Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholas Reimer.
Hi Nicholas, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey with coffee began in 2016 at a local coffee shop in Orange Park, Florida. I started out working in the deli area, but that changed when I watched a friend and coworker create incredible latte art. It immediately caught my attention. I had never seen anything like it in person, and I knew I had to try it for myself. My first attempt was a mess—but I kept practicing until I started creating something I could be proud of. Around that same time, I brewed my first pour-over, and the flavor notes I experienced completely changed how I viewed coffee.
Later that year, I officially moved into a barista role and spent the next four to five years refining my skills. I participated in latte art throwdowns (coming close to winning more than once) and truly fell in love with the craft. During this time, I met my wife—who also worked at the coffee shop—and we later got married. As we started our life together, financial responsibilities led me to pursue trade school for aviation maintenance. I completed the program but didn’t move forward with testing for my A&P license due to how difficult it was. That experience did, however, lead me to my current full-time job in a different industry.
Still, my love for coffee never faded. I continued brewing at home and remained deeply connected to the community. Around this time, the same friend who had first inspired me with latte art became a roaster for a different local coffee shop. I would often visit him at the roastery, sitting in on cupping sessions, experimenting with roast profiles, and learning about origin characteristics like elevation, soil type, moisture content, and processing methods. That experience introduced me to the world of roasting—and that’s when I truly began experimenting with it myself. The more I learned, the more I realized that coffee wasn’t just a hobby—it had become a lifestyle and creative outlet for me.
In 2021 or 2022, I also earned my real estate license, which I still maintain today. During that time, I began roasting at home and eventually started selling coffee beans to coworkers. That small initiative gained momentum and led to the creation of Reimer Coffee Company. What started with home roasting and a few local customers evolved into vendor markets, store displays, and an e-commerce presence.
After our first year in business, my wife, both of my parents, and I decided to take the next big step. Reimer Coffee Company became a full family operation. At the end of last month, we secured our first commercial space and are now working through the legal and setup processes to prepare for inspections, a soft opening, and eventually our official launch.
This journey has been shaped by persistence, passion, and family. With our second child on the way and a loyal customer base behind us, we’re filled with gratitude for the support we’ve received from our local community. We’re excited for what’s ahead as we continue to grow and serve coffee that’s rooted in quality from origin to cup!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Some of the key challenges we’ve faced include maintaining organization—something that has gradually improved—as well as building brand awareness and growing our social media presence, which remains a work in progress. Managing inventory has also been a consistent hurdle due to the financial demands of purchasing equipment, covering commercial space fees, and other operational expenses. Additionally, there have been occasional supply issues with our green coffee sources, making it difficult to consistently stock specific beans we aim to keep available. Our goal has always been to offer three to four distinct coffees at any given time, but due to cost constraints, we’ve only been able to maintain about half of that inventory so far.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Although I trained in aviation maintenance, I didn’t complete the final testing required for the A&P license. That journey, however, led me to my current position as an Aircraft Worker supporting the U.S. Navy’s fleet of P-8 aircraft. In this role, I conduct ground-level inspections to identify abnormalities, coordinate with maintenance teams for necessary repairs, and assist with aircraft movement, including launch and recovery operations.
Outside of aviation, my passion for coffee continues to grow. Once my coworkers found out I was a former barista and now roast coffee through my business, I quickly became known as “the coffee guy” around the site. I’m often asked about coffee origins, drink types, and brew recommendations. More recently, I’ve begun experimenting with bottling one of my favorite drinks—cold brew—which I hope to introduce once our commercial operations are fully underway. The response so far has been incredibly positive, even from the toughest critics—my customers.
Just yesterday, I met with a new customer for a local drop-off. She purchased a bag of our whole bean Medium Roast Ethiopia Yirgacheffe. Not long after, she sent a message directly to our business page on Facebook, saying:
“100/10 This is the best bean I have tasted by Far!!”
That kind of feedback—especially from someone we had just met—was incredibly encouraging and reminded me why I’m so committed to this journey.
I also hold a real estate license, though I’m currently inactive in that industry while focusing on my full-time job, family, and building Reimer Coffee Company. What I’m most proud of is finally taking my passion seriously and turning it into a business I get to grow alongside my wife, children, and parents. It’s rewarding to build something that not only brings people joy but also brings our family closer together.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is probably when my dad took me to get my first professional skateboard and then drove me out to Fernandina Beach to try it out at the skatepark. I didn’t know how to do anything on a board yet except an ollie, but I truly was inspired to get good at skateboarding watching those that were good on their boards.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://reimercoffeecompany.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reimercoffeecompany?igsh=ZTNrNW95azFqcXhn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16TNBW9tNE/
