Part 2 - Faith, Fire, and the Art of Roasting
Posted on January 23 2026,
Join Don as he reflects on 20 years of coffee roasting as a recent guest on the The Real Boone Podcast, sharing the raw reality of entrepreneurship—from the early days of the "Bald Guy Buggy" mobile espresso van to surviving the devastating 2016 arson in Valley Crucis and the recent impact of Hurricane Helene.
We dive deep into how a bean to cup business is more than just a transaction; it is a reflection of faith-integrated leadership and a commitment to a "faithful finish". Whether you are interested in the technical side of coffee roasting or the mental grit required to keep a small business alive through economic crashes and natural disasters, this conversation offers profound insights into the coffee culture of Watauga County. Discover why "properly roasted coffee sells itself" and what it truly means to stay "built for the climb" when the bottom falls out
5 Takeaways
- Integrity is the Foundation: Success in business requires being 100% integrated—treating customers, employees, and brokers with the same high standard of character.
- The "Faithful Finish" Matters: A creative start is exciting, but the key to longevity is the work put in between the beginning and the end.
- Ownership Requires Humility: Being a business owner means being willing to work on the "bottom floor," handling everything from high-level creative content to taking out the trash
- Quality Speaks for Itself: Focus on the craft of roasting; properly roasted beans don't require aggressive advertising—they prove their own value.
- Built for the Climb: Entrepreneurship is a continuous uphill journey; you must develop the faith and resilience to keep moving even when you don't feel "ahead"