About the Owner

The founder of Himalayan Coffee Importers has always associated the delicious and invigorating flavors of coffee with the best of family time, adventure, travel and inspiring work.

Eria Tharchen started Himalayan Coffee Importers after her family visited their home in Nepal and learned about the amazing specialty coffees being grown there. With this discovery also came a greater understanding of the tremendous economic power behind coffee, which is the second-most traded commodity in the world. For Eria, her family ties to Nepal make this business an exciting and personal one – her husband grew up in Nepal, where his family owned a business that manufactured and exported fine rugs to Europe. They also have a number of close relatives that live in Nepal who regularly share their successes, challenges and opportunities in a nation so powerfully endowed by the forces of nature and culture.

Coffee has been a ritual Eria has savored in her daily life and in her travels around the world. One of her favorite adventures was a solo month-long hike across Spain’s Camino de Santiago and ending each day with a delicious cup of coffee. With her love of coffee, her connection to Nepal, and growing knowledge of the potential of coffee to raise living standards, empower women, and help the environment, Eria began this challenging and rewarding international venture.

Eria’s passion for working with people from diverse backgrounds took root long before Himalayan Coffees. She traveled extensively in her childhood and adulthood and has both lived and studied abroad for years in different countries. Her interest in international development led Eria to earn an undergraduate degree in both Political Science and French from Linfield College, in Oregon. After graduation, she served two terms with AmeriCorps at the American Red Cross and worked at the Oregon Food Bank.

In 2007, during a trip to rural parts of Nepal and Eastern India, Eria was deeply moved by the need she saw for more trained professionals in those countries, especially healthcare workers. Upon her return, Eria earned a degree in Nursing from the University of Colorado. For over eight years now, she has been a Registered Nurse working in women’s health, and with mothers and babies.

As much as Eria enjoys her nursing career, she’s always kept her sight on international development projects. With her unique background, global interests, and love of coffee, the transition from nursing to coffee entrepreneur is a natural and exciting one.

In her free time, she enjoys being up in the mountains, spending time with her family, and all things that are creative and music related. Having raced for Utah’s Park City Ski Team, Eria is also a passionate downhiller, now turned telemark skier. Her new favorite motto is Free the Heel, Free the Mind!