Saving the World One Cup of Coffee At a Time

You’re not going to believe me. 

You might not even like me after I tell you.

You might not even like me anyway - but no one made you click into this blog.

So here it is. 

I thoroughly enjoyed a cup of coffee from McDonalds this morning. 

I know. Some of you own coffee shops and are cursing me out loud. Some of you spend hours roasting beans to perfection and will never send me on my way with a courtesy sample bag ever again. Some of you probably just left.

For all I know, there’s a chance that McDonalds coffee isn’t even really coffee, but hot water modified with synthetic drops to just taste like coffee. I’ll admit I haven’t looked into it all that much.

I have to say, the experience was seamless. Didn’t even have to leave the car. Dollar ninety nine, hot brown water, served with a silent, quick smile and I was on my way. It took less than 3 minutes from off ramp to on ramp again.

If they could use drones to deliver coffee straight through the window of a moving vehicle that would be just about the only way to make it easier.

As we continued south through Ohio at 80 mph, I sat there enjoying the simple, hot, caffeine water and wondered a little why I didn’t partake in a Mickey D’s coffee more often. Cheap, easy, reliable, what’s not to like?

It wasn’t too long before I regretted only ordering one and as every exit seemed to advertise a McDonalds just off the ramp I wondered if I shouldn’t grab another.

Honestly, one of the hardest decisions of the day was whether to wait 15 miles until Route 68 to hopefully find a coffee nearby or to just pull off and grab another cup or two of guaranteed, cheap OKness.

Route 68 in Ohio, is the northern portion of what is a designated scenic highway throughout Kentucky and is a route known to run adjacent to several Civil War battle sites. For those who pay attention to such things, this even numbered highway actually runs north-south in Ohio. In Kentucky it serves as Broadway in beautiful downtown Lexington, and each year it is home to a 400 mile long yard sale for four days.

Somehow in my head I connected that bit of civil infrastructure history to the inevitability of quality small town coffee shops and I begrudgingly held my cravings at bay.

In the town of West Liberty, we did pull over to take a video of a military tank on display for my sons to enjoy later, but a cute coffee shop evaded me and once again I regretted my decision to not partake in the fast food fix that could have been had on the interstate.

As we entered Kenton, Ohio, I was seriously wondering why I ever even bothered to look for anything other than that simple, convenient, always available, fast food coffee. 

Thankfully, Jitterz had the good sense to decorate the outside of their building with letters 10 ft tall. 

C-O-F-F-E-E. 

The large, fluttering OPEN flag sealed the deal. 

The first indication this was going to be a different experience than a quick cup to go from the Golden Arches would have to be the squirrel. 

That’s right. A red-plaid vested, bifocal wearing, pipe smoking squirrel. Based on the cuffs and cufflinks and overall demeanor, I’m guessing a male squirrel of advanced age. The Jitterz Coffee Company logo sparked intrigue and amusement and I felt that, just maybe, the wait may have been worth it. 

Inside, I waited patiently as the barista, who I assume (and will continue to assume) was an owner, chatted with a customer in line ahead of me. Throughout the shop, other customers sat on spindly chairs, at wooden tables, adorned with white doilies and faux flowers. Indirect rays of warm sunshine streamed through the north facing windows on main street and the entire space seemed to glow.

By the time it was my turn, the entire experience had already lasted longer than the morning’s earlier coffee detour.

From my time spent waiting, I now knew that the barista owner had a yard full of wildflowers and that some of her neighbors didn’t appreciate the fact that they continued to grow unfettered. It seemed to be weighing heavily on her mind.

What I didn’t know, but soon learned as she continued her conversation unphased by the fact that her listener had changed, was that many of those wildflowers were in fact planted by her husband who had since passed. Apparently, she had been totally unaware of the vast number of different flowers he had planted and how much work he spent keeping them nice and orderly.

As she paused to explain in great detail the three different brews available to me (I went with the earthy, dark one with hints of chocolate), I let her know about one of my favorite songs, “Ghost Garden”, by One Ton Trolley - the hauntingly beautiful story of a man who finds the long abandoned perennial gardens his wife had planted years ago. She took a moment to find a pencil and paper to write it down before ringing up my order. 

On paper, the experience would be a total loss. It took five times as long. I spent more than double. It's not like I left behind a business card or marketing materials. No one there knows my name and I don’t know any of theirs. I’m hopeful I’ll stop again some day, but who knows really.

But that’s on paper.

The reality is, that single stop made my morning, if not my week or month. That stop reminded me that in a world that optimizes everything, maximizes, streamlines, outsources, and eliminates, we still need a Jitterz Coffee Company with it's charming owner-ista.

Things don't happen to you the happen for you.

I was given the opportunity to listen to someone who needed to be listened to that morning. I got to share my friend’s music with someone who had never heard it before and might find some comfort in it. I learned that a dark, earthy roast with hints of chocolate is so significantly better than McDonald's coffee that the two shouldn’t even be considered the same thing. 

Perhaps most importantly though, my conviction in my mission was renewed. My cup was filled. I was reminded that people need what we offer. People need a place to meet, to talk, to listen, to follow their dreams, to be cared about, and to be more than just Order #76. 

People need small towns. People need small town coffee shops, barber shops, diners, and people need people. 

Our work spills out beyond the four walls of our buildings. It affects people on a deep level. It affects families, relationships, and neighborhoods. 

In this age of isolation, Zoom, and lives that are segmented into 30 and 60 minute meetings, I’m reminded and grateful that I help build places that help people find deeper meaning both in their work and in their lives.

So the next time you find yourself on a long, bland, winding path, resist the urge to take the easy exit. Resist the urge to accept the pre-packaged, one size fits all option. 

Instead, take a trip through the Ghost Garden… “I see I missed so much, you were waiting for me in the light. Waiting patiently, to rescue me, right out in the open for the world to see.”

 If you or someone you know is thinking about making a positive impact on a small town and the people of a small town by launching a boutique coworking space, please don't hesitate to reach out - we'd love to chat with you on a free, no obligation, casual, dare I say it - fun, discovery call.