Day 28 of Gratitude - Fortezza Coffee
31 Days of Gratitude - In an attempt to publicly express my gratitude for the people that have impacted me in some way in 2015, I'm setting out to write one post a day sharing what I appreciate about them or what moment that marked me. Some of these people I know well, some I've only met, and some I'm just getting to know. There is no ranking to these posts and they aren't meant to put anyone on a pedestal. They, like you and I, are imperfect people with their own flaws, some you may have experienced. Despite those flaws, I believe we all need to have our positive characteristics called into light and celebrated. This is that attempt.
I've spend so much time, and money, at Fortezza this year and I've not regretted it at all. When I started at NL, we had no office and I did all my work out of Starbucks and a home office I built. As NL matured and grew, we got an office space, but I can't stand spending more than a few hours in there every day. I need a coffee shop environment where there is a buzz of people, great coffee, and some social & relational interactions with people.
Starbucks served that purpose for a lot of years for me, but when Fortezza opened, it changed it all. This local coffee shop is unlike any other local coffee shop in my opinion and one of the main drivers of that for me is their actual coffee, not their ability to make espresso drinks. I'm not sure what it is, but so many other local coffee shops I go to, the regular black coffee is an after thought shoved on the counter in an air pot. I just don't want to go pay a premium for a cup of coffee that's not good because I don't drink lattes all that often. Fortezza cares as much about their coffee as they do an espresso drink, which isn't really about coffee for me, it's about the attention to their craft and their business. It's the care towards the lowest transaction cost as much as it is to the highest transaction. I like spending money at places that care about the small things as much as they care about the big things.
Beyond the goods, the people are great and it's what makes any "3rd place" hangout for folks. It's refreshing to come to places several times a week and know the people working there while being welcomed back every day as I take up my spot at the front window.
Fortezza, I'm grateful for your entrepreneurial spirit, warm atmosphere, commitment to the small things, and gracious spirits. I hope I've been as good of a customer as you have been a host. Thanks for making a great cup of coffee that ruins about any other cup of coffee for me. Mission Accomplished.
