S4:EP1
Guest: Dani Riggins, Ultreya Coffee & Tea
From: San Diego, California (4653 College Ave, San Diego, CA 92115)
Instagram: @ultreya_coffee
Website: https://www.ultreyacoffeeandtea.com/
“Ultreya.”
It is a single, simple word yet, for hikers on the 1300-year old Camino De Santiago hiking trail through Pyrenees mountains, it means so much more. The 500-mile long journey along the borders of France and Spain covers rugged terrain. Uttering “Ultreya” to a passing hiker is a form of encouragement. A push to encourage them to keep seeking the steps beyond their feet. To journey forward. According to Dani Riggins, Founder and Head Roast at Ultreya Coffee & Tea it is a way to say, “I see you on your journey, and I wish you well.”
The word has been bouncing around in her brain for years. When the opportunity to open her cafe and roastery presented itself, she chose it as the name of her shop. It is fitting that a shop as inclusive and inviting as hers uses its name to acknowledge that those who pass through the doors are all on their own journeys. Dani and her team are there to provide you with a boost to keep you moving forward.
The days leading up to my interview with Dani stressful for me (and probably a bit stressful for Dani!). I thought Season 4 of the podcast would be done mostly in-person, sitting across a patio table with a cup of coffee, shooting the shit so to speak.
Instead, the Omicron variant made itself known, and I headed back into the closet studio. No offense to the closet. I feel quite comfortable there. I think I was just tired and worn out after another holiday, albeit a lovely one, spent under the shadow of the pandemic. So I went into our video chat frustrated by circumstances, worried that no one would like the shows. Wondering if anyone would want to listen. Then Dani said something that really struck home.
“Comparison is the biggest thief of joy.”
Wow. What a cool thought. Here I was having such a lovely conversation about coffee and personal legends and how entrepreneurship can impact our mental health, and I was letting myself be worried about how some alternative future of the R!WC podcast would compare to the reality I live in.
That set me straight real quick!
On this episode of the podcast, we cover Dani’s coffee history, the unexpected opportunity to open her cafe, mental health, van life, being seen, supporting others, and knowing when to ask for help. We talk about drinking coffee out of a coconut and finding ourselves in unexpected places.
For Dani, it can be scary to put her coffee out into the world. Like an artist sharing a painting or a writer sharing their words, a coffee roaster is turning their canvas—the green coffee bean—into something else entirely. Then through the magic of brewing, it is turned into a final creation to be consumed and judged and appreciated.
Coffee is unique in that the final artwork will be appreciated by single individuals in a choose your own adventure style experience. Will they order from a barista or brew at home? Will they turn it into espresso or cold brew or pour over cup of coffee? That is up to them (you) to decide. It is the moment where Dani might say, “I see you. Journey onward.”
FROM THE SHOW
The Camino: A Journey of the Spirit by Shirley MacLaine (also available as an audiobook) is the book that inspired Dani to eventually name her shop Ultreya. I know Shirley Maclaine as an actress, not as an author. In addition to her 65-year acting career, she’s also published 13 bestsellers.
The Camino Del Santiago hiking trail looks awesome and is now on my bucket list. Also, I need to start a bucket list. This is a great column on REI.com about the trail, its history, and the logistics of hiking it. I didn’t realize until doing some research, but the Ultreya Coffee & Tea logo evokes the signage found along the trail.
The Camiño De Santiago hiking trail in Arzúa, Spanien as photographed by Julia Gerlach @VanLifePride is a group that organizes VanLife meetups and is connecting the LGBTQIA and nomadic/vanlife communities together. Check them out at: https://campsite.bio/vanlifepride
Dani and I briefly talked about the rising rates of hospitality wages. I mentioned that when I was young, I recollected being paid about two dollars and change per hour. I joked that I thought minimum wage for tipped employees in Wisconsin was still only about $4.35. I was wrong.
It is still two dollars and change. It hasn’t changed since at least 2009. C’mon, Wisconsin. Get it together.
Screenshot from the Wisconsin Dept. of Workforce Development. I also mentioned on the show that I wrote a book recently. I actually wrote two. It has been terrifying to share them with the world. I just read the first one for the audiobook recording. Somehow, I am simultaneously proud and yet awkwardly embarrassed to share them with the world. I don’t know why. You can learn more about the Eli & Jane series of books by clicking here. There are more than a few coffee drinking scenes in these road trip/finding yourself/finding each other stories.
NOT FROM THE SHOW
This is kind of messed up. Coffee-flavored Peeps are coming for your Easter basket. Coffee-flavored candy chicks will be available in original coffee-flavored and Peeps Filled Delights Caramel Mocha flavors. Read the story on NBCNews.
ROAST! INDUSTRY PARTNERS
The R!WC Industry Partners are awesome. Click these links. Drink their coffees and whiskeys. Visit their cafes. Support local coffee shops. You won’t be disappointed.
Zumbar Coffee & Tea • First Light Coffee Whiskey • Leap Coffee • Steady State Roasting • CAFÉ LaTERRE • Mostra Coffee • Cape Horn Coffee Importers • Marea Coffee • Coffee Cycle • Camp Coffee Company • Ignite Coffee Company
Ignite Coffee Company (ICC) is our newest Industry Partner, and we’re stoked they are beginning their coffee journey with us. A big goal of this podcast and newsletter is to uplift the craft coffee community. ICC’s founder, Tyler Whitehead will be on the show later this season to talk about the motivations behind his coffee company, entrepreneurial families, and hopefully, his photography efforts. Check them out at: https://ignitecoffeecompany.com/
LISTEN ON THESE PLATFORMS
APPLE PODCASTS • SPOTIFY • ANCHOR.FM • GOOGLE PODCASTS • AMAZON MUSIC • THE COAST NEWS • TUNEIN RADIO • I HEART RADIO • POCKETCASTS • BREAKER • RADIO PUBLIC • OVERCAST • YOUTUBE • STITCHER
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Roast! - Dani Riggins, Ultreya Coffee & Tea