Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Antonio Bilotta, founder of da capo, located in Edmonton, AB, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

da capo coffee company is a local business that been serving fresh roasted, sustainable, and ethical coffee has since its inception in 2007. da capo started out as a caffé offering traditional Italian style espresso and introduced single-origin drip and pour-over coffee offerings after returning from a coffee buying trip to Columbia nearly ten years ago.

Tell us about yourself

After my family, my two most profound passions are cycling and coffee. I started as a Barista 25years ago and instantly fell in love with espresso and have been going down the rabbit hole of acquiring knowledge and perfecting what I do daily. da capo has transitioned to an online experience that I get to deliver to homes and businesses by bicycle as of last year.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My original vision of what my coffee bar was and what it offered was a very authentic experience. I had opened my first business in 2003 after returning home after spending a year living in Italy and partaking in the beautiful tradition of an espresso at the bar. (coffee bar) Having opened in a location near the university and Whyte avenue, I got to meet and introduce many clients to the Italian coffee bar experience. It was flattering when people would travel to Italy and tell me what a great place I had opened and authentic it was, especially the espresso and cappuccino.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The ever-shifting environment forces you to always be on your toes. My words of wisdom that I always share are "the storm always passes," referring to unpredicted stresses and circumstances starting, running, and growing a business. I have been forced to adapt da capo on many occasions, of which this most drastic change was forced upon me due to the pandemic. After being forced to close my physical location, I transitioned da capo online to serve my clients in the comfort of their own homes.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Be true to your vision and what it is that you want to offer. Not every customer is your customer.
  2. Have checks and balances in place to protect your interests. Trust is good, along with checks and balances.
  3. Be sure to work with a realtor and legal team that ensures your lease is air-tight and will allow for your success. It is imperative that your landlord wants you to succeed!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Be prepared to work harder as an entrepreneur; then, you would work for someone else. Ups and downs are part of the journey, but the rewards of entrepreneurship make it worthwhile.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.dacapocaffe.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dacapo.caffe/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dacapo.caffe/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.