Headline : From Passion to 100 Coffee Shops: Brandon’s Vision for 787 Coffee and Building a Global Community

Interviewer: What inspired you to dive into the coffee industry with 787 Coffee, and how has your background in social-media marketing influenced your approach to the business?

Brandon: What inspired me to open 787 Coffee first and foremost was my passion for coffee! I wake up to drink coffee - it's an amazing way for me to connect with humans. Coffee is a romantic way of starting the day, the beautiful smell and the happiness you feel at the moment of drinking it is just incredible! Opening a coffee shop was the perfect way to connect with humans, to make them feel welcomed in a place and boost their creativity and passion for what they love most. Watching people working, reading, or just having a great time with others inspires me every day to continue doing what I do!

Interviewer: What challenges have you faced while growing 787 Coffee, and how have you overcome them to establish it as a successful brand?

Brandon: The challenges I have faced, not only me but also many food industries, include COVID-19. It was one of the toughest moments because we were forced to close our coffee shops, let our baristas go back to their homes, and stop serving coffee to our caffeinated humans. However, with the strong team at 787 Coffee, including leaders and baristas, we were able to adapt to COVID-19 by opening our doors while keeping our humans safe.

We've also faced Hurricane Maria and other storms at our coffee farm, which resulted in significant losses in our coffee plantation, impacting the system at 787 Coffee. Despite this, we had an amazing team at Hacienda Iluminada, our resilient farmers, who helped us get through the challenges.

I believe that the only way to keep succeeding is by being resilient, adaptable, and by trusting our amazing team. I've had the opportunity to work with resilient humans who have helped 787 Coffee reach greatness.

Interviewer: As a pioneer in social-media marketing, what trends do you foresee shaping the future of digital marketing, particularly in the food and beverage industry?

Brandon: I see the future of digital marketing in the food and beverage industry being shaped by authentic storytelling and deeper community engagement, as I like to call it, human by human approach! Humans NEED transparency and connection with a brand. For example, at 787 Coffee, we show humans our coffee beans are handpicked and how sustainable our coffee is made! Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube will continue to help businesses engage with their humans and show transparency. They want to know the reality of the product you sell, not just the outside part!

Interviewer: How do you approach business coaching for food and beverage companies, and what are some common mistakes you see these businesses make?

Brandon: As a business owner, I know one of my most important roles is to guide others with dreams and passions who need support from someone who’s already navigated various challenges. Being a leader is about creating change, step by step, within your community. That’s why I offer leadership and business coaching workshops for those who are just starting or thinking about launching their business. One element to achieving success in any business is having strong leadership, and I’m here to help other humans build those skills, offering real-world experiences and advice from my own entrepreneurial journey.

My coaching style is a hands-on, entrepreneurial approach to business coaching for food and beverage companies. Drawing from my own experience building a successful coffee brand from farm to retail, I understand the unique challenges in the industry, from sourcing quality ingredients to managing operations across multiple locations. My coaching emphasizes sustainability, customer experience, and building a strong brand identity.

One common mistake food and beverage business owners make is failing to focus on long-term brand growth, getting too caught up in daily operations. They may also overlook the importance of upselling and customer loyalty programs. I help companies by providing strategic insights on scalability, improving customer engagement, and optimizing the business model to grow sustainably.

Whether it's fine-tuning operations, developing upsell techniques, or building a resilient team, I offer real-world solutions to elevate food and beverage businesses.

Interviewer: 787 Coffee is known for its commitment to quality and sustainability. Can you share how these values are integrated into your business practices?

Brandon: We are committed to serving caffeinated humans amazing coffee while we take care of our planet. We represent Puerto Rico, but we cannot say that we represent it if we were not taking care of the environment, Puerto Rico’s beaches, or its tropical forest. Hacienda Iluminada, our coffee farm, is located in Maricao, Puerto Rico. We limit ourselves to the use of chemicals and pesticides that can hurt the soil of the land. We have water control, which is why we use ​​friendly-water efficient coffee processing equipment to avoid using extra water where we don't need it. Our farm is full of different types of animals because we believe in biodiversity and believe that animals need to be part of our farm, not us taking over their homes. They also help maintain healthy plantations and beautiful trees!

Interviewer: What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make their mark in both the coffee industry and the broader business world?

Brandon: For aspiring entrepreneurs in the coffee industry and beyond, my advice is to stay true to your passion and your "why." Whether you're selling coffee or building a tech startup, humans connect with authenticity. In the coffee business, it’s not just about selling a great product, it’s about the story behind it, how you source your beans, the farmers you support, and the community you build around your brand. Focus on creating real connections, and never compromise your values because that’s what inspired you to open your business! Learn from your experiences, mistakes, and most importantly, stay adaptable! The world is in constant movement, changing every day, so you have to learn to stay adaptable.

My advice to entrepreneurs looking to run a successful coffee shop is rooted in three key principles: authenticity, customer experience, and scalability.

1. Start with authenticity: Know your product and your story. I believe that successful coffee shops must connect with their roots. In the case of 787 Coffee, the story of sustainable, farm-to-cup coffee from Puerto Rico resonates deeply with customers. Entrepreneurs should find what makes their coffee shop unique and build a brand around that authenticity.
2. Focus on customer experience: The coffee may bring people in, but the experience keeps them coming back. From the ambiance to personalized interactions, I emphasize creating an environment that makes customers feel welcome. Whether it’s customizing drinks, offering loyalty programs, or training staff to provide exceptional service, every detail counts.
3. Think scalability: A successful coffee shop should be built to grow. I advise entrepreneurs to streamline operations from day one, ensuring they can expand without sacrificing quality. Whether opening multiple locations or scaling up online sales, the key is creating systems that maintain consistency across the board.

By staying authentic, offering a top-tier customer experience, and planning for growth, I believe entrepreneurs can create thriving coffee shops that stand out in a competitive market.

Interviewer: If you could describe your entrepreneurial journey with 787 Coffee and brandON Media in a single coffee blend, what would it be and why?

Brandon: If I had to describe my entrepreneurial journey with 787 Coffee and brandON Media in a single coffee blend, it would be, of course, a supremo roast espresso! Because like an amazing espresso, it has the perfect balance of bitter and sweet! My journey has not been easy, I have made sacrifices, worked long hours, but it has brought me amazing experiences, I’ve met amazing humans, learned new cultures, and I have used my passion to inspire other humans around me! Being an entrepreneur is like making coffee, it takes time, patience, and adjustments when the balance isn’t right. With both 787 Coffee and brandON Media, I’ve had to learn, adapt, and grow while staying true to my core values! It’s been a powerful, caffeinated journey, and just like my favorite cappuccino, I wake up every morning to keep doing what I love and PUSH FOR GREATNESS!

Interviewer: What is your legacy and where are you taking 787 Coffee?

Brandon: My legacy is rooted in building communities, not just businesses. I want to show people that through passion, hard work, and resilience, they can create something that positively impacts the world. 787 Coffee is more than a brand—it’s a platform for connection, from the farmers in the mountains of Puerto Rico to our customers in New York City and beyond.

Where am I taking 787 Coffee? To the forefront of not just the coffee industry, but as a symbol of what small businesses can achieve when they focus on quality, community, and culture. We are expanding thoughtfully, making sure that every new location carries the essence of what 787 Coffee stands for—connection, authenticity, and excellence. I want to inspire other small business owners to dream bigger, to see that they too can build something lasting. This journey is not just about coffee; it’s about creating a movement that makes people feel connected, appreciated, and caffeinated every step of the way.