Today we’d like to introduce you to Jalen McLean.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I only drank a cup of coffee once I was out of college in 2017. And then, I started intermittent fasting for weight loss, and caffeine helps with craving hunger. The coffee was so bad, and I tried adding cinnamon to make it sweeter, which was even worse. It wasn’t until I moved to St. Louis in 2018 that I had a perfect cup of black coffee (no additives). It was complex, sweet, and balanced, and I could taste many different flavors, like fruit and chocolate. I have been hooked ever since. The pandemic was actually when I started making coffee at home. I researched many ways to make coffee and wanted it to taste like the coffee shops. I realized after I moved back to St. Louis in 2022 that I loved making coffee for people. I wanted them to experience the love of coffee as I did. It was the reactions from contagious people. I knew I had to turn it into a business. Money is a big part of my life, and I didn’t want to go into debt to make a coffee shop. My research and travel found coffee carts simple, mobile, and less investment. That’s why I am doing popups. I love the flexibility of my full-time job, allowing me to experiment with many different coffees for each popup.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Honestly, I almost didn’t do it. I wanted to do it right, so I first tried to get an LLC. While that was smooth, the 3rd-party company I used sold my information to scammers, and I started getting letters asking for money. I also wanted a logo and a look for my company, so I contacted a graphic designer to help me. While the logo and the brand look great, trying to communicate with them could have been more delightful, and I had to follow up with them to get answers constantly. Thankfully, I didn’t fall for it, but it was frustrating. It made me realize that I would really do this business because if I didn’t love it, it would’ve been easy to quit.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Spill?
I came up with the name Jay’s Coffee back in 2020. I always knew that I wanted to start a coffee shop, but I wanted to be able to make the best coffee. I named the coffee shop specifically Spill, though, because I wanted it to be recognized like Apple, Amazon, and Starbucks when people say it. That’s why I have a logo. You know when the brand when you see a bitten apple, the Amazon smile, and the green siren. I also named it Spill because of the innocent spills when drinking coffee. It’s such a funny moment, and I often see it when making coffee. I have a pop-up coffee shop. I wanted to be different and got the idea for a coffee cart on my trip to Seattle. They are everywhere there, but I had never seen it before. I loved the idea and knew it was a better investment for me in the long run. I also differentiate myself from other coffee shops because I only make black coffee. The way people drink coffee now, with all of the additives, takes away from the hard work that each person did to make the beans for the coffee. It’s not bad, but I believe that black coffee has an array of flavors, textures, and stories that I want to highlight. My most proud about my brand is that I started it, and it’s constantly evolving. I never want to become complacent and want to keep challenging myself to be better.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Doing anything outside your comfort zone is risk-taking. Nothing great happens unless you do take risks. The best part is that you can learn from your mistakes and keep growing. I took a chance to come to St. Louis, MO, from North Carolina. I wouldn’t even be writing this if I didn’t move.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailyspillcoffee
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyspillcoffee
Image Credits
Haley Echols (@he_mstyle on Instagram)
