Welcome to The Sprudge Twenty Interviews offered by Pacific Barista Sequence. For an entire listing of 2025 Sprudge Twenty honorees, please go to sprudge.com/twenty.
Natasha Cruz-Sánchez is a trailblazing entrepreneur whose ardour for espresso and dedication to the trucking group have formed Nacrusan into greater than only a espresso model—it’s a motion. Because the founding father of Nacrusan, Natasha has set out on a mission to carry specialty espresso to truckers, making certain that those that preserve America shifting have entry to high-quality, ethically sourced espresso crafted for his or her demanding life-style.
Recognizing the essential position truckers play in our economic system and the challenges they face find premium espresso on the street, Natasha constructed Nacrusan as a model tailor-made particularly to their wants. Each cup is designed to gas lengthy hauls, refresh weary minds, and remodel the espresso expertise for these dwelling life on the street. By fastidiously sourced beans and handy, accessible options, Nacrusan is redefining how truckers get pleasure from specialty espresso—bringing high quality and luxury to each cease.
Past the espresso itself, Natasha’s impression extends to group constructing and assist for the trucking trade. She is dedicated to fostering significant connections amongst truckers, providing an area the place they really feel valued and acknowledged. Whether or not via partnerships, outreach applications, or initiatives that prioritize accessibility, Natasha ensures that Nacrusan isn’t simply delivering espresso—it’s delivering respect, appreciation, and a dedication to the hard-working people who preserve America working.
Natasha’s means to merge enterprise innovation with a heartfelt dedication to truckers makes her an impressive candidate for the Sprudge Twenty. She exemplifies what it means to construct a enterprise with goal, shaping Nacrusan into an organization that elevates the espresso expertise whereas honoring the folks behind the wheel and low. Her management, imaginative and prescient, and dedication set her aside, making her greater than deserving of this recognition.
Nominated by Jennis Vicente-Feliciano
What number of years whole have you ever labored within the espresso trade?
5 or so.
What was your first espresso job?
My very first espresso job was as a barista at Café Don Juan, of their Señorial retailer in San Juan, Puerto Rico. That 12 months, 2017, we have been sadly hit by Hurricane Maria, which was a difficult time for everybody. My profession in espresso really took off a few years later, in 2019, once I began working at La Colombe in Washington, D.C.
Did you expertise a life-changing second of espresso revelation early in your profession?
Coming from a coffee-producing nation, espresso is deeply rooted in our tradition. From a really younger age, we drink it, and it turns into part of our lives; sharing cups with family and friends, creating reminiscences that stick with us ceaselessly. Most individuals have a espresso reminiscence on the farm with their grandparents, and everybody is aware of that espresso is a fruit, haha!
After I got here to the U.S., I noticed many individuals had no concept that espresso comes from a plant. Right here, espresso is usually used for socializing, sure, however largely as a option to get up or keep up late at night time. In Puerto Rico, espresso means one thing extra—it’s a second, a pause, a time to savor, by no means rushed.
Is there an individual or individuals who served as your mentor early in your espresso profession? How did they impression you?
Sure, there’s two folks I’d like to say.
The primary is Eduardo Choza, the 2024 U.S. Roasting Champion. Eduardo has had a very profound impression on me. We first met at a espresso occasion referred to as Bloom in Washington, D.C., and never lengthy after, we began working collectively. From the very starting, being alongside him by no means felt like simply work—his real take care of each folks and low made each day really feel significant. He leads with kindness, humility, and keenness, and the way in which he carries himself as each an individual and an expert is one thing I deeply admire.
Throughout our time collectively, he taught me a lot: from brewing pour-overs, cupping, and coaching my palate, to roasting, manufacturing, and understanding the availability chain. Some of the unforgettable experiences we shared was touring collectively to a espresso farm in Guatemala, the place I noticed firsthand the depth of his information and his respect for each step of the journey from seed to cup.
Even after we stopped working collectively, Eduardo has continued to be a presence in my life. We’ve at all times stayed in contact, sharing our experiences and tales via espresso. What makes him so particular isn’t just his experience, however the way in which he evokes you to fall in love with espresso on a deeper stage. He has this uncommon present of creating you’re feeling seen, valued, and motivated to provide your greatest. He’s additionally extremely humorous, and even in essentially the most difficult moments, he might make us giggle and remind us why we love what we do.
I’d additionally like to say Juan Carlos Soto Caez, who’s an agronomist in PR. Juan Carlos is essentially the most humble individual I’ve met in my espresso profession. He grew up on espresso farms in Puerto Rico and have become an agronomist, carrying with him a information that’s each deeply rooted within the land and enriched by examine and expertise. His knowledge comes not solely from what he has discovered, but in addition from what he has lived.
What makes Juan Carlos so exceptional is the way in which he connects with farmers—at all times with respect, care, and humility. He has a present for guiding them towards the most effective practices on the farm stage, making certain that their onerous work interprets into the best high quality cup of espresso. His eye for element is unmatched; with only one have a look at a espresso tree, he can inform you precisely what it wants.
I had the privilege of working with Juan Carlos in espresso labs in Puerto Rico, the place we cupped coffees collectively and even picked espresso throughout totally different areas. In each second, he made it his mission to show me with endurance and kindness, reminding me of the deep respect we owe our earth. His method of main via instance has left an enduring impression on me — one which goes far past espresso.
What’s your present position in espresso?
Espresso roaster.
What aspect of the espresso trade has modified essentially the most throughout your profession?
The aspect that has modified essentially the most throughout my profession in espresso is discovering my area of interest and discovering the place I really belong on this trade. After I grew to become a truck driver, I dreamed of constructing a enterprise that might honor two of the hardest-working but usually unrecognized teams of individuals: espresso farmers and truck drivers.
What nonetheless surprises you at this time about espresso, or provides you pleasure?
What nonetheless amazes me about espresso is its unbelievable energy to attach folks. Espresso is usually the spark that begins conversations or the mild nudge to pause and share a second. What provides me pleasure is figuring out that espresso is the artwork that we get pleasure from, crafted by the hardworking fingers of espresso farmers. Each cup carries their tales, their dedication, and their ardour, and thru it, we discover connection, group, and that means.
What’s one thing concerning the espresso trade you’d most prefer to see change?
I need to change the way in which we educate about espresso. Coming from a coffee-producing nation, I really feel it’s our accountability to coach communities and clients in coffee-consuming nations concerning the immense onerous work behind each cup. When folks really perceive the place their espresso comes from, they acquire a brand new appreciation—and are prepared to worth it extra, recognizing the years of dedication, ability, and keenness it takes to create one thing so extraordinary.
What’s your most cherished espresso reminiscence?
My most cherished espresso second was touring to Guatemala and seeing, up shut, simply how a lot espresso means to folks’s lives. It wasn’t merely about their love for the drink, it was about survival, about how espresso permits households to place meals on the desk and construct a life. Puerto Rico is somewhat totally different in the case of espresso farming, however in nations like Guatemala, complete communities rely on it for his or her livelihoods. The worth of this fruit is much better than we frequently notice. Seeing that connection between espresso and livelihood gave me a deep appreciation for each cup I get pleasure from.
Do you make espresso at dwelling? If that’s the case, inform us the way you brew!
As a truck driver, my truck grew to become my dwelling, and time was at all times working in opposition to me. I stored all my espresso gear tucked inside a closet, and relying on how a lot time I had, I’d brew a batch of drip espresso or a V60. Every time I needed one thing somewhat fancier, I’d make a chilly foam with powdered milk, which got here in helpful as a result of the fridge within the truck was too small to retailer recent milk. I additionally needed to be conscious of my water provide, as a result of if the truck broke down and I didn’t have sufficient, it might develop into a significant issue.
After I was on dwelling time, I’d indulge somewhat extra, utilizing my espresso machine to make cortados. Even in these difficult situations on the street, espresso was my ritual: somewhat slice of consolation, creativity, and normalcy in the midst of life on the transfer.
What’s your favourite tune/music to brew espresso to?
I like to brew espresso in silence and sit with my ideas, letting the ritual gradual the world down and provides me a second of readability.
What’s your concept of espresso happiness?
There’s nothing I really like greater than instructing and seeing the happiness it brings to others. Watching somebody gentle up as they uncover, study, and discover is a pleasure that stays with me. It’s a reminder of why I share my ardour for espresso each day.
Should you might drink espresso with anybody, dwelling or useless, who wouldn’t it be and why?
If I might drink espresso with anybody, it could be my grandmother, Julia. A few of my earliest and most treasured reminiscences are of ingesting espresso together with her, paired with galletas export sodas, and queso de papa served in a tiny inexperienced plastic cup that was truly a butter container. My grandma meant the whole lot to me and I’d like to share that have together with her once more—te amo, abuela.
What’s one piece of recommendation you’ll give somebody getting their begin within the espresso trade at this time?
One piece of recommendation I’d give somebody beginning within the espresso trade at this time is to stay curious and affected person. Espresso is greater than only a drink: it’s a craft, a tradition, and a connection to folks and the land. Take the time to study each step of the journey, from farm to cup, and by no means underestimate the worth of listening, observing, and asking questions. Generally discovering a seat on the desk is difficult, and also you’ll need to construct your individual desk, and that’s okay too, even when it begins from the again of a truck. Encompass your self with individuals who imagine in you; generally these folks gained’t be the closest to you. Keep centered on the nice issues your individual circle can carry, however at all times preserve an open thoughts and an open palate. The extra you perceive and respect the story behind each bean, the extra you’ll have the ability to share that keenness with others.
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