Today we’d like to introduce you to Roscoe Aquilo.
Roscoe, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started working as a barista to pay for college, but I became obsessed with learning more about coffee. Once I learned that coffee beans are actually seeds from a bright red coffee cherry, I could never climb out of the rabbit hole. After a couple of years working for other people, a friend of mine with a mutual obsession of coffee decided that we should just start our own company to showcase stellar coffees with the people we love.
Tim and I are currently focusing on growing our online customer base through a subscription service called Trustfall. We send you a bag of coffee we’re really excited about weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. We’re hoping to find a storefront in the next couple of years.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has definitely not been smooth! There were many points along the way where I wanted to quit to do a normal job, some 9-5 with consistency and easy paycheck.
Deciding to start a coffee company provided a lot of challenges, including saving enough money to source the quality of coffee we wanted to serve, learning the ins and outs of roasting coffee, handling accounting and finances, along with all of the red tape involved in owning a small business. But the hardest part was honestly just getting started and being confident that the coffee we’re putting out is actually tasty to a lot of people; that gives me the most joy.
Seven Syllables Coffee – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Seven Syllables Coffee started out of mutual love for exciting coffees. We focus on sharing coffees that are clean and sweet, with vibrant and playful acidities, I think I’m most proud of our customer base. I’m always really impressed with how much people are willing to explore the weird little world of specialty coffee, and it makes me happy knowing that we get to help a little while sharing some really tasty coffee.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Defining success has always been difficult for me. I used to think it was how much money you made, or having a well-respected job like a nurse or doctor. I used to think if you were inspiring and full of wisdom, that you were successful. But after observing people and spending a lot of time thinking about it, the only marker for success that I’m looking for is knowing that I am providing something of value to other people. If we can continue to build this company into something that helps people drink better coffee AND provide value to the community, I’ll consider myself successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sevensyllablescoffee.com/
- Email: info@sevensyllablescoffee.com
- Instagram: @sevensyllablescoffee
Image Credit:
Tim Hasta, Roscoe Aquilo
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