I have worked coffee since back in 1999 at Spyhouse Coffeeshop in Minneapolis Mn. The coffee industry has come a long way since then, (for the better!) and Asheville boast a couple of great local shops doing coffee right in High-Five Coffeebar and Waking Life Espresso. I have previously had the pleasure of working at both of those shops and learned a lot from them, as well as completed the Counter Culture Barista Certification while working at the Dripolator.
A large part of doing coffee right is having top of the line equipment for brewing and making espresso drinks, and the money you put into this project will be budgeted to buy that equipment from which you can reap the benefits of with free drinks and other rewards. We are looking to purchase the new Mahlkonig EK43 Grinder, which is a state of the art grinder that can be used for many different types of coffee preperation, as well as a Fetco Commercial Coffee Brewer and some pour over coffee equipment. Whatever money is left over from the Kickstarter campaign will go into our La Marzocco Espresso machine we are buying!
We are hoping to fill the void left on the south side of downtown since the Dripolator left that spot years ago near Mission Hospital, AB Tech College, and the River Arts district. We will be working with Mountain Air Coffee Roasters, among other fine coffee providers.
27 Comments
So, what happened with this? Is anyone going to get their free coffee? or at least a bumper sticker?
Coffee…..<3 coffee
How about sending me the money instead? I promise not to do anything that pollutes or endangers anyone else’s business.
Hey all!
Um, if you get a chance to actually check out the Kickstarter, you’ll see its all based on getting incentives if you give! You can get free drinks, free invite to “soft-open” party, free bumper sticker, free coffee for a year, etc. As always, if you don’t care about the project, don’t give! We of course have a business plan and start-up capital, years of experience in the field, and the $6000 we are trying to raise is just a chance for our friends and the Asheville community to get excited about Bucktooth Coffee. And more start-up money always helps!
Thanks for your interest.
If all goes well, when are you planning to open up? Do you plan to offer pasteries or baked goods, etc? Just trying to get a good feel for what all is going on. Thanks! 🙂
Every time Jason posts something about a kick starter campaign to start a business, there’s a handful (or more) of people that are like,”that’s not right. I’m offended. You’re doing it wrong.” Then there’s a bunch of people that are like, “hey, no they’re not. They’re just doing it different.” And then the conversation *almost* goes somewhere interesting but stops short. Maybe Jason could just start a thread, “crowd funding start-up capital for for-profit businesses: fer it or agin it?”
Fer it
I have an idea for a new reality-show. I will call it Shark Tank.
“I’m Out.”
This seems a little cart before the horse. I would want to see the business plan and financials before doling out $$ for this Kickstarter. If you don’t have $6000 for a coffee grinder and drip brewer how are you going to finance the $50,000 (minimum) it will take to open up the coffee shop? First, do a rock-solid business plan (Mountain Bizworks is still running their Foundations classes), figure out how much total financing you’ll need, double that amount and secure it, find the perfect location, then start thinking about equipment. Many people dream to open their own business, and that’s great, but the pathway to success is littered with the casualties of people who acted without proper planning.
Vince nailed it.
You’re absolutely right – most startups don’t even do feasibility studies before jumping in. I love coffee shops and I wish them the best of luck, but in Asheville it’s almost like doing a KS campaign to start a brewery.
Maybe it’s me but I sometimes have a real problem with people going on the internet (Kickstarter etc.) begging for money to build a business, write a book, cut an albmum or what not). What happened to working hard, saving the money you do make, keeping your credit in good standing and making it happen on your own terms without all the begging from strangers? What happens to the people’s money if this venture fails?
Either way, good luck to this guy. I hope it works out OK for him.
Kick starter campaigns drive me crazy when people aren’t offering something in return. I LOVE the idea of supporting something as an investor, even on a small scale–like, give 10 bucks and you get 3 free espressos, for example….but to just give money? That’s just begging. Like a guy on the street, well-dressed, with a job, and mental health intact…and a can , asking for your DOLLARS (not your dime, but, like real DOLLARS). So, I agree with you, and hell no.
(PS, I’ve done a kick starter, but with nice incentives…like a pre-sale)
I wouldn’t hold my breath here. Mission hospital employees go to the Dunkin’ Donuts or the Starbucks in the Biltmore Village and City MUG, plus you’ve got Clingman Cafe in the RAD. Unless they have an absolutely prime location, then good luck!
Vortex Doughnuts is going to be smack in the middle of South Slope at 32 Banks – and will have great espresso and drip coffee. That location has easy access from the hospital district, free and available street parking, and not the traffic congestion hassle of Biltmore Village. Target opening is June 6 – National Doughnut Day 2014.
But will it have an ironic deer head in the logo??
I guarantee you that street parking won’t be free in a few years. My bet is that meters come to the South Slope during Manheimer’s term as mayor.
cant wait!!!
Absolutely, dude. I’ll give $1000. And I’ll only charge you $18% monthly compounded interest while you pay it off.
Looking forward to a coffee named after me
Great. More “yer doin’ it wrong” bullshit. Don’t like it, don’t fund it. That simple. Keep your jealous sniping comments to yourself.
Hey Neil. We don’t want to hear your comments, especially in the comments section. So keep your comments to yourself. Cause I don’t like your comments
What, am I “doin’ it wrong”, too? Man, you guys are too much.
Well, Chris and Del, I don’t like your comments! How about we all agree that only comments EVERYONE likes should run here. Then we will ALL be happy …
Sorry Del – I missed your irony!
Yes, please. More unintelligible muttering under your breath! Can’t get enough!
Ha! Another counter culture coffee shop!? Come on! Do something else
Dave’s not using Counter Culture. He’s using Mountain Air.