We’re looking forward to introducing you to Michael Patella. Check out our conversation below.
Michael, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Great question! I guess that depends what we consider “normal.”
Each day is different, holds different advesntures and new opportunities.
I’ll share some events that typically take place on a day-to-day basis. Depending on whats going on during the day depends when I wake up but it’s anywhere from 6am-8:30am. I’ll always have a cup of coffee – that’s a staple, and will try to get a workout in at least 4-5 times a week. Beyond that my days are spent building Corporate Menace LLC, which can be anything from backend work, graphic design, social media, outreach or event attendance.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Absolutely! I’m Michael, one of the co-founders of Corporate Menace Coffee Co., and I started this brand with my friend from College Nathan Wilson because we were tired of drinking terrible coffee while chasing massive goals. We had big plans, bigger ambitions, and the only thing holding us back was whatever burnt, boring coffee that was in our mugs. It just didn’t cut it. We needed something stronger, sharper, faster – coffee that worked as hard as we at least pretended to.
So, we built it ourselves. Roasted-to-order, specialty-grade, and shipped free anywhere in the U.S., Corporate Menace was born out of the chaos of early post-grad life, where your to-do list doesn’t care how tired you are and no one’s handing you a blueprint. We wanted a brand that matched our pace. We wanted something unapologetically high-performance and a little unhinged in the best way.
Once the coffee side was dialed in, we brought in my dad Matthew Patella -now our third co-founder and the original Corporate Menace -to help build a brand that was relatable and deep-routed in what it means to live the Corporate Menace lifestyle.
We’re here for velocity. For ambition. Fuel for the overachievers and the under-caffeinated.
Every batch of our coffee is roasted in the U.S. by experts with 20+ years of experience and zero tolerance for mediocrity. It’s ethically sourced, FDA and FSMA compliant, and designed for people who move fast and expect everything around them to keep up. Whether you’re closing deals, starting your empire, or just trying to stay awake during your fifth back-to-back Teams call, we’ve got you.
At the end of the day, we’re not just selling coffee – we’re selling clarity. Fuel. Edge.
That little bit of chaos that turns pressure into performance. This is Corporate Menace Coffee Co., Coffee for Closers.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
I’ve had the privilege of having many great mentors who shaped my work ethic and perspective, though one stands out: my father.
Matthew is the embodiment of what it means to work hard, yet still live a balanced life. He taught me the importance of showing up when it’s important, standing out amongst the crowd and that it’s ok to go against the grain.
Most importantly he taught me that confidence will get you farther than any bullet point on your resume.
Not only am I glad to have him as a business partner, but I’m glad to have him as a father!
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Cliché, but I would just tell my younger self that it all works out.
I had so many big ideas and dreams growing up, and the idea of what I wanted to do in my life changed more times than I can count. I thought if I didn’t do everything I wouldn’t be satisfied, but now I think it’s important to enjoy the now, Appreciate the efforts it’s taken in the past and be excited for the future.
Now, I don’t want to be satisfied. That would mean I’m comfortable. I like having goals to work toward – the excitement is the process and achieving them is just the reward.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Oh man, where do I start?
The coffee industry is full of nonsense.
There’s this myth that strong coffee has to taste like battery acid. That bitter, over-roasted flavor isn’t strength – it’s usually just bad beans roasted dark to cover up flaws.
At Corporate Menace, we built the brand specifically to cut through all that. No fluff, no filler, just ridiculously good, specialty-grade coffee that hits hard and performs under pressure.
And don’t even get me started on freshness. Coffee goes stale fast. Supermarket shelves are graveyards for beans that lost their flavor months ago. Most people have no idea how much better coffee tastes when it’s actually fresh, because no one’s telling them. That’s on purpose.
There’s also this idea that coffee has to be cozy. Instagrammable cafés, soft indie playlists, latte art. Look, that’s great if you’re looking for ambiance. But some of us aren’t sipping for the aesthetic. We’re here to move. To build. To win. Your coffee should match that energy.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
Great question! It happens more often than not actually.
I’m the type of person who will try to do everything, but that does not mean I’m good at everything! That’s for sure.
After enough failed ventures, I realized that it’s ok to not be good at everything and it’s even better to not do everything. Surrounding yourself with people who support your stengths with theirs is so important. That’s why Corporate Menace works. Where my strengths fall short, Matthew’s pick up, where his fall short, Nathans pick up.
So, even when I’m out of my depth, I know there’s someone I can call.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.corporatemenace.com
- Instagram: @_corporatemenace_
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/corporate-menace-coffee-co/
- Twitter: https://x.com/corpmenace?s=11&t=1pUVmsdMt6uZ_b4DjzaN3A
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/15hRxUAGXi/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@corporate_menace?_t=ZT-8uH4f5NhZrK&_r=1
Image Credits
Ashley Sandra
https://ashleysandra.myportfolio.com/
Daniel Wakefield
