Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Heather Brisson, founder of Origin Coffee Roasters, located in Kihei, HI, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Origin Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster & RTD nitro cold brew manufacturer. On the roasting & packaging side, we focus on retail & wholesale coffee distribution. We supply local accounts with retail coffee and wholesale bulk coffees; these are all available via our website. We take pride in building sustainable partnerships with farmers locally in Hawai'i and beyond. The ideal partnership is sourcing great-tasting coffee year after year with a model that benefits both the farmer and us. That means purchasing coffees above Fair Trade prices to impact farmers' ability to grow and be innovative with us as a roaster.
We also manufacture RTD (Ready to drink) canned nitro cold brew. Currently, this is available on Maui & Oahu and via online order online. Many might not know this interesting fact about us. We are located inside Maui Brewing Company, which gives us a unique partnership to co-packaged our RTD canned products.
Our customers are coffee lovers, new to the game, and seasoned drinkers who have a precise recipe for their pour-overs at home. They enjoy shopping and exploring seasonal varietals and experimental processing methods; some just want that regular cup of joe to start the day. They are folks who also love the convenience of online ordering, free shipping, and cracking open a can of nitro brew on the go.
Tell us about yourself
I moved to Hawai'i from San Diego in 2017 to open Origin Coffee Roasters. I was a well-seasoned award-winning roaster at the time and felt like I was ready to grow beyond the roast room. It took a few years to develop and see the process into reality, but in late 2019 I was able to dedicate 100% of my time and resources to Origin Coffee and growing the specialty coffee scene on Maui.
I am motivated every day by knowing there is something new I can learn tomorrow. No matter how many years I have been in the specialty coffee industry, I work to remain humble and keep an open mind as the industry grows. Innovation teaches us other viable paths to do business.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I would say my biggest accomplishment is developing a brand & business that people want to and continue to help support and grow. I started from scratch and got to work creatively and physically every day to construct something I was proud of. In turn, I got recognition from the industry for winning multiple awards in the process.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
As someone who is making 99.9% of all the decisions daily, sometimes not knowing if a decision is good/bad at the time can be the hardest. I've learned to trust my instincts or rely on trends, but not all turn out the way I planned.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have a passion for what you are doing. If you do not love what you are doing, just don't.
- Hire professionals for marketing & design work. Your products are the face of your company to the consumer; look, you are the very best.
- Form a connection with your customers & suppliers. Building these relationships over time helps on many levels and will make your life easier as you grow.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
If you would like to check out more info on some of our award-winning coffees, follow the links below:
https://www.mauimagazine.net/bean-buzz/
https://www.coffeereview.com/review/maui-kupaa-orange-bourbon/
https://www.coffeereview.com/review/red-caturra/
https://www.coffeereview.com/review/sumatra-tano-batak-8/
https://www.coffeereview.com/review/red-caturra-peaberry/
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.origincoffeemaui.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/origincoffeemaui
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/origincoffeemaui/
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.