Today we’d like to introduce you to David Schwartz.
David, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started working in restaurants when I was young and liked the fast pace and creating a memorable experience for people. My love of coffee came after I was hired at Starbucks in 2011 – Actually, the first time I ever had a cup of coffee was during my interview! I fell in love with the coffeehouse – people gathering in groups to laugh and share over a cup of coffee or hunker down at a table and work/study; it filled my proverbial cup to meet and learn people’s stories and get to know them. After realizing how coffee brings people together, I also discovered the greater impact our team could have on the larger community. I started home roasting my own coffee about 6 years ago, and that’s when I decided that one day, I would open my own shop focused on quality and creating a comfortable space to gather. I’ve always had the entrepreneurial itch – I get that from my dad – and I partnered with a friend and collaborator, Gareth Jones, who has been in the restaurant industry for decades, and then came Copper Press Roastery!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m almost glad it wasn’t a smooth road! I learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way and things I would do differently the second time. One of the struggles was timing; I left Starbucks in 2020 thinking that we could get the company off the ground within 6 months, but through sourcing commercial equipment, green coffee, staff, permitting, it would a lot longer than that. My expectations were too high on how quickly things would come together, and I was disappointed in myself when the timelines were getting pushed back, often outside of my control. I had a solid road map planned, but I would give advice to anyone to go as fast as possible after you set your plan but be prepared and plan for setbacks.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a coffee company that is focused on community, quality, and comfort. Our coffee is designed to speak to every type of drinker; from the easy sipper to the complex, we want anyone to walk in and enjoy any of the 9 different roasts we carry. Our cafe menu is composed of our house-made syrups and in-house prepped food, all using fresh ingredients. We love to create flavorful and creative beverages, like our most popular drink, the Pecan Bourbon Latte.
Our mission statement is: Coffee is a conduit for community; it connects people together daily – we strive to be a small part of that everyday ritual.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I believe that luck is what you make of it; everyone has good and bad rolls of the dice, it’s all in how you roll with the punches.
Contact Info:
- Website: copperpresscoffee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/copperpressroastery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/copperpressroastery/
