Military members know a thing or two about coffee. Whether they’re staying up late for duty or waking up early for formation, there is always a pot of coffee brewing to get through the day.
So it seemed like a great fit when husband-and-wife team Katina and Brandon (Army, 18 years of service and counting) co-founded American Force Coffee in 2018. Together, they are the driving force behind this growing business with a rich backstory.
Their story…
The story begins in Guatemala, where Katina was born and raised, surrounded by the aroma of coffee beans on local farms. Little did she know that her upbringing around coffee would eventually lead to a unique business venture.
As a college student at the Savannah College of Art and Design (where she met Brandon who was stationed nearby), she didn’t want to pay Starbucks prices for her daily coffee, so she started bringing Guatemalan coffee back with her when she would visit her family.
Friends began to request bags of coffee from Guatemala, which Katina happily brought back for her friends as gifts. As word of their coffee spread, Katina and Brandon pivoted from their successful apparel company to concentrate more on coffee as a business. And so American Force Coffee was created, which now serves both wholesale clients and coffee subscriptions. Coffee is sold as whole beans, three choices of ground coffee (drip, espresso, or French press), or coffee pods.
Coffee experts
One aspect of the coffee business that many people may not realize is the expertise required in sourcing quality beans. Katina’s brother, who lives in Guatemala, is the company’s “boots on the ground.” He visits the farms, ensuring the beans meet the highest standards of quality. Their coffee is considered “specialty grade,” a distinction with even more stringent criteria than organic standards.
When someone orders coffee from American Force Coffee, the process is personally and carefully handled, mostly by Katina. The coffee beans arrive from Guatemala still green to preserve freshness, and they are roasted to order in Baltimore. The average coffee order is dispatched within 24-48 hours of the order being placed. Katina likes to include handwritten notes with every order. “It connects people,” she says.
The Military Life
Running a business as a military family comes with unique challenges and joys, especially with two young kids. Katina notes that the military community provides a sense of belonging unlike any other. She says, “Once you find a tribe, the possibilities are endless. The military community is all in the same boat, but once you connect in the community, it makes it so much better.”
Other military friends have helped to promote the business on social media, as well as help Katina process large orders on occasion.
What’s Next?
Looking ahead, they are working on a rebrand to “celebrate the everyday American, anyone who gets up and goes to work” which, Katina adds, is where the name of the brand comes from– the American workforce.
The longer-term goal is to establish a coffee shop that roasts beans on-site, an exciting project they plan to undertake after her husband transitions out of the military.
Katina says the Annapolis community has warmly embraced their coffee venture. She says, “I’m so excited I get to do this work. I love it.” Their company is a testament to the hard work and dedication of military members, both deployed and in the community.
As a special offer to readers, you can use the promo code “AnnapolisMoms” for 15% off your order so you can try a cup of American Force Coffee for yourself!
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