August
August
2026
2026
Hey friends & fam!
Esta no es solo nuestra declaración de misión.
Esta no es solo nuestra declaración de misión.
Esta no es solo nuestra declaración de misión.
Esta no es solo nuestra declaración de misión.
Esta no es solo nuestra declaración de misión.
Esta no es solo nuestra declaración de misión.
Esta no es solo nuestra declaración de misión.
Esta no es solo nuestra declaración de misión.
Pagar • $6.25
But if you're willing to slow down with me for a bit, I’d love to tell you how we got here.
But if you're willing to slow down with me for a bit, I’d love to tell you how we got here.
Our story doesn't begin with coffee.
It begins with a dream job, a quiet cabin in the mountains, a short to-do list, and what I believed was an unanswered prayer. Looking back, I'm realizing it has something to say about the beautiful things that happen when we slow down long enough to perceive what God is doing.
It begins with a dream job, a quiet cabin in the mountains, a short to-do list, and what I believed was an unanswered prayer. Looking back, I'm realizing it has something to say about the beautiful things that happen when we slow down long enough to perceive what God is doing.
In January 2023, I went away by myself for three days to a tiny cabin in Swannanoa, NC. At the time, I was in the running for what I thought was my ideal position at work. It was something I dreamt about and worked toward for years.
In January 2023, I went away by myself for three days to a tiny cabin in Swannanoa, NC. At the time, I was in the running for what I thought was my ideal position at work. It was something I dreamt about and worked toward for years.
On my drive up the mountain, I did what any Type A person trying to slow down would naturally do. I made myself a short but ambitious "must-do-before-coming-down-the-mountain" list.
On my drive up the mountain, I did what any Type A person trying to slow down would naturally do. I made myself a short but ambitious "must-do-before-coming-down-the-mountain" list.
I didn't bring much with me. My pup, a guitar, a journal, my Bible, a book and sermon on prayer, and some freshly roasted coffee beans from the nearest market. I had made up my mind that these 72 hours would be devoted mostly to prayer. I thought that if I could get away from the noise, slow down, pray, and prepare my heart, I'd come back ready to nail the interview.
I didn't bring much with me. My pup, a guitar, a journal, my Bible, a book and sermon on prayer, and some freshly roasted coffee beans from the nearest market. I had made up my mind that these 72 hours would be devoted mostly to prayer. I thought that if I could get away from the noise, slow down, pray, and prepare my heart, I'd come back ready to nail the interview.
I didn't get the promotion.
Esta no es solo nuestra declaración de misión.
Esta no es solo nuestra declaración de misión.
Esta no es solo nuestra declaración de misión.
Esta no es solo nuestra declaración de misión.
I remember thinking to myself "prayer doesn't work". I even began to see the retreat itself as a waste of time and money.
I remember thinking to myself "prayer doesn't work". I even began to see the retreat itself as a waste of time and money.
I can't tell you what songs I played on my guitar that weekend. I can't share with you much of what I read in the book or Saint Augustine sermon. I can't even recall the things I prayed about.
I can't tell you what songs I played on my guitar that weekend. I can't share with you much of what I read in the book or Saint Augustine sermon. I can't even recall the things I prayed about.
But I do remember the coffee.
I had never made pour-over coffee before, but that weekend I decided to learn.
I had never made pour-over coffee before, but that weekend I decided to learn.
I remember struggling to open the fancy bag and smelling the freshly roasted beans. I remember the sound of the cheap grinder and awkwardly pouring boiling water over the grounds. And I definitely remember the bitterness of that first black brew.
I remember struggling to open the fancy bag and smelling the freshly roasted beans. I remember the sound of the cheap grinder and awkwardly pouring boiling water over the grounds. And I definitely remember the bitterness of that first black brew.
It didn't taste very good, but the practice stuck.
It didn't taste very good, but the practice stuck.
Since that day, I've started almost every morning the same way. I grind 20 grams of beans, heat 320 grams of water, pour slowly, wait, and sip while I pray or read. It only takes about three minutes to actually make coffee this way, but over the years those few minutes have become some of the most meaningful of my day.
Since that day, I've started almost every morning the same way. I grind 20 grams of beans, heat 320 grams of water, pour slowly, wait, and sip while I pray or read. It only takes about three minutes to actually make coffee this way, but over the years those few minutes have become some of the most meaningful of my day.
I'm not a coffee connoisseur, and I don't plan on becoming one anytime soon. Most of the cups I brew wouldn’t impress you. I can't tell you all the technical reasons one bean is superior to another, but I can share about the moments I've experienced with a cup of good coffee in my hand.
I'm not a coffee connoisseur, and I don't plan on becoming one anytime soon. Most of the cups I brew wouldn’t impress you. I can't tell you all the technical reasons one bean is superior to another, but I can share about the moments I've experienced with a cup of good coffee in my hand.
The tears I've cried, the laughter I've shared, the prayers I've whispered, the questions I've mumbled, and some of the answers I've had to accept.
The tears I've cried, the laughter I've shared, the prayers I've whispered, the questions I've mumbled, and some of the answers I've had to accept.
Maybe you can relate.
Of course, coffee isn't actually magical. There is nothing particularly spiritual about hot water running through ground-up beans. But there is something deeply meaningful about slowing down enough to be still, creating a little room in a hurried life to listen, pray, think, notice, and simply be present.
Of course, coffee isn't actually magical. There is nothing particularly spiritual about hot water running through ground-up beans. But there is something deeply meaningful about slowing down enough to be still, creating a little room in a hurried life to listen, pray, think, notice, and simply be present.
For years, roasting my own coffee has been a quiet desire of mine. I wouldn't quite call it a dream. There has never been a business plan for it or a date circled on my calendar. It's simply one of those little ideas that has lived rent free in my head.
For years, roasting my own coffee has been a quiet desire of mine. I wouldn't quite call it a dream. There has never been a business plan for it or a date circled on my calendar. It's simply one of those little ideas that has lived rent free in my head.
But that changed earlier this year, when a new friend with top-of-the-line roasting equipment, an incredible amount of coffee knowledge, and trusted relationships with coffee farmers encouraged me to finally make it available to you. We'll share more about him and his story in a future email.
But that changed earlier this year, when a new friend with top-of-the-line roasting equipment, an incredible amount of coffee knowledge, and trusted relationships with coffee farmers encouraged me to finally make it available to you. We'll share more about him and his story in a future email.
When we first began this process, Esme and I knew we wanted to create the best tasting coffee we could.
We believe we have. Our first roast has tasting notes of chocolate, walnut, and lemon. We are roasting it in small batches and offering it as whole beans so you can grind it fresh each morning.
We believe we have. Our first roast has tasting notes of chocolate, walnut, and lemon. We are roasting it in small batches and offering it as whole beans so you can grind it fresh each morning.
But as we talked about what would make our coffee different, we decided we wanted to share more than just freshly roasted coffee.
But as we talked about what would make our coffee different, we decided we wanted to share more than just freshly roasted coffee.
We want to share an idea and invite you into a daily practice.
We want to share an idea and invite you into a daily practice.
However you make your morning coffee, take your time. Avoid the social app. Pay attention to the process. Listen as the beans grind. Wait while it brews. Then…
However you make your morning coffee, take your time. Avoid the social app. Pay attention to the process. Listen as the beans grind. Wait while it brews. Then…
Before your first sip, scan the QR code to receive a simple question to sit with. A new one every morning. We’ll even give you a card to write down your response and look back on someday.
Before your first sip, scan the QR code to receive a simple question to sit with. A new one every morning. We’ll even give you a card to write down your response and look back on someday.
Nothing complicated. Just one question, a few words, and a quiet moment to slow down and begin your day with a little more intention.
Nothing complicated. Just one question, a few words, and a quiet moment to slow down and begin your day with a little more intention.
I think part of the reason I care so much about this idea and practice is because I know how different my life looks because of it.
I think part of the reason I care so much about this idea and practice is because I know how different my life looks because of it.
It didn’t happen quickly, and I can’t point to a single morning when everything changed. But somewhere along the way, my relationship with God was restored. I learned to forgive myself. The bitterness I had carried began to loosen its grip, and slowly, I started to see that season differently.
It didn’t happen quickly, and I can’t point to a single morning when everything changed. But somewhere along the way, my relationship with God was restored. I learned to forgive myself. The bitterness I had carried began to loosen its grip, and slowly, I started to see that season differently.
At the time, I believed those three days had amounted to nothing. I went up expecting an answer from God, and when the response I received wasn’t what I had specifically asked for, I mistook an answer I didn’t want for no answer at all.
At the time, I believed those three days had amounted to nothing. I went up expecting an answer from God, and when the response I received wasn’t what I had specifically asked for, I mistook an answer I didn’t want for no answer at all.
I don't see it that way anymore. I wouldn't have chosen the rejection that followed, and I certainly wouldn't have chosen the darkness that came with it. But I can now see threads of grace and lovingkindness running through a season I once deemed wasted.
I don't see it that way anymore. I wouldn't have chosen the rejection that followed, and I certainly wouldn't have chosen the darkness that came with it. But I can now see threads of grace and lovingkindness running through a season I once deemed wasted.
This coffee wouldn't exist without that tiny cabin, that rejection, that bitter, sad pour-over, and a hurried soul that desperately needed to learn how to slow down.
This coffee wouldn't exist without that tiny cabin, that rejection, that bitter, sad pour-over, and a hurried soul that desperately needed to learn how to slow down.
My silent retreat wasn't a waste. And, in a way, it wasn’t very silent either.
God answered my prayer after all. I asked for a promotion, and He gave me something much better.
God answered my prayer after all. I asked for a promotion, and He gave me something much better.
He gave me a reason to slow down. To pay attention. To listen a little more closely to His voice, to my wife, to the people around me, and to the life happening right in front of me. And strangely enough, He used coffee to help teach me how.
He gave me a reason to slow down. To pay attention. To listen a little more closely to His voice, to my wife, to the people around me, and to the life happening right in front of me. And strangely enough, He used coffee to help teach me how.
He also used a man named Wendell Berry to teach me much of the same.
He also used a man named Wendell Berry to teach me much of the same.
As I sit here writing this email, I learned that Wendell passed away at the age of 92 yesterday. Though I never met Wendell, few people have influenced the way I live and think about our farm as much as he has. His words about work, land, community, and the goodness of an ordinary life faithfully lived have made their way deep into our soil and my heart.
As I sit here writing this email, I learned that Wendell passed away at the age of 92 yesterday. Though I never met Wendell, few people have influenced the way I live and think about our farm as much as he has. His words about work, land, community, and the goodness of an ordinary life faithfully lived have made their way deep into our soil and my heart.
It feels fitting to leave you with a few of his words from one of his Sabbath poems:
It feels fitting to leave you with a few of his words from one of his Sabbath poems:
"Be still and listen to the voices that belong to the stream banks and the trees and the open fields."
Wendell Berry
1934-2026
Wendell Berry
1934-2026
I’ve used a lot of words to say what Wendell somehow managed to say in just a few.
I’ve used a lot of words to say what Wendell somehow managed to say in just a few.
Be still and listen.
Be still and listen.
There may be more happening in the silence than you think.
There may be more happening in the silence than you think.
For your good,
Emilio
Looking for some fresh goods?
visit good farmer market
Moviendo al ritmo de Dios.
Cuidando de Su creación.
Brindando comida nutritiva.
Moviendo al ritmo de Dios.
Cuidando de Su creación.
Brindando comida nutritiva.
Moviendo al ritmo de Dios.
Cuidando de Su creación.
Brindando comida nutritiva.
BUENA
TIERRA
GRANJA