Meet Luz Nino Ortiz | Founder and owner of Lumière Café Colombiano

We had the good fortune of connecting with Luz Nino Ortiz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Luz, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Lumière was created from the inspiration of my home country. I brought my husband to visit a coffee field for the first time in the mountains of Boyacá Colombia. The main idea behind Lumiere is to provide the same passion that comes from the care and love of growing Coffee in Colombia. To share this dedication with the rest of the world. One bag of coffee at a time.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I moved to San Diego in 2012 and studied linguistics at SDSU. I graduated with a BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences. In 2021, I became an AIML – Data Operations Analyst for Apple Inc. After working for a large corporation and developing many volunteer events for Apple employees, I wanted to start something new and on my own. My goal was to be my own boss and to merge my passion for Coffee. There have been many obstacles along the way for sure. Such as staying motivated, maintaining a schedule, and doing lots of research. Lumière is all about bringing the community together through sustainable sources and sharing our passion for coffee and culture with the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Day 1: Little Italy
Visit Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market if this is a weekend, and enjoy Italian food at local restaurants. Stroll through the streets, enjoy gelato, or visit Salt & Straw Ice Cream
Day 2: North Park
Grab breakfast at a local cafe, like The Mission or Breakfast Republic. Visit local shops and galleries. Have lunch at Underbelly or Waypoint Public. Enjoy the nightlife and stop by local breweries, like North Park Beer Co. or Modern Times.
Day 3: Liberty Station
Head to Liberty Station. Attend a yoga class at the park and enjoy a walk around. Visit the art galleries and museums. Try the stuffed Potato at the Latin Chef restaurant, or pizza and empanadas. Walk around the beautiful grounds and waterfront. Dine at a restaurant, like Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens.
Day 4: Coronado
Take the ferry or drive to Coronado and walk around the historic Hotel del Coronado, bring a towel and relax at Coronado Beach and have lunch at Il Fornaio Coronado restaurant. At night, explore Orange Avenue for shopping and dining.
Day 5: Balboa Park
Visit Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo. Visit the museums. Have lunch at The Prado or another park restaurant, or simply bring food and have a picnic. Attend a performance at the Old Globe Theatre (if available).
Day 6: Visit UTC Mall in La Jolla. Walk around and do some shopping. Have lunch at Din Tai Fung and if possible, attend a show at The Rady Shell At Jacobs Park.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my husband, my friends Alejandra and Laura for their support. Also, I would like to thank Accessity and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for their guidance and classes. Thank you Francisco Vargas for staying open to the multiple ideas and plans that are coming to our coffee business. Thank you to the community in San Diego who has supported us at every Pop-Up market.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumierecafe.co

Image Credits
Photos by Aaron Dominguez