What happens when a family trades a fixed address for a 38-foot catamaran, crosses oceans with two kids, and then builds a science-driven coffee roastery in Vero Beach (Tribe Coffee)? We follow the unlikely thread from Atlantic squalls and Bahamas blues to a wholesale operation roasting sweet, clean beans for local cafes and churches.
We start with the real math of adventure: a spouse who prefers terra firma, kids who thrive on routine, and the hard lessons learned living small on big water. There are wild moments—tuna tailing the stern for days, a near-miss with a hungry horse—and steady ones, like boat schooling that turned reluctant readers into curious thinkers. Those chapters set the stage for a pivot shaped by years guiding expeditions on Mount Kilimanjaro, where shrinking glaciers are a visible line graph. Up high, we connect climate science to coffee agronomy: why Arabica prefers cool, elevated zones; how caffeine works as a natural pesticide; and what rising temperatures mean for sweetness, bitterness, and farm viability.
From there, we land in Vero for practical reasons and a gut feeling. The mangroves offer hurricane shelter; a fast power cat can sprint when the forecast turns sharp. With overhead tight, we build a startup the deliberate way: wholesale first, retail second, and education always. You’ll hear how air roasting strips chaff mid-crack to lower perceived acidity and coax cleaner flavors, why a washed Ethiopian can bloom with citrus while a Brazilian natural leans chocolate and nutty, and how simple brew tweaks—grind size, water chemistry, time—unlock sweetness at home. Along the way, a cruisers’ network, a Canadian friend with a hatchback full of Amazon boxes, and a welcoming marina bus line quietly knit a new life.
It’s a story about curiosity that refuses to quit. The ocean taught us patience and attention; coffee rewards the same traits. If you’re into travel, science, or just better mornings, you’ll find threads to pull—climate insights, sourcing choices, roast logic, and the community that forms when you roast for others. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves both maps and mugs, and leave a review with the best cup you’ve had lately—we might feature it next time.
Presented by Killer Bee Marketing
Helping local businesses in Vero Beach connect with their neighbors.
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