The Journey from Submarines to Specialty Coffee
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that welding submarine pipes would lead me to crafting the perfect roast profile. Life has a funny way of brewing up surprises.
I served in the US Navy from 2011 to early 2015 as a pipefitter and welder, specializing in submarine piping systems and copper-nickel brazing. For someone who barely scraped through high school, discovering I could master such technical skills was a revelation. It showed me what I was capable of when I actually applied myself.
Sure, I could have stayed in for the 20-year pension – it would have been the safe choice. But the rigid structure of military life started suffocating the person I wanted to become. So I took a leap of faith. Three weeks after my honorary discharge, I dove headfirst into college.
Here's where my story takes an unexpected turn: I fell head over heels for evolutionary biology. While studying human evolution and ancient stone tool technology might seem worlds away from coffee roasting, it gave me something invaluable – a deep appreciation for how things evolve and transform over time. (And yes, I also picked up a business admin associate's degree, because practicality matters too.)
The Coffee Chronicles
My coffee journey began at the place many love to hate – Starbucks. Say what you will about their coffee, but their systems and training are unmatched. They've built an empire on consistency and comfort (and yes, I still grab a tall iced soy matcha, no classic, from time to time).
Everything changed when I landed a job at my hometown's first specialty coffee shop. Standing before a manual Slayer espresso machine with its wooden paddle and pre-infusion settings was like discovering a new language. Even better? People actually cared about this stuff as much as I did.
Finding My Roast
My real coffee education kicked into high gear at Southdown Coffee, where I evolved from barista to production and wholesale manager. This is where I learned to speak the language of roast curves, cup scores, and green coffee evaluation. I owe 70% of my coffee knowledge to this place.
The next chapter had me building a roasting department from scratch at another local shop – managing everything from green coffee sourcing to profile development. Terrifying? Absolutely. Worth it? Without a doubt.
My final stop before this venture was at Multimodal Roasting Collective, where I dove deeper into green coffee sourcing and quality control. This experience showed me how to carve out a unique niche in a crowded market.
Present Day
So here I am – technically unemployed, no backup plan, just an all-in bet on building something meaningful. I'm lucky to have an incredible partner who believes in this vision as much as I do. It's amazing what can happen when someone believes in you.
What's next? Limited release drops, pre-orders, and totally transparent blog posts about this journey – the triumphs, the failures, and everything in between. I'll be sharing how we're building this dream from the ground up, one roast at a time.
Stay tuned. The best is yet to come.
Coffee & Most Pleasures.