R. Miguel Meza began drinking and studying coffee at the age of 13. Having a natural inclination towards exotic foods and warm tropical places after being exposed to espresso in Seattle at 14 his life pursuit into understanding coffee was all but inevitable. Miguel began working in the coffee industry as a barista at 16. A few years later, in 2002, he helped found Paradise Roasters with his family where he served as Roastmaster and green buyer until 2008. While at Paradise Roasters Miguel sourced and roasted several highly rated coffees and served as a juror for international cupping competitions in Ethiopia and India. Miguel now lives on the Big Island of Hawaii working for Hula Daddy Kona Coffee, where he roasts coffee along with striving to understand quality and improve it at the farm level. Miguel also provides technical assistance to growers in other emerging regions of Hawaii, teaching them quality production practices and how to cup coffee. Miguel can be reached at [email protected].
