We've all heard some version of the saying, "Find a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life." It might sound a bit like an exaggeration, but for Michael Kivland and Kevin Foglesong, it's a mantra that rings true. The two friends met in middle school, bonding over a mutual love of baseball and the legendary Wu-Tang Clan. Their friendship grew from there, spanning years, cities, and career changes. From playing on the baseball field to attending different colleges, and eventually working in the corporate world, they remained close, sharing an idea of something more—a shared dream of entrepreneurship.
From the beginning, Michael and Kevin were always imagining up business ideas. “We talked about starting a business together all the time," Michael remembers. "It was a constant topic, from the day we met through all our years in different jobs.” They both worked in sales but in different industries, each experiencing the empty grind and pressures of corporate life. However, that entrepreneurial itch never went away. Then one day, seemingly out of the blue, Kevin sent Michael a text with the Heady Cup Coffee Roasters logo. It was the spark they needed. “When I saw that text, I knew it was time,” Michael says, “I left my job within two weeks, and from that moment, we were all in.”
The shift from dreaming to doing was quick. Michael dove right into designing the website, while Kevin got to work ordering all the necessary roasting and brewing equipment. “It felt like flipping a switch,” Michael recalls. “We went from talking about it to making it happen almost overnight.” Both credit the unwavering support of their wives, Jill and Jenn, as the backbone of their venture. “Without their support, Kevin and I would be nowhere,” Michael emphasizes. And Kevin adds, “They’ve been our rocks from day one.”
Kevin’s journey into the world of coffee roasting began almost a decade ago, somewhat unexpectedly. He laughs when he recalls buying his first coffee roaster, a basic stovetop model, as more of a joke than a serious pursuit. “I was spending so much on coffee that roasting my own beans seemed like the only solution!” he says. His first purchase was a Brazil bean and an Ethiopian bean from the Yirgacheffe region. That first taste of Ethiopian coffee blew him away and sparked a passion that led him down a rabbit hole. “I couldn’t believe coffee could taste like this,” he shares. From that point on, he became a self-taught, data-driven coffee roaster, devouring every book, video, and class he could find on the subject.
Michael, on the other hand, came to coffee much later. In fact, he hadn’t had a cup of coffee in over ten years until about a week after they launched Heady Cup. Kevin set up a cupping session in his kitchen, lining up 32 different coffees for tasting. Michael, who considered himself more of a tea drinker and a foodie, found himself fascinated by the complex flavors he was tasting. “By the second cup, Kevin was already impressed with my palate,” Michael recalls. “I pulled out flavor notes that matched the producers' profiles, and it was a real eye-opener.” This experience not only rekindled Michael’s love for coffee but also gave him confidence in his role within the business.
Starting a new business is never easy, and Michael and Kevin knew they were entering a competitive market. “Specialty coffee is a tough market to break into,” Kevin acknowledges. “We had to figure out how to stand out pretty quickly.” They decided to focus on crafting high-quality, unique flavors. “Our goal is to make sure every coffee we roast is different and special,” Kevin explains. “We want people to taste something unique with every cup.” This approach has paid off, helping them carve out a niche in the local coffee scene.
But it's not just about the coffee. Heady Cup Coffee Roasters has always been about more than just creating great flavors. Michael and Kevin are committed to making a positive impact through their business. They work with coffee producers who give back to their communities, whether that’s building homes and schools or providing families with coffee tree stumps to start their plantations for financial independence. They also prioritize sustainability, planting a tree for every bag of coffee sold. To date, they’ve planted over 4,000 trees in coffee-growing regions, a commitment they’re rightfully proud of.
Closer to home, Heady Cup is actively involved in the local community. They recently donated a coffee maker and some of their beans to a local school to help keep the teachers caffeinated. “We want to support the people who make a difference every day,” Michael says. “Teachers are some of those people.” Their inclusivity extends to other areas as well, with female artists like Anna Long designing their coffee bags and hanging artwork by Angie Maioriello in their shop. “We try to keep things fresh and hip,” Kevin notes. “Heady Cup is for everyone.”
While the journey has had its challenges—like getting their name out in a crowded market—Michael and Kevin have never lost sight of their long-term vision. They want Heady Cup to be known as a respected and recognized specialty coffee roaster, committed to sustainability, traceability, and social responsibility. “These are the main tenets of our mission,” they explain. “We believe if we stay true to these values, success will naturally follow.”
Heady Cup Coffee Roasters is a powerful example of the impact of shared passion, hard work, a bold idea and the guts to pursue it. Michael and Kevin's story is more than just about roasting coffee—it's about friendship, community, and creating something special. By focusing on high-quality, unique flavors and maintaining their dedication to sustainability and social responsibility, they’ve found their place in the competitive world of specialty coffee. Their journey shows that with a little courage, a lot of grit, and the support of those who believe in you, it’s possible to turn dreams into reality. And what better way to do it than with your friend by your side?
To learn more about what Heady Cup has to offer or to order a bag of their specialty coffee visit Headycup.com
The shift from dreaming to doing was quick. - “We went from talking about it to making it happen almost overnight.”
Heady Cup Coffee Roasters is a powerful example of the impact of shared passion, hard work, a bold idea and the guts to pursue it.