We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cheyenne Porras a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Cheyenne, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

For many years, my identity was entangled in my spouse and his leadership role. I was always referred to as “Antonio’s wife”. I wanted to develop something that gave me an identity and stoked the passion that was within me. I developed a love for coffee at a young age, younger than most would consider appropriate. My grandfather would take me and my brother to church on Sunday mornings. It was there that my love for the rich, bitter brew was ignited. Sipping from a Styrofoam cup while the steam permeated my senses, as my grandfather gently blew his to cool it down. Now, gone, this memory of his is truly where my love for coffee developed, and for that I am eternally grateful.

I quickly saw how coffee has become an expensive luxury, even more so now. A luxury that people do without merely because they cannot afford it or they have a busy lifestyle that prevents them from slowing down and savoring a cup. It was then that the idea formed – out of necessity, a community need and an identity crisis. It was in those moments that Java & Jesus was birthed.

I created Java & Jesus as a way to inspire people that they can become their own barista. Good coffee can be made at home and tickly the taste buds as well as any coffee shop can. I started in my small bedroom of my previous home with no idea how it would do. Would people be interested in flavored coffee? Would they buy locally or was it engrained within them that good coffee had to come from an aproned teenager? It didn’t take long for people to show interest. They wanted good coffee but didn’t want to spend the high dollar to get it. They wanted to have friends for coffee and impress them with their flavors and barista knowledge.

I quickly grew into a full mercantile, offering not only coffee, but teas, snacks, syrups, wax melts and more! I had found my identity and am now affectionately called “Java” by customers and friends. I quickly developed a rapport with customers and they started to inquire how to make drinks similar to familiar coffee chains. That is when I created a social media page to show videos on how to make “dupe” coffees that are just as tasty as the coffee chains for a fraction of the price.

Now that you know where the ‘Java’ stemmed from, Jesus is a part of my business as well. While, I do not promote my religion, I am a Christian and my values reflect that. Referring back to when my husband was in leadership (at a church), I saw so many people in need…desperate for reprieve. I wanted to help as many as I could but my funds were meager (college kid married to a blue collar man). While I had hoped that Java & Jesus would bring in some extra income, I primarily wanted it to help others. Since starting the business, we have helped homelessness, flood victims, provided school supplies for a community outreach, have given away hundreds of toys for kids in low-income families…just to name a few.

Since Java & Jesus’ inception, I have moved to a larger home to convert a section of it into my in-home business that has been thriving for over 4 years now with repeat customers.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My motto I have clung to as I have created this business is – “the least, the last and the lost”. It is so much more than a cup of coffee. It is the relationships we form. Secrets are whispered over a cup of coffee. A cup of coffee catches the tears of the sorrow. Coffee spills down the chins of laughter and love. It is so much more.

I go live weekly on social media with sales and offers so people can pop in and claim items and just chat. It is there that I learn customers are struggling with an illness or celebrating a triumph. I create a relationship where they know if they have no one else to talk to, they can talk to me. Everyone deserves to feel validated and heard. As a business owner, I care about each and every one of my customers and they know the pot of coffee is always warm and my allegorical door is always open.

How did you build your audience on social media?

My business was created predominately via social media. I do not have a brick and mortar business so social media is my lifeline. I have primarily grown via Facebook. I created a private group so customers can be their authentic selves while shopping from home. It was from there I created a TikTok that has grown to 17K to date. I have navigated algorithm changes, new audiences and the ever changing app formats. Not only do I utilize social media platforms but I also use advertising platforms to keep in touch with customers and offer loyalty sales. I am continually keeping my business name in the forefront of my customers minds.

Not only am I about the business but I enjoy doing fun social experiments such as “True Crime & Coffee Time”, “Coffee from the 50 States” via TikTok. I also do giveaways, contests, fun games and so forth to keep my customers engaged.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

Relationships are vital when it comes to clients. I reward repeat customers, I welcome new customers and just create an atmosphere of friendship. I do weekly lives where customers often times pop in just to say “hi” which I encourage. I do weekly TikToks to get my brand noticed within the community. Coupon and offers are routinely sent out to let customers know what is available and to remind them that it is coffee time! The more you connect with your audience in various media forms, the more they will respect your business and become repeat customers…and spread your business to friends and family!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://java-jesus.square.site/
• Instagram: java.jesus.store
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/858814074528265/
• Other: Tiktok Handle: @java.jesus.store