Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alyssa Love. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alyssa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry?

Coffee as we know it is hustle, bustle, and pumpkin spice! Originally coffee was harvested in Africa where it was used as a ceremonial practice for women in Villages in and nearby to come together and do the week’s work. Whether it be sewing or making thread, women would talk over their problems, children, marriage etc… Coffee is community, conversation. Coffee cultivates love.

Alyssa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

2020 took away the necessities that we didn’t know were necessities: Like having a calm cup of coffee in the morning. As a graduate of Lindenwood University I was facing a pandemic looking for where my purpose, talents, and skills would fit best. As a previous barista I noticed the loss in ease of getting through a drive through for coffee, I saw first responders in need of a good pick me up. I had opinions on what was happening, but no platform, I had a vision of all the people I served having coffee and exchanging Ideas. It wasn’t awkward or politically tense. People were in the Third Place: Away from work or home, where they were most comfortable. It all kind of came to me all at once and I just couldn’t sit on the sidelines.

With that being said, my name is Alyssa Love, and I am the owner of Love Bean Coffee LLC. Love Bean has been in business for two years. During this time Love Bean started as an online concept striving to empower people to take moments of peace for themselves with a good cup of coffee in their hand. Like love can be found in places we don’t expect; coffee can bring people together that wouldn’t otherwise be. Love Bean values community, conversations and love.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn while running Love Bean is ‘your business is your job.’ I left financial services not knowing the hard lesson I was about to get firsthand! A job is something you do to make money and in turn to sustain general living. A career is what you love to do. Never make your job your career. If you are doing what you love the money will come easily and you will sustain.

making your passion/ business concept your ‘job’; if you are anything like me will quickly lead to the burn out question of “why am I doing this?”

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My coffee journey was everything, but easy. 2020, there were no wholesalers that would even touch coffee, let alone ship coffee or sample it. Furthermore, the mail shipping process took twice as long. My wholesalers were so understanding of what was happening, yet also saw the need to conduct business now more than ever. I lost my car, bought a car, took odd jobs to fund my vision. Along the way I found lessons, genuine people, and growth in my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lovebeancoffeellc.org
• Instagram: @lovebeancoffeellc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovebeancoffeeco/
• Linkedin: Love Bean Coffee LLC
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/love-bean-coffee-unversity

Image Credits
Judge Williams