Cat & Cloud Podcast

Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/

The World of Coffee Reflection: Observations, Stories, and Lots of Love for the Community of Coffee - Ep #447

In this episode, Chris, Casey, and Director of Coffee Marc Gessler, recap World of Coffee San Diego 2026: the caffeine overload, the booth shifts, the reunions, the strange travel moments, and the bigger feeling of being part of the global coffee community. What starts with jokes about over-caffeination turns into a thoughtful reflection on why events like this matter—not just for products or trends, but for connection. The crew talks about Cat & Cloud’s place in the larger coffee ecosystem, the rise of home coffee enthusiasts, the continued importance of hospitality, and how meaningful it is to see people from all corners of the industry gather around a shared passion. It’s part event recap, part coffee culture reflection, and part reminder that this industry is really about people.

Chapters 

00:00 Over-Caffeinated at World of Coffee


04:00 Morning Coffee, Energy, and Showing Up


08:00 First Expo Memories and Changing Goals


13:00 Casey’s First World of Coffee Experience


18:00 Memorable Conversations and Cat & Cloud Connections


23:00 Booth Life, Dialing In, and Serving at Expo


29:00 Hospitality as the Bigger Conversation


34:00 How World of Coffee Has Changed


39:00 Home Coffee Enthusiasts and Prosumer Gear


45:00 Big Trends, Big Setups, and Coffee as a Hobby


50:00 Team Energy, Partners, and Community


55:00 Weird Travel Moments and San Diego Stories


Cat & Cloud:

Webstore www.catandcloud.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/

Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions

Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale

Links –

The Truth! Colombia Truji y Angelita Thermal Shock Natural https://catandcloud.com/products/colombia-truji-y-angelita-thermal-shock-natural

Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first.

Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them. 

The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations. 

Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby

Produced by Casey Ryan

April 2026

Cat & Cloud Podcast

Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/

Coffee and a Danish Barista Champion, Christopher Hoff - Ep #446

Summary:

In this episode, Jared and Casey sit down with Danish Barista Champion Christopher Hoff, a top-six finisher at the World Barista Championships, to talk about competition, coffee, and the deeper story behind both. Christopher shares how his world routine centered on the coffee variety Wush Wush, a tropical and complex coffee that became a metaphor for his own journey of trying to become something he wasn’t before learning to compete from a more grounded, authentic place. The conversation moves from signature drinks and competition strategy into bigger reflections on storytelling, hospitality, personal growth, and how coffee professionals can invite people into new experiences instead of gatekeeping them. It’s a thoughtful, wide-ranging episode about craft, identity, and what it means to share something meaningful through coffee. Cat & Cloud celebrates this relationship to the world community of coffee and our desire to connect with friends from around the globe.

Chapters

00:00 Welcoming Christopher Hoff to Cat & Cloud

03:20 What Barista Competition Actually Looks Like

09:10 Breaking Down the Signature Drink

13:00 Wush Wush and the Coffee Behind the Routine

20:00 The Three Principles and the Meaning of the Presentation

26:00 Competition Pressure, Overthinking, and Performing Authentically

32:00 Discovering Coffee Through Cat & Cloud and Coffee Collective

38:00 Denmark vs. California Coffee Culture

42:00 Hospitality, Encouraging Taste, and Bringing People In

45:00 The Community of Coffee

Cat & Cloud:

Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/

Webstore www.catandcloud.com/

Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions

Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale

Links –

The Truth! Colombia Truji y Angelita Thermal Shock Natural https://catandcloud.com/products/colombia-truji-y-angelita-thermal-shock-natural

Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first.

Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them. 

The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations. 

Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby

Produced by Casey Ryan

April 2026

Cat & Cloud Podcast

Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com

Taking Care of the Pack w/Leah Wolff in HR - Ep #445

Summary:

In this episode, the team sits down with Head of HR Leah Wolff to explore what it really looks like to build people, culture, and leadership inside a growing coffee company. Leah shares her journey from starting as a concierge during the pandemic to stepping into an executive leadership role, offering a candid look at how growth happens through ownership, feedback, and continuous learning. The conversation digs into the difference between traditional HR and a more human, culture-driven approach—covering hiring, training, communication, and the realities of managing a transient workforce. Along the way, they unpack how strong values, intentional onboarding, and honest conversations can shape not just better employees, but better people.

Chapters:

00:00 Meet Leah Wolf and Casey Ryan

04:30 Leah’s Journey from Concierge to Head of HR

10:00 Knowing When You’re Ready to Lead

15:30 Feedback, Directness, and Learning to Communicate

21:00 Orientation, Training, and Setting the Tone

27:00 Hiring for Values and Cultural Fit

33:00 The Challenge of Staffing a Cafe Business

39:00 How Cat & Cloud Built Better HR Systems

45:00 Advice for Small Business Owners Hiring Their Team

51:00 Team Chemistry, Standards, and Accountability

57:00 Why Clear Expectations Matter

1:01:30 Gratitudes and Final Thoughts

Cat & Cloud:

Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/

Webstore www.catandcloud.com/

Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions

Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale

Links –

The Truth! Colombia Truji y Angelita Thermal Shock Natural

https://catandcloud.com/products/colombia-truji-y-angelita-thermal-shock-natural

Jared Truby Interview

https://youtu.be/KaTFcHxjumk?si=wlTAbJ7ZCvZleM7B

Jared Truby Zine

https://www.flipsnack.com/965BBFD6AED/letter-to-young-coffee-owners-issue-with-jared-truby

Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first.

Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them. 

The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations. 

Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby

Produced by Casey Ryan

April 2026

Cat & Cloud Podcast 

Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/

What We Think Matters vs. What Actually Matters w/ Chris and Casey - Ep# 444 

This episode opens with an introduction to Casey Ryan—his background in filmmaking and eventually as an independent school principal, and how he found his way into Cat & Cloud—but quickly shifts into a deeper conversation about hospitality, coffee culture, and business. At the center is the question of what guests actually care about versus what coffee professionals think they care about, leading to a thoughtful breakdown of service, empathy, and meeting people where they are. Chris reflects on the tension between passion and practicality in specialty coffee, how to build excitement without overwhelming people, and why creating a welcoming, human experience ultimately matters more than showcasing expertise.

Chapters

00:00 Casey Ryan’s Path from Education to Cat & Cloud

08:00 What Guests Care About vs What We Think They Care About

17:00 Passion vs. Business in Specialty Coffee

22:00 Santa Cruz, Coffee Culture, and Meeting People Where They Are

29:00 Service as Soft Skill, Performance, and Human Connection

29:00 Training, Teaching, Enthusiasm and Not Overloading People

40:00 Coffee Curiosity, Guest Journeys, and No Gatekeeping

47:30 Gratitude for Team

Cat & Cloud:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/

Webstore: Buy Our Coffee! www.catandcloud.com/

Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions

Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale

Links –

Cafe Imports Event at World of Coffee: Moderated by Chris Baca

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/source-where-do-we-go-from-here-tickets-1983895046489

The Truth! Colombia Truji y Angelita Thermal Shock Natural 

https://catandcloud.com/products/colombia-truji-y-angelita-thermal-shock-natural

Jared Truby Zine

https://www.flipsnack.com/965BBFD6AED/letter-to-young-coffee-owners-issue-with-jared-truby

World of Coffee/SCA

https://usa.worldofcoffee.org/

Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first.

Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them. 

The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations. 

Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby

Produced by Casey Ryan

April 2026

Cat & Cloud Podcast 

Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/

Coffee Futures Fund: Community and Support for Emerging Coffee Shop Owners - Ep# 443

Summary

In this episode, the crew sits down with Akshat Khandelwal, founder of Coffee Futures Fund, to unpack the reality of coffee shop ownership—and why so many founders struggle in silence. Drawing from conversations with hundreds of operators, Akshat shares how the industry has focused heavily on product quality while overlooking the people behind the bar. The conversation explores loneliness in ownership, the myth of “figuring it out alone,” and how mentorship, community, and shared experience can dramatically shift outcomes for emerging shop owners. From funding models to values-driven leadership, this episode highlights a growing movement to support independent coffee businesses in a more human, connected way.

Chapters

00:00 Akshat’s Origin Story and Why Coffee Pulled Him In

08:00 Why So Many Coffee Shop Owners Said “Don’t Do It”

16:00 From Romantic Dream to Coffee Futures Fund

24:00 Building a Village: Mentorship, Community, and Capital

32:00 Why Coffee Shop Owners Feel Isolated

40:00 Values, Clarity, and What Makes a Cafe Actually Matter

48:00 How the Cohort Works: Goals, Mentors, and Growth

56:00 Funding Without Equity: A Different Way to Support Shops

1:04:00 Letters to Young Coffee Shop Owners and the Future of Coffee Futures Fund

Cat & Cloud:

Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/

Webstore www.catandcloud.com/

Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions

Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale

Links –

The Truth!

Colombia Truji y Angelita Thermal Shock Natural 

https://catandcloud.com/products/colombia-truji-y-angelita-thermal-shock-natural

Coffee Futures Fund:

Jared Truby Interview

https://youtu.be/KaTFcHxjumk?si=wlTAbJ7ZCvZleM7B

Jared Truby Zine

https://www.flipsnack.com/965BBFD6AED/letter-to-young-coffee-owners-issue-with-jared-truby

Roundtable Event

https://coffeefutures.fund/Roundtable.html

World of Coffee/SCA

https://usa.worldofcoffee.org/

Cafe Imports

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/source-where-do-we-go-from-here-tickets-1983895046489

Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first.

Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them. 

The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations. 

Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby

Produced by Casey Ryan

March 2026

Cat & Cloud Podcast 

Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/

Monday Morning Coffee Industry Check-in - Ep #442

Summary

In this episode, Chris, Jared and Casey cover a wide mix of coffee-industry updates, behind-the-scenes projects, and big-picture reflections on what makes specialty coffee compelling. They preview upcoming events including a Bay Area roundtable with Coffee Futures Fund, their plans for World of Coffee in San Diego, and Chris’s upcoming Cafe Imports panel focused on the real challenges business owners are facing right now. The conversation also dives into the design and philosophy behind the new third version of the Chris Baca Dial Tamper, exploring how tools can become expressions of craft, ritual, and identity. From there, they wander into a thoughtful discussion about trade shows, coffee culture, Blue Bottle’s evolution under corporate ownership, and the tension between hospitality, scale, authenticity, and business reality—while still keeping the whole thing loose, funny, and very Monday-morning Cat & Cloud.

Chapters

00:00 Coffee Futures Roundtable on Cafe Business Ownership

06:00 World of Coffee in San Diego: Why This Year Feels Big

10:00 Chris’s Cafe Imports Panel: Less PR, More Reality

15:00 The Third Dial Tamper and the Beauty of Overbuilt Tools                           

26:45 Why Coffee Gear and Design Geek Out

35:00 Blue Bottle, Big Business, and the Arc of a Brand

40:00 Nestle, Specialty Coffee and Cafes

Cat & Cloud:

Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/

Webstore www.catandcloud.com/

Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions

Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale

Links:

Coffee Futures Fund: Jared Truby Zine

https://www.flipsnack.com/965BBFD6AED/letter-to-young-coffee-owners-issue-with-jared-truby

Coffee Futures Fund: Roundtable Event

https://coffeefutures.fund/Roundtable.html

World of Coffee/SCA

https://usa.worldofcoffee.org/

Cafe Imports

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/source-where-do-we-go-from-here-tickets-1983895046489

Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first.

Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them. 

The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations. 

Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby

Produced by Casey Ryan

March 2026

Cat & Cloud Podcast 

Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/

Finding Joy in Every Season of Work: Part II – Ep #441

Summary

In part two of this conversation on finding joy in every season of work, the team (Chris, Jared and Casey) digs deeper into the shift from barista life into leadership, ownership, and building something that lasts. Chris and Jared reflect on how early work experiences, both inspiring and dysfunctional, shaped the kinds of leaders they wanted to become and reinforced the importance of community, fun, and genuine human connection in coffee. The episode explores how easy it is for owners and leaders to lose sight of the original passion that got them started, especially under the pressure of business realities, but argues that joy can still be created intentionally through trust, teamwork, better systems, gratitude, and a commitment to improving the experience for both staff, guests and for yourself. Ultimately, it’s a conversation about staying connected to purpose, remembering where you came from, having gratitude, and building workplaces where success and joy are not enemies.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome Back: Finding Joy in Every Season (Part 2)

4:00 The Transition from Barista to Leadership

11:00 Early Lessons from Tough Work Environments

20:00 Creating Culture Through Energy and Hospitality

30:00 When Business Pressure Steals the Joy

36:30 In a Tough Season of Business Ownership, Where to Next?

41:00 Where Did You Come From? Where Did You Go?

46:45 What Still Fires Us Up Today

Cat & Cloud:

Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/

Webstore www.catandcloud.com/

Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions

Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale

Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first.

Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them. 

The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations. 

Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby

Produced by Casey Ryan

March 2026

Cat & Cloud Podcast 

Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/

Finding Joy in Every Season of Work: Part I – Ep #440

Summary

In this episode, Chris and Jared (plus Casey) reflect on the early days that pulled us into specialty coffee and how those experiences shaped the work we’re still doing today. From skateboarding friendships and barista competitions to building cafés and leading teams, we talk about how the things that bring joy evolve over time. As careers grow and responsibilities expand, the work changes—and sometimes the parts you loved most become harder to hold onto. We explore the idea that every season of life and business brings different sources of meaning, and that part of the real work is finding the through lines that keep the joy alive. This conversation looks back at where it all started while asking an ongoing question: how do you stay connected to the things that made you love the work in the first place?

Chapters

00:00 – Missing the Old Days: Skate Culture, Community, and the Idea of “a Place”


05:00 – What Attracted you to Coffee and the Industry?


10:30 – Origin and Drive Around Being a Competitive Barista


15:00 – Competition, Connection, and Energy


20:00 – Competitions as a Frontier of New Ideas, and Judging

27:10 -- Barista Origins and Attitudes in the Business DNA Today


31:00 – Competition and Competition Evolution

38:00 – Transitioning to Career Focus

40:45 – Moving Forward and End of Part 1

Cat & Cloud:

Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/

Webstore www.catandcloud.com/

Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions

Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale

Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first.

Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them. 

The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations. 

Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby

Produced by Casey Ryan

March 2026

Cat & Cloud Podcast 

Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/

On-Stage, Off-Stage: Why Owners Stand in Line (And Other Hospitality Go’s & No-Go’s) – Ep #439

Summary

In this episode, Jared, Chris, and Casey riff on authenticity and then dig into hospitality as “on-stage vs off-stage” work—treating a café like a live performance where everything guests see, hear, and feel (cleanliness, order, smell, noise, staff energy) shapes the experience before they even taste the coffee. They unpack “clubhousing” as a major no-go—when staff get lost in their own conversations or tasks and fail to include guests—and argue that the goal isn’t robotic service but a shared framework that helps people be more present and human. A key leadership practice is cafe/restaurant owners standing in line and experiencing the business like a guest to spot friction and keep perspective. Chris closes with his biggest hospitality deal-breakers: letting the register conversation drag while a line builds, ignoring “hovering” guests who need help, and creating perceived unavailability—because being seen and acknowledged is often the difference between a tense room and a great one.

Chapters

00:00 Cold Open

05:00 On-stage vs off-stage behavior in service

08:00 First impressions: cleanliness, orderliness, and “do they care?”

17:30 Club Housing: what it is and why it’s toxic to guest experience

26:30 Loving something vs Loving it and acts of service

30:30 Leadership Habits: Witness user touch-points, and Standing in Line

36:40 Remember to Place yourself in Guest Mindset

42:40 Hot Takes and Hospitality No Goes!

46:45 Perceived unavailability + the easiest fix: acknowledge people

52:30 Strong Opinions matched with Empathy and a Growth Mindset

Cat & Cloud:

Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/

Webstore www.catandcloud.com/

Roasters Choice Subscription www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions

Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Become a Wholesale Partner!

Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale

Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first.

Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them. 

The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations. 

Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby

Produced by Casey Ryan

Feb 2026

Cat & Cloud Podcast

Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/

Specialty Coffee Ambassador: Meeting Guests Where They Are - Ep# 438

EPISODE SUMMARY

Chris, Jared, and Casey dig into a classic specialty coffee problem: the gap between

“coffee nerd language” and what customers actually need to have a great experience.

They unpack why trust and hospitality come before origin stories and point scores, and

how to guide people with simple, confidence-building choices instead of overwhelm.

Along the way they riff on the limits of the 80+ point mindset, why the market ultimately

decides what’s valuable, and how cafés can create “stair steps” that help guests level up

over time. The thesis is simple: make it welcoming, make it relatable, and help people

win on their first step.

CHAPTER TITLES

00:00 Cold Open: Fruit and Chocolate, and Casey on the Mic

05:00 Scrum Boards and the “Smallest Viable” Way to Improve

15:00 Sharing in Specialty Coffee: Engage and Build Trust

21:00 It’s a Party not a Club. Welcoming others into Specialty Coffee

26:00 Specialty Scores, Coffee Assessment, and What “Value” Really Means

35:00 Specialty Coffee Industry Shifts

45:00 Knowing and Responding to the Guest

Cat & Cloud:

Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/

Webstore www.catandcloud.com/

We LOVE our Wholesale Partners! Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn

more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/pages/wholesale

Links –

The Home of Scrum: scrum.org

Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time - by Jeffrey Sutherland and J.J. Sutherland (book)

Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and

connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they

envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that

put culture first.

Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with

guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners

across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them.

The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee

and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven

organizations.

Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby

Produced by: Casey Ryan

Feb. 2026