Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Colling.
Joshua, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up, coffeeshops were always my favorite places to hang out. I’ve only been working in coffee for 7 years, but I’ve been around coffee almost my whole life. I started in the most obvious place, Starbucks. It was there that I learned that coffee was a green seed and that it could be roasted to bring out different flavor profiles.
After two years at Starbucks, I sought out a specialty coffee shop to work at and try to learn more about coffee as well as how to do latte art! It was here I learned more about the roasting process, how to buy green beans and what to look for, as well as how to manage a cafe. Finally, this got me to Kettle Coffee and Tea. We take time and care roasting our own coffee and providing excellent specialty drinks and food to every customer who walks into our shop! I love coffee and I love this shop and hope our passion will always show through in everything we do.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey to Kettle Coffee and Tea has been a relatively smooth road. I have found customer service can be the most challenging yet most rewarding job one can have. Every day is different, and even our customers can be different day-to-day. People are complex and dynamic. We see new faces each day, but even our regulars come through our doors with varying triumphs and struggles and we are ready to welcome them with care and quality coffee. Every person has their own life, they have good days and bad days, they have meetings and get-togethers, homework and tests, first dates and breakups.
A lot of these interactions take place in our shop. I think some of the biggest struggles we face are being able to read every customer as they walk through our door. We’re a coffee shop, so we know for a lot of people this will be their first stop of the day. We do not take that responsibility lightly. We know most people are not morning people and will most likely be a little groggy or grumpy. Our hope is that whatever mood they’re in we can get their day started off right. When I start to brew my first cup of coffee in the morning, there is a simultaneous excitement and relaxation that happens. Our hope is that we can do this for others, provide energy and elation without any stress. We want to make you a high-quality cup of Joe, just how you like it. Life is stressful enough, coffee never should be.
Please tell us more about your business.
We are a specialty coffee shop located in Escondido, CA. We roast our own coffee, which allows us to make sure our customers are always getting the most consistently fresh coffee available. I believe what sets us apart is the vibe of our shop as well as our knowledge and diversity. We have a beautiful brick wall and fireplace that I believe gives our shop a very cozy and home-like vibe.
Most coffee shops these days seem to try and focus a lot on the coffee itself. This is important, but you can create a major disconnect with customers if you’re not careful. We believe there’s a balance between knowing our coffee and knowing our customers. What I believe makes our shop so special is that if you want to geek out on coffee, we have the knowledge to do so. If you want something similar to a Starbucks vanilla latte, we know how to do that too. Our main priority is making sure our customers and regulars feel comfortable and appreciated and never leave feeling dumb or mistreated.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
One of my favorite childhood memories is when my grandmother used to sleepover at our house for Christmas. The only time our home ever smelled like coffee was when she would visit. My parents never drank coffee. When my grandmother would visit she would brew herself a cup and the smell always made our home feel so warm and cozy. Especially at Christmas time. The smell of coffee itself is filled with wonderful memories and nostalgia.
Contact Info:
- Address: 119 E. Grand Ave
Escondido CA 92025 - Website: www.kettlecoffeeandtea.com
- Phone: 760-738-8662
- Email: info@kettlecoffeeandtea.com
- Instagram: kettlecoffeeandtea
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