A Little Faith, A Little Luck, & Lots Of Cool Beans

This Workstay Story was written by Abby Mitchell, if you’d like to learn more about the Heavenly Hawaiian Workstay Program, click here!

“Having a number of friends/ co-workers there was always an adventure to be made. Before chasing waterfalls or tip-toeing our way through a beautiful hike, starting your day with the perfect cup was a necessity. And if we were lucky, maybe even some lilikoi pancakes. I’m so thankful that I was able to have such an amazing experience and meet so many wonderful people.” – Abby Mitchell, Heavenly Hawaiian Workstay Alumna

I believe that everything happens for a reason. With that being said, every choice and every leap of faith led me to where I am today. I am so grateful that eighteen year old me took that jump across the ocean because little did she know that from that day on it would shape her whole life and create a career. Two years ago, I had just graduated from high school. I felt so lost since all of my friends were going to college and it seemed like they had their whole lives planned out. Unlike me, who wasn’t planning on going to school and had no clue what to do with my life. Except, I knew I always wanted to travel. Traveling has always been a very important aspect of my life, and I knew I would learn so much from doing so.

Not to mention, coffee has always been a priority in my life, as it is for many. I have made coffee part of my everyday routine since being a workstay member on the farm. I have learned so much about the craft and wanted to share all that I have been taught. From picking coffee cherries to making pour overs, I have picked up so much about all of the precise aspects that go into making the perfect cup. I would love to thank all my friends and Ohana at Heavenly Hawaiian for teaching me all that I know today.

With that being said, I fell in love with this art and wanted to continue on this career path. Since I have left the Big Island and came back to my hometown of Queen Creek, Arizona, I have been hopping from coffee shop to coffee shop grasping as much as I can from each cafe. From being a general manager and learning how to run a shop on my own to pouring pretty rosetta latte art as a barista, I have learned so much about coffee and decided to add up all of my knowledge and put it into creating my own business. I am excited to announce that I have started my own mobile coffee shop known as, “Cool Beans Coffee”.

I wanted something that truly expressed myself and was fun and different from your average coffee shop. We serve a variety of different espresso based drinks, homemade coldbrew, teas, and even energy drinks. Cool Beans travels to all different events across the valley from farmers markets, to private weddings, and even store grand openings. We are always on the move. I believe that the more you travel the more you learn, which is why I chose to pursue this business. It will give me opportunities to see new places and meet new people. Which is just like what I did when joining the Heavenly Hawaiian workstay program. Even though I want my business to have cool and fun vibes I also wanted something that was quality driven and served specialty coffee. Which is why I am excited to announce that Cool Beans is proudly serving Heavenly Hawaiian Coffee.

I want my customers to experience Hawaii with each sip of their 100% Kona Coffee. As someone who grew up picking veggies from a farm, I love that my coffee beans are straight from crop to cup. I admire knowing that through each step of the process the beans are handled with the utmost care. From picking the cherries, to pulping, to raking and drying the beans (my favorite part) , to roasting , to brewing the perfect cup. I know that my friends over at Heavenly are taking “specialty coffee” to the next level. There is so much that goes into making that perfect cup.

Not only was I lucky enough to create a business from what I have learned during my stay on the Big Island, but I was also lucky to make some amazing memories. Living on the farm was a dream come true to an adventure junkie like me. Not only did I love picking cherries and making drinks all day, I loved seeing all the beautiful island had to offer. I was always saying yes. From cliff jumping to swimming along side dolphins there were new memories made daily. Having a number of friends/ co-workers there was always an adventure to be made. Before chasing waterfalls or tip-toeing our way through a beautiful hike, starting your day with the perfect cup was a necessity. And if we were lucky, maybe even some lilikoi pancakes. I’m so thankful that I was able to have such an amazing experience and meet so many wonderful people. I am so grateful that I was able to chase my dreams in more ways than one. Cool Beans Coffee is so proud to be working alongside such a beautiful farm.