Farmers Markets, From a Coffee Roaster's Side

It Smells Better Than It Taste — a quiet coffee newsletter where I share what I’m learning about coffee, curiosity, and daily rituals, this channel is an extension of that space: https://www.itsmellsbetterthanittaste.com/ In this episode, I delve into my journey as a coffee entrepreneur, sharing insights from my experiences at farmers markets and how they've shaped my approach to building an online presence. I started by discussing my recent YouTube video's performance, focusing on the importance of finding my voice and understanding my audience - coffee drinkers, not just roasters. I shared a valuable lesson from the Mind Pump podcast: repeating information isn't a bad thing because people might hear it differently at different times in their lives. This led me to revisit my farmers market experiences from 2018, where I learned that despite initial excitement, the challenges of long hours, unpredictable sales, and competition for limited customer dollars made me question the value of the effort. The most significant insight came when I understood that the farmers market is like a table where everyone is vying for a slice of the customer's limited budget. This realization made me politely decline suggestions to return to farmers markets. I drew parallels between this experience and my approach to online platforms like Instagram and YouTube. Instead of playing the "farmers market game" on social media, I'm focusing on building genuine connections through podcasting, blogging, and eventually, personal interactions. By listening to this podcast, you'll gain insights into the challenges of small business, the importance of understanding your audience, and the value of finding the right platforms to connect with your community. It's a reminder that in both coffee and life, the journey of understanding and growth is as rich as the destination.