee communities across Guatemala, Colombia, and beyond—one relationship, one harvest, and one cup at a time.