Ristretto Time: Starting (and running) your own Coffee Shop

After some time away from regular episodes, Ristretto Time is back.In this episode, I share the story behind Grounds — my new book about building, running, and ultimately closing Café Chocolat, an independent coffee shop in Washington, D.C.If you've followed this podcast for a while, you know it originally started as a way for me to document the lessons, mistakes, and realities of owning a coffee shop after Café Chocolat closed. Over time, I realized there was a much bigger story to tell: not just how to open a coffee shop, but what it actually feels like to build something you care deeply about.In this episode, I talk about:☕ Why Ristretto Time slowed down and what’s next☕ Why I decided to write Grounds instead of turning the podcast into a traditional “how-to” book☕ The hidden realities of entrepreneurship, business ownership, and taking risks☕ What I learned from building Café Chocolat in Washington, D.C.☕ Why this story applies to more than just coffee shops☕ A reading from Chapter One: “A Walk Through Adams Morgan”You’ll also hear the opening pages of the book, including the story of how one evening walk through Adams Morgan turned into a decision that changed everything.📖 Grounds launches June 1, 2026Want to read Chapter One for free?Visit RistrettoTime.com and sign up to receive the complimentary PDF instantly.Whether you're thinking about opening a coffee shop, running a small business, starting something risky, or simply wondering what happens when a dream changes shape — I hope this episode feels familiar.Topics: coffee shop business, entrepreneurship, small business ownership, opening a coffee shop, café management, Café Chocolat, Washington DC coffee shop, coffee shop memoir, startup lessons, business failure, founder story, Ristretto Time podcast.