Personal Coffee Tasting Journal

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in software development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stanislav Novacek, Developer of iBrewCoffee, located in Prague, Czechia.

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

iBrewCoffee is a coffee journal mobile application for coffee lovers. You can record almost every detail about your coffee and your Brew. You start by adding a Product (a bag o coffee beans you buy at a roastery) and then record the Brews that you make from this coffee. iBrewCoffee is an excellent coffee-tasting journal for all your coffees and Brews.

When saving a Product, you can specify what roastery the coffee is from, flavor profile, roast level, the weight of the package, price, cupping score, attach photos, record coffee origin country and region, varietals, processing, harvest date, if it's decaf or not, farm, wash station, create blends and much more. There are over 2 500 roasteries, 500 coffee regions, 300 varietals, 300 flavor profiles, and 20 processings to choose from - or you can add your own.

Then you record your brewing process so that you can experiment and master your brewing techniques. There are 53 of the most popular brewing methods in the app - from Aeropress all the way to Woodneck. When saving a Brew, you can specify the brewing method, used equipment (scales, filters, grinders, etc.), amount of coffee and water, temperature, extraction time, final brew weight, TDS, tasting notes - aroma, sweetness, acidity, bitterness, and body, set overall rating of the Brew and custom notes. Also, the app automatically calculates extraction yield and brew ratios.

After saving your Products and Brews, you can export your records to a lovely PDF journal or in Excel / CSV to create your custom charts afterward. You can also share your Brews with friends or on your favorite social networks. Every Brew has a square share image format that you can easily upload to your social media channel.

The app also has a smart and intuitive search. You can search using most of the information you saved, such as a roastery, flavor profile, brewing method, coffee country, region, varietals, and more. You can find more information and assets here: https://ibrew.coffee/press-kit

Tell us about yourself

I am an iOS developer from Czechia and have been developing apps for over ten years. I have been developing the first version of iBrewCoffee for 13 months, at night and over weekends. It has been a challenging but very exciting journey so far. It started with a simple mobile coffee journal for my fiancé, who brought me into the world of coffee. The app quickly developed into a wonderful app that we decided to share with the coffee community so that more people have a way of recording and mastering their art of coffee brewing.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment has been finally releasing the app on the app stores and receiving the first 5-star review. It has not ended there, though. I am constantly improving the app with features people submit in their feedback. I love that people find the app useful. It fills me with joy and motivates me to wake up early every day and work on the app.

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

The hardest thing is time management. Next to my day job, it is sometimes challenging to balance the little free time left between working on the app and spending it with my lovely fiancé's small laugh. And since I am the only one developing the app, there are other technicals and services one must learn and manage so the app works smoothly and users are happy.

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

Clearly define your idea and focus on the core of the concept. Other features will come in time. It is easy to get distracted by adding more and more stuff.
Write down all the steps needed from the start to the release of the product. Then divide these steps into small subtasks and do some of them every day. This way, you can see the progress you are making, and it keeps you motivated.
Do not delay starting your project. If you do not start, you will never get there. And when you begin, make sure you finish, no matter how good or bad the outcome is.

It is not easy, especially if you are just a one-person team. Having a passion for the product and people supporting you will help tremendously.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://ibrew.coffee/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ibrewcoffeeapp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ibrew.coffee/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislav-nováček-a48643a2/
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/ibrewcoffee-coffee-journal/id1523175532
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3ABuu3Y
Press kit: https://ibrew.coffee/press-kit

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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