I Learned This From Making Coffee

My dad was still a judge on the bench when he opened North River Coffee house in the bottom of a small office building he owned in Ohio. His goal was to create a gathering place to help revitalize the local community. It was cozy on the inside with warm colors, wooden top tables and printed burlap coffee bags and coffee art on the walls. Unfortunately, the location impacted his ability to grow the business: major city thoroughfares were rerouted away from the center of the city which led to increased unemployment, the decline of retail, and population movement far into the suburbs. Nevertheless, my dad had vision. His coffee house offered high quality, arabica beans in a variety of roasts, and of course cappuccinos and flavored lattes of many kinds. I had been hooked on coffee since my time in Costa Rica where I sipped my first cup. So, it was great fun to help my dad start his coffee house.

From time to time, I had accompanied my dad to help select paint colors, sample pastries, and visit local coffee roasters. There were so many choices to make to execute upon his vision. I didn’t realize at the time that I was learning store development and supply chain, work that I help perform today.

Before the business closed, I had developed my skills as a barista too. I spent my free time at the coffee house during summer visits from college and Christmas breaks. While there, I loved crafting specialty coffee drinks, as much for myself as for the customers. I still miss the extra hot, sweet mocha marshmallow latte I used to make.

I know a lot about coffee and what it takes to make a good cup: a commitment to quality beans and ingredients and heart. The heart part is not just what you put into the cup but how you do it. Coffee is different than other products, and there are lessons in it. From the farmers who tend to the beans all around the world, to the master roasters who roast to precise curves, to the look and feel of the cup - coffee is a respected craft. The attention to the craft gives meaning to what otherwise is a commodity. Just like any service or product, you can deliver what you offer like a commodity or a craft. This becomes the heart of your brand.