The Adventures of a One Man Coffee Shop

My name is Tim, and I own a coffee shop in Orange County, California. What sets my shop apart is that I’m not just the owner—I’m the only person who works there. Every day, I take on the responsibilities that would typically be handled by an entire team. From opening the shop, making coffee, taking orders, and preparing food to serving customers, marketing including social media, cleaning up, restocking inventory, and shopping for the next day, I do it all. I have even garnered some outstanding recognition for my efforts including being ranked number 10 of Yelp’s Top 100, nationwide of all coffee shops and #3 out of 100 Yelp’s 2022’s Best Places to Eat in all of Orange County, California. But my day doesn’t end there. After closing up, I dedicate two hours each evening to working on my novel, Almaden. Yes, I’m also an author. My book, set to be completed by late summer 2025 and published in 2026, is a fictional story about growing up in Almaden/Silicon Valley before the dot-com boom. I thrive on staying busy—there’s no excuse for laziness when there’s always something to create, learn, or accomplish.

Barista duties is just one of a dozen titles I wear at Tim is Making Great Coffee in San Juan Capistrano

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