A Passion for Cooking Turned Coffee Craft

What started in the house—sparked by curiosity, creativity, and a little encouragement from family—slowly turned into something much bigger. Greg’s story is one rooted in passion, patience, and the belief that when you nurture what you love, it has the power to grow beyond your wildest expectations.

Six or seven years ago, Greg wasn’t thinking about becoming a coffee roaster with one of the largest selections of beans in the country. His passion first lived in the house and the backyard. From smoking meats to mastering the coffee bean, cooking was his creative outlet. It was hands-on, experimental, and deeply satisfying. That love for process and flavor laid the foundation for everything that would come next.

The turning point came by way of a gift from his wife: a coffee roaster. What began as curiosity quickly turned into obsession. Greg started roasting coffee at home, learning through trial, error, and taste. Soon, he was making far more coffee than he could drink. Naturally, he started giving it away—to friends, neighbors, anyone willing to try it. And people loved it.

That moment planted the seed for a bigger idea. As Greg puts it best, “Take a passion or a hobby—turning something from nothing can turn into something.” What was once just an experiment at home slowly evolved into a calling.

During the pandemic, Greg began roasting out of his garage, and the neighborhood took notice. One of his favorite customer stories comes from that time—when neighbors would line up, eagerly waiting for fresh coffee. The smell alone was enough to draw people in. Through live roasting episodes on social media, paired with music and conversation, Greg’s garage became a small hub of comfort, warmth, and community during an isolating moment in the world.

The business idea officially came together around Christmas. Family gathered, throwing out name ideas and brainstorming what this new chapter could be called. Eventually, they landed on Berk’s Beans—a name that felt personal, grounded, and true to its roots.

Greg made a bold decision to transition away from the corporate world, choosing instead to focus on his craft and collaborate with local businesses in the area. That spirit of collaboration remains at the heart of Berk’s Beans today. From partnering with neighborhood shops to uplifting other small businesses, the mission has always been bigger than coffee alone.

What truly sets Berk’s Beans apart is choice. Built around the “breath of coffee,” the brand prides itself on offering one of the largest selections of coffee beans in the country. The philosophy is simple: Coffee your way. Roasted to your liking. Customers choose the bean, the roast, and the experience. Want to try a bright Costa Rican coffee? You can. Fall in love with a bean and explore it roasted in different ways? That’s encouraged. From the sweet coffees of South and Central America to beans from Asia and the Caribbean, the variety invites exploration—a travel experience through taste.

Greg also hosts coffee tastings at the facility, featuring four different coffees from regions across the world, turning education, culture, and flavor into a shared experience.

One of the most touching moments came from a customer who shared that Berk’s Beans brought back memories of childhood—of trying coffees from all over the world. “Your coffee brings that memory back to us,” they said. And that, perhaps, is the heart of Berk’s Beans: coffee that connects past and present, home and world, passion and purpose.

🎙 Want to hear Greg tell this story in his own words? Tune into our podcast and hear directly from the founder of Berk’s Beans—where passion, flavor, and community come together.