307 How to Make Your Dreams of Owning a Coffee Shop Come True …

Visionary Life | Marketing & Business Podcast

307 How to Make Your Dreams of Owning a Coffee Shop Come True | Ryan Castelez

September 26, 2023

Ryan Castelez is the Founder and Creative Director of Discourse Coffee and The Counter Day Bar in Milwaukee, WI. Ryan is also (among MANY other things) a Drink Maker, an Author, a very Visionary Entrepreneur, a forward-thinking mixologist and a barista!

I met Ryan Castelez at a retreat in Park City, Utah that I attended in July 2023, for adventurous entrepreneurs. Thanks to our mutual friend Brandon Fong (host of the Beyond Curious Podcast) for introducing us, and bringing us together for 3 days of magic!

In this episode, I sit down with Ryan to hear about HOW he turned his dream of opening a coffee shop into a reality. It wasn't easy, but he started small and today he is running a coffee and mixology empire!

We discuss:

Where he got the initial idea to start Discourse (way back in 2017) and the crazy unassuming location that he picked for his first shop!
His views on coffee and running a coffee shop (Hint! It is SO much more than just a commodity product to the Discourse Team. It's about poetry, nostalgia, storytelling, etc.)
Ryan shares some of the first steps he took to bring the idea to life
His previous experience as an entrepreneur (or lack thereof!) and which qualifications and skillets he leveraged that prepared him for the wild journey ahead as as 23 year old passionate new business owner!
The marketing strategies he relied on in the early days, having ZERO budget for advertising!
His philosophy regarding pushing his customers outside of their comfort zone and nudging them to try new concoctions!
The way Ryan thinks and operates as as seasoned entrepreneur, today
How’s it been now that he's leading and empowering a team to run the business!

Get Ryan's Book |

The New Art of Coffee: From Morning Cup to Caffeine Cocktail