Today we’d like to introduce you to Scotty and Amy Angelo.
Hi Scotty and Amy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Established in 2009 by Amy and Scott Angelo, Oceana Coffee Roasters is one of the original Specialty coffee roasters in Florida. Scott had never really planned on becoming a coffee roaster in Florida or anywhere really – he just wanted a decent cup of coffee, something he had become accustomed to being from Australia. The couple met in South Florida and had spent many years working in the private yachting industry before opening Oceana Coffee. After moving back to the Tequesta, FL area they realized there were no locally roasted specialty coffee options in the area, so he decided to try roasting his own. Oceana Coffee was born from a $35 Popcorn maker bought on eBay, which Scott re-engineered to roast small amounts of coffee. What started as roasting for friends and family soon became more! Today Oceana Coffee has three local locations as well as an extensive wholesale and online business supplying their coffee to businesses all over Florida and the USA, including all Whole Foods Markets stores across Florida
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No! Owning your own business is definitely not for the faint of heart, many people get into thinking it’s easy or that someone else is making it look easy…… it’s not! It takes a lot of commitment, determination, stamina, resistance and discipline. Thankfully we are very open to learning and being flexible, aside from being determined and resilient. One of the most challenging aspects of business is the HR and recruitment side of the business, others are cash flow and being in the coffee business we are susceptible to market fluctuations. Oceana Coffee started out as a passionate hobby that grew and continues to grow year on year, through all of the challenges thrown at us, it all helps to make us smarter, stronger and more resilient for the future.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We are a Specialty Coffee Roaster – we only roast coffees graded as specialty by the SCA (Specialty Coffee Association). 95% of all the coffee we buy is handpicked from high altitude farms from around the world’s coffee producing nations. We have many farm direct relationships from which our coffee comes from. We roast all of our coffee in small batches, each roasting profile is individualized for each region of coffee. Put simply, that Oceana Coffee grew from a passionate hobby into a thriving business, I reflect on that regularly, keeps me grounded. Aside from that it’s the awards and medals our team have been presented, both for business acumen and quality of coffee we produce. Some include Senator Marco Rubio entered Oceana Coffee into the Congressional Records for small business achievements. We have won medals for our coffee in competitions as far away as Australia. We know consult with some of the largest, well known coffee brands seen and used in every household. Many things set us apart, firstly I think it was being a pioneer in the coffee roasting space here in Florida, when we started there were only 3 of us in the state doing it. (Buddy Brew – Tampa, Panther – Miami) were the others. Since then we have been blazing a trial for the coffee industry down here. Our involvement in local community is very strong, we support and promote many different local charities and non-profit organizations through our “Cup of Kindness” program. We also employ and have interns from the Els for Autism program. Aside from that, you can always find me by the roaster and accessible by the public most days of the week.
What matters most to you?
Ensuring that my team has a place to work that is fun and that they are enjoying and proud of. That we have a sustainable business that is looking after itself but also looking after and supporting other local businesses’ first. Ultimately and selfishly that there is always somewhere to come for a GREAT cup of coffee, the whole reason Oceana Coffee was born and has grown is firstly for my own selfish need of great coffee but also my want to share what that is and help people understand the difference and why they deserve to be be drinking a memorable cup. I want them going to bed at night thinking of tomorrow morning’s cup of coffee!!
Contact Info:
- Email: great.coffee@oceanacoffee.com
- Website: oceanacoffee.com/
- Instagram: @OceanaCoffee
- Facebook: Oceana Coffee
- Twitter: @OceanaCoffee
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-7izCTuEogQm6_AKV–iNQ
Image Credits:
Atlantic Current-
