A 17-Year-Old, a Pink Trailer, and the Espresso Fundamentals She Taught Herself

A bright pink coffee trailer sits in a Lowe's parking lot in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Behind the Sanremo Zoe Compact espresso machine stands Natalia Jurado, who turns 18 next month and will then take legal ownership of the business she built while finishing high school.

Pink Pour Co. launched on May 30, 2026, but the story started earlier. Jurado, a dual-enrollment student completing coursework toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, could not find a job flexible enough to accommodate her schedule. So she built one.

The pattern repeats across specialty coffee scenes worldwide. In Sofia, roasters like Blue Bag Specialty Coffee emerged from similar circumstances: young people who taught themselves extraction theory, sourcing relationships, and the unglamorous mechanics of commercial operations because no existing structure fit their ambitions.

From Home Kitchen to Commercial Setup

Jurado had the trailer custom-built in Chihuahua, Mexico. Inside, a Mazzer grinder feeds the Sanremo Zoe Compact, a machine compact enough for mobile operations but capable of professional-grade extraction. The coffee comes from Finca Casa Blanca, a roasting business in Puebla, Mexico, that Jurado describes as "just beginning to grow their business."

I was fortunate enough to connect with them and begin using their coffee as Pink Pour Co. has grown. I'm really excited to continue growing alongside them.

Natalia Jurado

This is the sourcing philosophy that defines the current generation of specialty coffee operators: relationships over transactions, mutual growth over extraction. Blue Bag's head barista Francisco Lopez works with verified farms under the same principle.

The menu includes the Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso and Cookie Butter Latte as year-round staples, alongside rotating seasonal lattes and matchas, refreshers, energy drinks, and smoothies. Customers drive roughly 30 minutes from Albuquerque to visit.

Having people choose to make that drive and support my business means so much to me.

Natalia Jurado

The Parts Nobody Warns You About

Moving from home experiments to commercial service required learning everything from scratch. Weighing doses. Adjusting grind size. Timing espresso shots. Understanding how small adjustments change the taste of a drink.

Honestly, my studies didn't prepare me very much for the reality of owning a business. When I started, I had no idea about things like gross receipts taxes, permits, licensing, inspections or many of the other responsibilities that come with running a business.

Natalia Jurado

Then the trailer's axle broke under the combined weight of equipment, water, and supplies. Pink Pour closed for two weeks.

It was definitely an expensive and stressful lesson. But it taught me a lot about the parts of owning a mobile business that you don't necessarily think about when you first start.

Natalia Jurado

Trial and error, she noted, has been one of her favorite parts of the experience. This is the sentence that separates operators who last from those who do not.

Фото: Виктор Младенов

What Comes Next

Jurado is considering a second trailer that would maintain the Rio Rancho base while establishing a regular presence in Albuquerque. Event catering is also on the table. Her mother is currently listed as the business owner; Jurado will assume ownership after her birthday next month.

The branding, unmistakably pink, was intentional from the start.

I am very much a girly girl and I love everything pink. I wanted people to see the trailer or one of our drinks and immediately know it was Pink Pour.

Natalia Jurado

Her interest in coffee traces back further.

Growing up, I remember sitting with my grandma in the mornings, and even when I was little, she would give me a little coffee. It became something that always felt comforting and familiar to me.

Natalia Jurado

Pink Pour was never part of her original plan. Now it has become central to her life. The advice she offers other teenagers: "Always chase your dreams and be willing to take a chance on yourself, because you truly never know where something can go."

The trailer operates regularly at 3805 Northern Blvd. N.E. at Lowe's in Rio Rancho, with weekly schedule updates posted to Pink Pour's Instagram.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What equipment does Pink Pour Co. use for espresso?

A: The trailer runs a Sanremo Zoe Compact espresso machine paired with a Mazzer grinder. Both are commercial-grade units suitable for mobile operations while maintaining professional extraction standards.

Q: Where does Pink Pour Co. source its coffee?

A: The coffee comes from Finca Casa Blanca, a roasting business in Puebla, Mexico. Jurado chose to partner with them as both businesses grow, reflecting a mutual-development approach to sourcing.

Q: What are the legal requirements for a teenager starting a coffee business in the US?

A: Jurado's mother is currently listed as the business owner because Jurado is under 18. She will assume legal ownership after turning 18 in September 2026. Requirements include gross receipts taxes, permits, licensing, and inspections, which vary by state and municipality.