Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Wolter.
Sandra, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in Germany and grew up in a family coffee business. I didn’t want to follow in my parents’ footsteps, so the degree in hospitality management I got after graduating high school was more for their peace of mind.
I actually wanted to be in a creative field, so in my 20’s I studied acting and script writing in LA, and while there, quickly fell in love with tv production and real life storytelling.
After graduation I went back to Germany to get an additional diploma in tv and online journalism and then worked as a tv reporter and journalist for a major German network for a decade.
In 2013 it was time to make another change, and since my love for coffee had never left me I was interested to find out what the (then newer) Specialty Coffee industry was all about.
I signed up for a Barista certification course in Berlin and had an epiphany when I first experienced coffee chemistry and how the flavor of one and the same coffee can change when grind size, water quality, temperature, tool and movement are adjusted. That was my creative spark. From there I started to plan on opening a coffee place to teach people about all that goes into coffee making, the contemplative aspects and the connection it creates between people.
Two years later I opened my first pop up in Washington DC. I loved the US ever since my years in LA and decided that if I was going to make a drastic career change I might as well go all out and switch continents too.
In a nutshell:
Sweet Science Coffee had its’ debut in April of 2015.
In 2017, I was offered a larger place, still in a shared space, but by then I had a bit of a fan following and a proof of concept.
In April of that year the food critic of the Washington Post came by and after some incognito visits wrote an article about us that came out two years to the day after opening. It changed the trajectory of the business. From there I was able to attract an investor/partner and built a first standalone location, and a year after that, a second one. After making it through the pandemic I decided it was time to get back to what I am best at and what I love most about coffee, being creative and teaching.
I left the brick and mortar, moved to Texas, and took the Sweet Science brand online to widen the reach and focus on what we do now.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, I don’t think entrepreneurship is ever a smooth ride. Some struggles were:
To introduce a fairly new concept of making coffee by hand and to order (slow bars were not widespread at the time).
Being a woman in the male dominated coffee industry required “proving” that I had knowledge about processing, agriculture and chemistry and was able to judge Barista competitions etc.
Practical things like learning about business tax and compliance in the US, negotiating leases and eventually building shops from scratch.
There are more things of course, especially the Covid-19 pandemic which everyone had to deal with and which required us to pivot and become more creative and innovative as far as our offers go, and the ways in which we connect with people.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Sweet Science Coffee ?
What we do: I started in a brick and mortar setting and am now managing the e-commerce expansion and educational side of the business. We work with a partner roaster and have our own line of curated seasonal specialty coffee that we ship nationwide. Our offers are from around the world and all coffees are lab tested and certified free of molds, toxins and heavy metal.
Coffee brewing tools, live online courses and in-person events are also part of the portfolio.
What I am known for: My knowledge about coffee from farm to cup because my post-grad degree is in Coffee Excellence and often visit farms at origin. This touches a lot on the flavor and chemistry itself, but also the environmental and socioeconomic aspect of coffee production. Sweet Science as a business on the consumer side is mostly known for the science and bit “nerdy-ness”, however, we are aiming on expanding this view with an eye on the future and the changing coffee landscape and the ways in which people enjoy their beverages as part of a daily ritual.
What we specialize in and what I’d like for readers to know is also what sets the business apart: We see coffee as a contemplative beverage and invite conscious consumption. In my small group events I combine a meditative sensory experience with hands-on brewing and practical knowledge, teaching i.e. how to dose and time your intake for your body type and lifestyle. All of our offers, whether it’s custom coffee boxes or events, are designed for in the moment connection, fun and great taste. It’s important to note that we don’t have a walk-in storefront. Corporate / Group Events are on location, coffees are either shipped directly, or delivered in cases of larger custom orders.
Any big plans?
Future plans: Are about positioning the business lateral rather than vertical. We aim to collaborate more with other small businesses, creatives and non profit organizations and create synergy. We feel (and hear) that many people are frightened and feel isolated today and even though coffee is a small part of the day, it can really support meaningful connection.
What I am looking forward to: We have just added a new addition to the portfolio I love. Gifting coffee is a great way to show genuine appreciation. We are taking that a step further with “Well Said Coffee”: Customers can pick any coffee from our lineup and we design a custom bean box around their ideas. That can be for any occasion with personal messages, pictures, graphs, logos etc. The minimum is only two units and we can go up to 10.000, which is different from what other companies offer. There is usually a minimum in the upper hundreds for custom packaging, or the customization is just a sticker on the front. We print full color wrap-around and the design work is included.
I am super excited about this because the look on people’s faces when they open a box of coffee and discover it’s a personal one is priceless. We have done these for local Realtors as client appreciation gifts, a sports team, bands, an event series, and individuals for their best friend, with their pet, favorite foods, hobbies etc.
Coffee itself is very complex, but also a very simple daily pleasure and I feel that Well Said is taking that to a new level. If readers want to check this out, the direct link to our easy intake form is https://sweetsciencecoffee.com/pages/custom-gift-coffee
Pricing:
- $35 per Unit for Custom Orders (2 unit minimum)
- Tiered down to $20 per Unit based on quantity (tiers on website)
- $22 for most coffees in our main collections (non custom)
- Private group bookings for in-person or live online sessions vary by group size and location.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sweetsciencecoffee.com
- Instagram: @sweetsciencecoffee
- Facebook: @sweetsciencecoffee
- Other: contact@sweetsciencecoffee.com
Image Credits
Sweet Science Coffee
