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REPRESENTING
C

BRAZIL,

Nourished and Nourishing the Coffee
Business in Her Way

Marcia Yoko considers herself lucky as she was
helped a lot by the people in the coffee community
when pursuing her career as a coffee specialist. She organize coffee samples and have a good attitude in
said: “I had very good mentors when I was learning the coffee lab with producers and buyers. None of MARCIA YOKO
about coffee in different sectors.” Of course, her these things are taught nowadays.” She told me in
family greatly influenced and inspired her about the interview. Seeing all the new people coming
coffee. From a young age, Marcia Yoko grew up after specialty coffee started booming, Marcia Yoko
watching her father and uncle work on a coffee farm. decided it was time to contribute as an instructor
Both of them produced coffee passionately, gradu- for coffee newbies.
ally making Marcia Yoko develop her curiosity about For over ten years, Marcia Yoko has continu-
coffee and pushing her to learn more about it. Apart ously spread coffee knowledge in Brazil. However, HOPES MORE
from her family members, Marcia Yoko told me that she wanted more than that. Representing Brazil,
all her mentors were old agronomists who worked Marcia Yoko hopes more people will know the po-
for the Brazilian Coffee Institute for many years. tential of Brazilian coffee. Brazil has one of the most
One of them is Jose Luiz Barbosa de Toledo, the top extensive coffee origins in the world. More than 20
cup taster in Brazil. After meeting with Toledo, for regions have different terroirs producing coffee in
the first time, she discovered that coffee could also the country. The country’s coffee production rep-
have different layers of flavors. It was like opening resents a third of the world’s coffee production. PEOPLE WILL
the door to a whole new world of coffee to her. However, many think that Brazil’s emphasis on
Over the next few years, Marcia Yoko kept on quantity means a weaker quality. Marcia Yoko argued
tasting countless different coffees, and she became that it was not all correct. She said, “It is undeniable
obsessed with finding out how coffee tastes differ- that we have potential in the specialty coffee indus-
ent. She eventually came to understand what influ- try. Meanwhile, we also have the capacity to supply
ences the taste of coffee. She won prizes at nation- all the non-specialty coffee community. We just need KNOW THE
al cup taster competitions and was the judge for to find a balance between offer and demand.” To
many coffee competitions in Brazil and overseas. achieve this goal, she has worked as the main in-
Back then, almost no women worked and competed structor of Brazilian Coffee Courses in South Korea,
in the coffee field. It was hard, but Marcia Yoko Taiwan, and Japan, trying to make the Asian market
never saw the obstacles. She believes all the barriers understand Brazilian coffee more.
and difficulties she faced would eventually turn into Apart from education, Marcia Yoko is also de-
opportunities that would lead her to new perspec- voted to bringing the best coffee from Brazil to Asia. POTENTIAL
tives, and she would use them as a way to grow. “I “Coming from a coffee producer family, I know sales
will overcome all the difficult situations without are always crucial in the chain. Therefore, after years
thinking of them as difficult. Instead, I will try my of learning about the producer part, I decided to
best to be more professional to be someone people focus on export and how I can add more value to the
respect. In that case, no one can have any doubt coffee itself and simultaneously offer the products
about me.” She stated. that the market needs.” she said. OF BRAZILIAN
After years of sweat and tears, Marcia Yoko has
become one of the best coffee specialists, and she
is eager to give back to the community, especially
her home country. “Back when I first started in the
COFFEE.
industry, my mentors taught me not only the tech-
niques to cup and taste the coffee but also how to

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