Welcome back to La Taza Habla, the podcast celebrating 20 years of specialty coffee stories! In this powerful episode, we sit down with Don Cox, a man whose coffee roasting journey is a testament to extraordinary small business resilience and unwavering faith. Don recounts a staggering series of setbacks, from an economic collapse in '08 and losing his entire operation to an arsonist in 2016, to the ultimate test: a catastrophic hurricane/flood that left his business decimated, with mud 10 feet high.

Learn the incredible survival story of how Don kept the bean to cup dream alive. When his city’s utilities were destroyed, he improvised, rolling a small six-pound drum roaster mounted on an Amish cart onto his porch, running it entirely off propane. This episode explores how, through personal health scares and environmental disasters, Don’s determination and commitment to the perfect roast allowed his business to not just survive but grow. Discover the power of community support, faith, and using "what's in your hands" to conquer any obstacle.

Improvise with Existing Assets: When faced with complete utility failure, the solution wasn't a new machine, but a small, propane-run six-pound drum roaster already on-site. The lesson: don't wait for perfection; use what you have.

Faith as a Business Anchor: Don stresses that his personal faith was the central pillar allowing him to remain focused, make clear decisions, and avoid being overwhelmed by monumental setbacks like arson and a devastating flood.

Disaster is an Opportunity to Be Better: Instead of viewing the loss as a final failure, the disasters were reframed as chances to restart, rebuild, and ultimately improve the specialty coffee operation from the ground up.

Community Support is Critical: The notes and prayers from the community were not just kind gestures; they were vital morale boosters that gave the mental energy needed to keep moving and not give up.

Prioritize Mental and Physical Health: Dealing with extreme stress (from business loss to a heart scare) requires attention to mind, body, and soul—a necessary approach for any entrepreneur in a long-term, high-stakes fight for survival.

What's the biggest setback your business or personal goal has faced, and what was your "six-pound drum on an Amish cart" solution?

Don mentioned the arson and the flood were "opportunities to be better." Do you agree that disaster can lead to growth, and how have you experienced this?

Don relies on his faith for resilience. What non-financial anchor (philosophy, family, community) do you lean on during a crisis?