We were lucky to catch up with Tommy Zufall recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tommy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
Yada Yada means to “know and to be known.” My mission is to connect with others and for the people we serve to connect over coffee. Another depth to the name “Yada Yada Coffee” would be to know coffee and to share that knowledge. I continually driving for better when it comes to sourcing beans, roasting, and drink preparation.
Coffee has always been a huge aspect of relationship in my family growing up where every gathering was shared with coffee. Many of the most impactful conversations I’ve had in life have happened over coffee.
My hope is that true meaningful connections happen through everything we do. Whether that be through the places we source coffee, the people who work here, the businesses we partner with, and the people we serve.
Tommy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I was entrenched in the routine of a 9-5 office job, day in and day out. Then, Covid-19 emerged. During the work-from-home period, I realized that my passion for my job dwindled without the camaraderie of my colleagues. This led me to purchase a coffee roaster and embark on the journey of coffee roasting. Discovering the joy in crafting my own beans, I wondered if this new hobby could ignite a lost passion.
Post-lockdown, as we returned to the office, my favorite deli expressed interest in serving my coffee, a testament to the quality I had achieved, especially considering they stocked coffee from renowned local roasters. This validation spurred me to commit fully to mastering the art of coffee roasting, tirelessly pursuing the perfect roast profile for each bean.
On April 30th, 2021, I resigned from my job and took a leap of faith with Yada Yada Coffee. By February 26th, 2022, I celebrated the opening of my first coffee shop. Today, we supply specialty coffee to multiple establishments and boast our own vibrant coffee shop, staffed by an incredible team and growing community. Every day, I share my passion for expertly roasted coffee, foster connections within the community, and collaborate with other cafes to elevate brewing practices.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
Yada Yada Coffee has become a magnet for creative and talented individuals. My inaugural hire brought valuable café experience and assisted with farmers’ markets while mastering the art of roasting during our first year. His dedication has seen him rise to the role of coffee shop manager. Our journey continued with the discovery of passionate and inventive team members, each contributing uniquely to our business. One such individual, driven by a love for crafting syrups, was encouraged to start his own venture. Today, we proudly source most of our in-house syrups from his company, Burning River Syrups. Our team also creates signature sauces and syrups that complement our coffee offerings.
Additionally, a part-time employee who showed a flair for social media now oversees our digital presence. Artistic talents within our team bring our menus to life, and we are committed to integrating our employees’ passions into their roles at the coffee shop, fostering a culture of personal investment and innovation.
Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?
Yada Yada Coffee has expanded its horizons by venturing into the online marketplace, offering our specialty roasted coffee to a wider audience. Our goal is to streamline the purchasing process, making it effortless for customers to order our beans online and enjoy them in the comfort of their homes. Situated across from the area’s premier hotel, we frequently welcome new patrons, many of whom have expressed a desire for a simplified online ordering system to ship our beloved coffee nationwide.
As we cultivate our online footprint, we remain steadfast in preserving the intimate connections we’ve established with our clientele. Our community’s support is evident, with a growing number of regular online purchasers. In response to this enthusiasm, we’re excited to announce plans for a subscription service, aiming to deliver our passion for coffee right to your doorstep, month after month.
Contact Info:
- Website: yadayadacoffee.com
- Instagram: @yadayadacoffee
- Facebook: yadayadacoffee
Image Credits
Becca Pavlik