Why We Started a Business During a Global Pandemic

March 12, 2020 - Our Co-founder, Shawn, soon to be retired Navy CPO, turns 40.

Also on March 12, 2020 - the United States starts to shut down. Large gatherings, major events, restaurants, and professional sports all come to a halt - canceled, as the world tries to figure out how to survive the novel coronavirus.

Rewind 1 year to our 4th wedding anniversary. Sticking with the modern “small appliance” gift, I gave Shawn a hand coffee roaster. It was nothing fancy - think, stovetop popcorn making style. But that little roaster, little did we know, would be the start to a whole new world of roasting coffee.

Shawn spent most of his free time reading about coffee, learning about the coffee roasting process and how much work it takes to get a good cup of coffee every morning. From coffee farming, processing the beans, sourcing and importing, to roasting, storing, packaging, and brewing - He wanted to learn all of it. When he does something, no matter what it is, his mindset is to perfect it. I mean, why not? If it can be better, he will figure out a way to make it better, no matter how good it is…whatever it is. There aren’t many people I know that have the motivation and drive to do that to the level that he does. This is one thing I love about him.

So fast forward back to early 2020 - before the pandemic. He had been not-so-seriously thinking about upgrading from the hand roaster to something that could become a hobby, and possibly a side gig after retirement. As an early 40th birthday present, I surprised him with the Aillio Bullet R1 Roaster.

He learned more about roasting, while I learned more about how to start and run a coffee business. We put all of our free time into learning, learning, and learning. This hobby became a dream, and that dream became a goal.

Just as we were putting things in motion to start this little business of ours, the pandemic hit. Of course, with him being an Enneagram 8, and me a 1, we were already committed and had to keep going. Besides, what better time is there than now, right?

Morning routines had shifted from stopping at the nearest coffee shop on your way to work, to brewing an old bucket of pre-ground coffee from ages ago. What a downgrade! For once, most people had the opportunity - the time - to brew a memorable cup of coffee every morning, but they didn’t really know where to start.

We knew that with the world shut down, we could help fill the caffeine gap, and make mornings a memorable experience again. We launched our online coffee shop on June 11, 2020. We launched during the pandemic because people, now more than ever, need a good, memorable morning coffee experience.

THIS IS WHY WE EXIST. Yes, we roast amazing coffee, and we are pretty proud of that. But it’s not just about the coffee. It’s about the process from coffee cherry to cup. We believe that every morning can be a memorable experience, and we have made it so EASY for anyone who wants to experience their coffee every morning.

We hope that the pandemic will change your coffee expectations forever, and we are here to serve our home baristas in southern Maryland, and all over the world!

Happy brewing!

Amanda, Co-Founder and Specialty Coffee Lover