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Meet Jake Schell of RBJ Coffee (Roasted by Jake) in Longmont

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Jake Schell.

Jake, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I became interested in coffee about nine years ago. I didn’t really drink it before then. Like many things I get interested in, I quickly became somewhat obsessed. I started learning about manual brewing from a friend who worked at a coffee shop and then started seeking out different flavors and brew methods. Every weekend and every trip started to include visiting new coffee shops and trying to find the best coffee. The thought of being a barista and getting to dive deeper into the world of coffee became more and more intriguing over the next few years, but I had a great job that I loved and didn’t want to leave. Eventually, I took on a new role, seeking future advancement in the company and the ability to move to Colorado. It didn’t take too long to figure out that the new role was not for me and some operational changes meant that there wouldn’t be room for advancement in the direction I wanted to go. I decided it was time to finally go from coffee-obsessed to a coffee professional.

I started as a barista at my favorite local coffee shop and knew right away that I had made the right choice. After a few months, the owner asked if I wanted to learn to roast and I said “sure” because I knew it would help me learn more about the coffee. By the second or third roast session, I became totally enamored. The art and science of manipulating the heat and airflow of the machine to bring out different flavors of the coffee became a beautiful (and tasty) obsession, and I was always looking for a way to roast more. Splitting my time between roaster and barista was great as it allowed me to continue the brewing and customer service aspects that I loved. As time went on, I transitioned into a position as head roaster and sales guy/wholesale manager, which was perfect because whenever I find something that I love, I want to share it.

After about four years with that shop, I left to spend more time on a small (unrelated to coffee) business that I had started. Knowing that I couldn’t leave a coffee roasting hole in my life, I bought the small roaster that I use today and started to learn the ins and outs of that new machine. Once I got the hang of it, I started to share samples with friends that missed drinking my coffee. There was no doubt that I would continue roasting and would likely start my own roasting business in some form, but the COVID-19 restrictions ushered that new chapter more quickly than I’d imagined. With my other business temporarily shut down as non-essential, I decided that home delivery of coffee was a great way to get back to the coffee world in full swing, so RBJ (Roasted by Jake) Coffee was born.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road hasn’t been terribly bumpy, but it has been narrow. In order to get a quick start, I opted for a home-based operation, which limits me to Colorado sales only; direct to consumer. At first, I spent a lot of time trying to find a commercial space to install my roaster, which would allow me to operate with a wholesale license, but everywhere I looked was too long of a wait or cost-prohibitive. But the road looks wider up ahead. Now, with an established business and awesome repeat customers, we’re getting much closer to finding that commercial space with a cafe attached!

So, as you know, we’re impressed with RBJ Coffee (Roasted by Jake) – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I roast small batch, specialty grade coffee and in most cases, hand deliver it straight to your door. My goal is to roast great tasting coffee, honoring the flavors of its origin as well as the farmers and harvesters that put in the work to make it available to us.

I’m proud to be able to connect with others through coffee and have made many friends and an almost countless number of friendly acquaintances because of it.

I have been known to spend an extra minute or thirty chatting with any of my customers that want to talk. …Or I can “leave it on the doorstep and get the hell outta here”.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I’m currently on the hunt for a space to roast in that will allow me to get a wholesale license. That will allow me to sell coffee not only to individuals in-state, but expand to nationwide and sell to other businesses, like your favorite coffee shop, restaurant, and office building. The ideal space will also have room for us to build out a “cafe” and will allow my (life and business) partner Jessica to share her delicious baked goods alongside RBJ Coffee.

Pricing:

  • 12oz bags of coffee start at $14
  • 16oz bags of coffee start at $16.50
  • 5lb bags of coffee start at $75.00

Contact Info:

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