Coffee shops have become a commodity in many ways. There are a few cafes with distinct qualities making them unique, but generally they’re pretty much all the same. An 18 year old high school graduate took that presupposition and directly challenged it.

In a small town in upstate New York, Nick Furnia takes his love of coffee to the next level. Furnia began by opening a small shop, Nomad Coffee & Crepes, selling espresso drinks, matcha, and chai, along with a selection of RTD coffee. Working out of a 200 square foot building he and his father built, Furnia’s shop offers an intentional intimacy with the customers. He does this by using a custom bar built to accommodate for numerous pour over devices and connecting with customers as they wait for their coffee. The location of this shop is key. It sits within just a few miles from his former high school, making it a convenient stop for students and staff on their way to and from the school.

Nick does more than just offer “the world’s best cup of coffee”. He pursues potential customers by bringing his products to them. Just 3 months after graduating, Furnia came back to the halls of his high school, only this time with boxes of cold brew in hand. Selling his product door to door was risky, as he could have easily been removed from the building and effectively damaging his reputation. This risk ended up leading Nomad Coffee & Crepes to having an outstanding product quality and customer orientation and the school continues to welcome him as he enters. He sells to students, staff, and whomever he may see in between.

I think this business is unique to set itself apart from other cafes through it’s involvement in the community, quality of product, and drive to be successful.