Tin Top: The Origin Story

In the beginning...

Once upon a time, there was a Marine freezing his ass off on the rifle range in 29 Palms, CA. Being a resourceful man, he decided to get a cup of coffee to warm his hands. He eventually drank some of it, eventually started to like it, eventually became addicted, then eventually became a connoisseur. Meet Kent.

Many years removed from the military and living in a "van down by the river" (actually a carwash in Boulder, CO) he learned that one could roast coffee with an air popcorn popper in order to save some serious cash on high-end coffee. Since he and his wife were living the dream as starving young newlyweds, the economics of this choice made a ton of sense. He picked up the popcorn machine at the local big box store, ordered some greens from the internet, and embarked on a 18-year love affair with fresh roasted coffee. 

Now what?

It just so happens that those 18 years of coffee roasting also coincided with many other important overlapping experiences: 3 kids, an MBA degree, leadership in several successful tech startups, and endless life-changing moments over coffee with his best friend and wife. 

What do you get when you combine nearly two decades of home roasting, business entrepreneurship, and family building? 

Hilarity, passion, and Tin Top Coffee Co.

Still not seeing what a toy top has to do with any of this? Maybe this will help.

Fresh roasted coffee supported Kent through the most important events in his life — from family to business — and as cheesy as it sounds, he actually believes coffee can be a catalyst to well-being. How you may ask? Ritual. 

The consistent coffee ritual each morning of pausing, reflecting, and engaging while enjoying a cup of coffee has led to thousands of meaningful conversations, important realizations, and timely decisions. He likens this ritual to spinning a toy top. Each spin is simplistically gratifying yet consistently short. It reminds us that life is a journey and if we take time each day to "Spin the Top" we are more likely to piece together a more satisfying one.