Kickstarter: Asheville barista asking public for $6,000 to open South Slope coffee shop, Bucktooth Coffee

Jason Sandford January 30, 2014

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

David Manselle, a well-known barista in local coffee circles, has launched a Kickstarter campaign asking the public for $6,000 to open a new coffee shop called Bucktooth Coffee on Asheville’s hot South Slope. From the Bucktooth Coffee Kickstarter:

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.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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27 Comments

David February 11, 2015

So, what happened with this? Is anyone going to get their free coffee? or at least a bumper sticker?

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Groggy February 17, 2014

Coffee…..<3 coffee

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indy February 8, 2014

How about sending me the money instead? I promise not to do anything that pollutes or endangers anyone else’s business.

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David Manselle February 5, 2014

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.

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1. Lita February 16, 2014
  
  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! 🙂
  
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Matt February 2, 2014

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?”

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1. JT February 2, 2014
  
  Fer it
  
  Reply
smiley January 31, 2014

I have an idea for a new reality-show. I will call it Shark Tank.

“I’m Out.”

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Vince January 31, 2014

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.

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1. Sean January 31, 2014
  
  Vince nailed it.
  
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2. Foothills Dweller January 31, 2014
  
  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.
  
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Katherine January 31, 2014

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.

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1. Totally agree sort of January 31, 2014
  
  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)
  
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Z January 31, 2014

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!

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1. Ron January 31, 2014
  
  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.
  
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  1. icenine January 31, 2014
    
    But will it have an ironic deer head in the logo??
    
    Reply
  2. ashevillain February 1, 2014
    
    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.
    
    Reply
  3. jtroop February 4, 2014
    
    cant wait!!!
    
    Reply
Neil January 30, 2014

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

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1. chris January 31, 2014
  
  Great. More “yer doin’ it wrong” bullshit. Don’t like it, don’t fund it. That simple. Keep your jealous sniping comments to yourself.
  
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  1. Del January 31, 2014
    
    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
    
    Reply
    1. chris February 1, 2014
      
      What, am I “doin’ it wrong”, too? Man, you guys are too much.
      
      Reply
      1. LEW February 3, 2014
        
        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 …
        
        Reply
      2. LEW February 3, 2014
        
        Sorry Del – I missed your irony!
        
        Reply
      3. chris February 3, 2014
        
        Yes, please. More unintelligible muttering under your breath! Can’t get enough!
        
        Reply
Bb January 30, 2014

Ha! Another counter culture coffee shop!? Come on! Do something else

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1. Jared Rutledge February 3, 2014
  
  Dave’s not using Counter Culture. He’s using Mountain Air.
  
  Reply