You may have come to recognize the glabrous face of a certain mobile coffee cart whilst seeking out the lion logo Roar Blend roast or a caffeinated pick-me-up. But what you may not know about this Kansas City native is that he shamelessly has a thing for a certain Latin pop-star, Disney classics, gelatin-based candies and holds a license to operate aircraft. Share a cup of joe with Justin and learn what makes the beverage connoisseur and patron of fidelity tick.

Illustration by Chris Leverett.

ILLUSTRATION BY CHRIS LEVERETT.

A recent day in the life? 
I typically get up around 6am and head to the coffee shop—helping staff prepare for the day as we get set up then making a cup of coffee to sit down and take my first few breaths while sipping it. Throughout my day, I work with customers in the shop, as well as our wholesale clients, helping them with different solutions for their stores in coffee needs—whether it be replying to emails or on-site development, installs or repairs. Then in the afternoon, working on palate development for our staff with new coffees and new flavor profiles. 

When you were a kid, you dreamed of . . .  Being a fighter pilot in the Navy.

Your guilty pleasure . . .  Gummy bears and Shakira.

Thought you had driving to work today.  As I was driving into downtown Sarasota, I was looking at the sun coming up onto the buildings and thought about all the great views we have and what a pretty town we live in. 

Your favorite virtue  . . .  Loyalty.

In our hometown, we do too much   complaining   and too little  collaboration to find out how we can improve the community. 

Your last supper would include . . . Ribs from Gates & Son’s Bar-B-Q in Kansas City, frozen custard with gummy bears and, of course, a cup of coffee, which would be the Panama Esmeralda Geisha varietal from the Carmen Estate Lot 601.

Favorite Villains . . . Captain Hook, Inspector Javert from Les Misérables.

Words you use too often . . . “Totally...” and “Basically...”

Your favorite music artists  . . . Showbread, The Monkees, As Cities Burn, Shakira, Muddy Waters, Jack White.

Your favorite food of the moment . . .  Poké bowls from FushiPoké.

Your T-shirt motto?   “Coffee.” 

If you could snap your fingers and appear somewhere else . . .  Irazú Volcano National Park in Costa Rica.

Song that describes your life right now?  “Run This Town” by Jay-Z.

Scariest thing you’ve ever done? My first solo flight as a pilot when I was 16, flying over Kansas City.

Biggest fashion faux pas? Shoulder pads and bell-bottoms. 

If not yourself, who would you be?  Walt Disney.

If you could undo one  invention in the world, what would it be?  The Keurig.

Funniest thing you remember doing as a kid . . .  I was actually a very serious and business-minded child. I guess you would have to ask  my mom about this.

One thing you will never understand . . . Facial hair,because it’s something I will never attain. 

If you had a boat, what would you name it?  Esmeralda.

With two more hours in the day . . . I would play in the coffee lab and create things, work on palate development and inventions of new coffee equipment. 

Would you rather have a rewind button or a pause button in your life? I don’t think I would have either.

For what fault have you been the most tolerant? I am pretty tolerant.

If you had your own talk show, who would your first three guests be? James Hoffman (author of The World Atlas of Coffee), Matt Perger (owner of Barista Hustle), and my mom.

Which cartoon character best represents your personal philosophy?  Mickey Mouse, because of his loyalty and how he cares for
his friends.