I knew very little of the coffee world and hardly drank the stuff when I started my first barista job for a significant US chain in 2004. I threw myself into my work, reading manuals and trying coffees from around the world, learning as much as possible during my five years there. Little did I know the lasting impact of this little bean on my life journey.

Fast forward to 2016, when I discovered home roasting while living abroad in Japan with my family. Armed at first with only a cast-iron frying pan and gas burner stove, I experimented and created the first of many great roasts in my tiny apartment.

I started Sleeping Giant Coffee Company informally in 2018 and registered officially in May 2020. I only source and roast certified organic coffees, many of which are also Fair Trade. I've donated to and partnered with Cafe Femenino, an organization that sources coffee from women-owned co-ops and farms worldwide, to level the playing field. Finally, to be a sustainable business, I only use fully-compostable coffee bags to create as little waste as possible.

I'm very proud to be able to do something I love while serving social and environmental causes along the way. I've built the business from a tiny roaster on my porch to a 5kg professional machine. I've just signed a lease to move into a retail space, and I plan to use this loan to help with costs associated with connecting the roaster at the new location - new venting, electric, and gas service connection. Any additional funds will go towards renovation costs, like hiring a local muralist to decorate the interior walls.