Cat & Cloud Podcast

This week we look back on nine years of Cat & Cloud. From our earliest days roasting out of borrowed spaces to opening our first café on Portola, we reflect on what it took to build something from nothing—loans, late nights, quirky beginnings, and the people who believed in us along the way. It’s equal parts nostalgia and gratitude, a chance to appreciate how far we’ve come while remembering the scrappy energy that got us started. At the heart of it, this conversation is about growth and evolution. What begins as direct, hands-on creativity eventually becomes leadership, systems, and scaling while still trying to keep the magic alive. We talk about the joys and challenges of balancing small, personal touches with the realities of running a larger business, and what it means to keep creating something fresh after nearly a decade. 🔖 Chapters – 00:00 Street Fighter 03:06 Going back into time 05:54 Financial Foundation 07:56 Early coffees of Cat & Cloud 10:57 More early milestones 12:37 I’m just a baby 17:10 Reflections on the early team 25:41 How things grew 35:01 Commitment to what you’re doing 🔗 Links – Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Chris Baca’s Personal Blog: www.chrisbaca.com/ We are Cat & Cloud Coffee. Started by three friends trying to pursue their passions with the mission to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences, and we created this podcast to continue forming those connections inside and out of our cafes. The Cat & Cloud podcast was created as a space for us to share our experiences in the coffee industry and starting a business. Each week we sit down to talk about new challenges as business owners, how we utilize our mission and values to make decisions, and answer questions from our listening community. If you’re looking to expand your coffee knowledge, get some advice for your own small business, or just like the vibes, give us a listen! Enjoy!

Crafting A Class – Working to take our coffee education to the next level by Cat & Cloud

This week we’re hanging out with Kevin and Dulce, owners of Bevel Coffee. We get into their journey of owning a coffee company. How it came from a negative business experience that over time and hard work has grown into an opportunity that fosters life in a community. Ultimately their story shines a light on the power of connections, and what’s possible by showing up and asking questions. They are rad people doing great things! Check it out. 🔖 Chapters – 02:42 Hey Hello 04:30 The Story of Bevel coffee 30:51 Where do you find support 38:37 Considering yourself a professional 47:26 We're all in this together 54:22 being ready for what comes next 1:05:35 Connections with Honduras 1:17:55 Opening plans 1:20:39 Takeaways 🔗 Links – Bevel Coffee: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bevelcoffee/ Website https://bevelcoffee.com/ Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Chris Baca’s Personal Blog: www.chrisbaca.com/ We are Cat & Cloud Coffee. Started by three friends trying to pursue their passions with the mission to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences, and we created this podcast to continue forming those connections inside and out of our cafes. The Cat & Cloud podcast was created as a space for us to share our experiences in the coffee industry and starting a business. Each week we sit down to talk about new challenges as business owners, how we utilize our mission and values to make decisions, and answer questions from our listening community. If you’re looking to expand your coffee knowledge, get some advice for your own small business, or just like the vibes, give us a listen! Enjoy!

This week we talk about fame—how it shapes perception in both pop culture and coffee. From the awkwardness of Will Smith trying to rap again to Hacienda Esmeralda’s Geisha selling for record prices at Best of Panama, we dig into how notoriety creates visibility, drives value, and raises the ceiling for everyone. Fame isn’t always comfortable, but it opens doors. Whether it’s an actor or a coffee producer, once you’re known, you change the market around you. Instead of resenting that spotlight, the challenge is to use it as inspiration—to shine light on others and expand what gets celebrated. 🔖 Chapters – 00:00 Will Smith - Hot or not 02:53 Hard to be famous 09:03 Best of Panama Auction results 10:28 The rediscovery of Gesha according to chris 11:49 What are people angry about 13:58 The issue with coffees that sell at auction 20:13 Are auction coffees really a problem? 🔗 Links – Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Chris Baca’s Personal Blog: www.chrisbaca.com/ We are Cat & Cloud Coffee. Started by three friends trying to pursue their passions with the mission to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences, and we created this podcast to continue forming those connections inside and out of our cafes. The Cat & Cloud podcast was created as a space for us to share our experiences in the coffee industry and starting a business. Each week we sit down to talk about new challenges as business owners, how we utilize our mission and values to make decisions, and answer questions from our listening community. If you’re looking to expand your coffee knowledge, get some advice for your own small business, or just like the vibes, give us a listen! Enjoy!

This week we talk about the idea of “plussing the show.” The practice of constantly reinvesting in your space so it feels alive, intentional, and cared for. From small design updates to preventative maintenance, we dig into how these choices impact not just the look of a café but also the energy of the team and the experience of every guest who walks in. At its core, the conversation is about showing your guests and team members that you’re paying attention. Cleanliness, organization, and little upgrades aren’t just details; they’re the signals that a business values quality, consistency, and care. And those signals, over time, become the real difference-maker. 🔖 Chapters – 00:09 Peet's under new ownership 04:27 Ritual’s 20 year reunion 08:21 Improving our space 11:20 Plussing the show 17:49 Lifecycle of a cafe 21:55 Plussing price tag 28:04 Key things to maintain 33:51 The power of a reach out 36:55 Baca's rant on espresso machine Cleanliness 🔗 Links – Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Chris Baca’s Personal Blog: www.chrisbaca.com/ We are Cat & Cloud Coffee. Started by three friends trying to pursue their passions with the mission to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences, and we created this podcast to continue forming those connections inside and out of our cafes. The Cat & Cloud podcast was created as a space for us to share our experiences in the coffee industry and starting a business. Each week we sit down to talk about new challenges as business owners, how we utilize our mission and values to make decisions, and answer questions from our listening community. If you’re looking to expand your coffee knowledge, get some advice for your own small business, or just like the vibes, give us a listen! Enjoy!

In this episode, we sit down with Nick Terzulli, VP of R&D at Fellow. Nick shares how his curiosity and persistence pulled him deeper into coffee culture—as a barista and a tinkerer, and eventually as the engineer behind Fellow’s iconic product, including the new Espresso Series 1. We dig into how engineering and coffee intersect, from the mysteries of burr geometry to challenges in espresso machine stability. At the heart of Nick’s story is a lesson in following passion over paycheck, learning by doing, and embracing failure as part of innovation. It’s a conversation about curiosity, persistence, and the joy of creating products that shape people’s daily coffee rituals. 🔖 Chapters – 00:00 intro 02:02 Nick’s background 11:46 Where the interest came from 14:05 Early career in coffee 20:18 The move to Fellow 25:28 Grinder rabithole 38:34 Espresso Series 1 52:58 What makes things happen 01:00:28 Seeing hard work pay off 🔗 Links – Fellow: Espresso Series 1 https://fellowproducts.com/products/espresso-series-1 Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Chris Baca’s Personal Blog: www.chrisbaca.com/ We are Cat & Cloud Coffee. Started by three friends trying to pursue their passions with the mission to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences, and we created this podcast to continue forming those connections inside and out of our cafes. The Cat & Cloud podcast was created as a space for us to share our experiences in the coffee industry and starting a business. Each week we sit down to talk about new challenges as business owners, how we utilize our mission and values to make decisions, and answer questions from our listening community. If you’re looking to expand your coffee knowledge, get some advice for your own small business, or just like the vibes, give us a listen! Enjoy!

This week, we dive into why learning from others is one of the fastest ways to grow. From drawing lessons out of brands like Disney to observing how peers structure their systems, it’s about finding insights that reveal blind spots and adapting them into something true to your own vision. The real value isn’t in copying but in connecting those ideas to your own culture and goals. Whether it’s another coffee shop, a global brand, or even a friend’s workflow, growth comes from taking what resonates and making it authentically yours. 🔖 Chapters – 00:36 A.I. tools at work 07:31 Living in Santa Cruz 21:00 Learning vs being told 🔗 Links – Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Chris Baca’s Personal Blog: www.chrisbaca.com/ We are Cat & Cloud Coffee. Started by three friends trying to pursue their passions with the mission to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences, and we created this podcast to continue forming those connections inside and out of our cafes. The Cat & Cloud podcast was created as a space for us to share our experiences in the coffee industry and starting a business. Each week we sit down to talk about new challenges as business owners, how we utilize our mission and values to make decisions, and answer questions from our listening community. If you’re looking to expand your coffee knowledge, get some advice for your own small business, or just like the vibes, give us a listen! Enjoy!

This week, Chuck and I dig into the recent Philz Coffee sale. We break down how venture capital and private equity deals actually work, why common stockholders often walk away with nothing, and the difference between preferred and common shares. We talk about how control shifts once big investors enter the picture, the influence of a board, and how decision-making can drift from a company’s original vision. We also explore the missed opportunity for Philz to take care of employees who invested their own money, even without a legal requirement to do so. From coffee companies as “brand pieces” for investment firms, to the challenges of scaling retail, we compare this sale to deals like Blue Bottle’s. It’s a conversation about money, ownership, and the choices that shape a company’s legacy. 🔖 Chapters – 01:07 Philz Sale 05:06 Common equity overview 10:50 Fluffy words 12:11 The start of philz 14:09 what is venture capital actually getting from cafe purchases 18:38 Philz sale vs Blue Bottle 22:25 Who's getting what and who should have 26:47 ​​Takeaways from this sale 🔗 Links – KQED Philz Article: https://www.kqed.org/news/12051278/no-layoffs-in-philz-coffee-sale-but-stock-owning-former-employees-will-lose-out SF Standard Article: https://sfstandard.com/2025/08/01/philz-coffee-sale-private-equity/ Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Chris Baca’s Personal Blog: www.chrisbaca.com/ We are Cat & Cloud Coffee. Started by three friends trying to pursue their passions with the mission to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences, and we created this podcast to continue forming those connections inside and out of our cafes. The Cat & Cloud podcast was created as a space for us to share our experiences in the coffee industry and starting a business. Each week we sit down to talk about new challenges as business owners, how we utilize our mission and values to make decisions, and answer questions from our listening community. If you’re looking to expand your coffee knowledge, get some advice for your own small business, or just like the vibes, give us a listen! Enjoy!

We cover a lot of ground in this episode — from mentorship and leadership growth to why having a group around you can be so helpful for personal and professional development. There’s also some fun in the mix, like breaking down the NBA salary cap and what it tells us about building sustainable teams, whether in sports or in business. We also rant a bit about mobile ordering and what it’s doing to the coffee experience. And we dream big — talking about storytelling, making documentaries, and chasing the kind of ideas that don’t always make sense on paper, but just feel right. 🔖 Chapters – 03:30 EO vs Vistage 13:49 Chucks insights on the NBA Salary cap 22:50 Chucks rant on mobile ordering 31:08 Bacas documentary idea 36:00 Jared going to honduras 🔗 Links – Entrepreneurs' Organization: Website www.eonetwork.org Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Chris Baca’s Personal Blog: www.chrisbaca.com/ We are Cat & Cloud Coffee. Started by three friends trying to pursue their passions with the mission to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences, and we created this podcast to continue forming those connections inside and out of our cafes. The Cat & Cloud podcast was created as a space for us to share our experiences in the coffee industry and starting a business. Each week we sit down to talk about new challenges as business owners, how we utilize our mission and values to make decisions, and answer questions from our listening community. If you’re looking to expand your coffee knowledge, get some advice for your own small business, or just like the vibes, give us a listen! Enjoy!

This episode’s more like a stream of consciousness as we go through all the open tabs in our brain than a polished takeaway. We talk about experimenting with roast curves, the balance between juicy acidity and sweetness, and the challenge of making something expressive yet approachable. We touch on espresso ratios, brewing methods, and how taste perception can be wildly different depending on so many variables. We round out the conversation by getting into the Best Friends Club — our hope to expand it beyond our walls without being the gatekeepers. It’s an exciting open tab for us, and we’re dreaming big. Casual Friday energy all the way. We’re tired, inspired, and figuring it out in real time. 🔖 Chapters – 01:16 Visiting mahlköenig in Seattle 04:30 Coffee development 10:45 Coffee for you 21:35 Current events at Cat & Cloud 28:26 The Best Friends Club expansion with Honduras 🔗 Links – Cat & Cloud: Instagram www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ Webstore www.catandcloud.com/ Chris Baca’s Personal Blog: www.chrisbaca.com/ We are Cat & Cloud Coffee. Started by three friends trying to pursue their passions with the mission to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences, and we created this podcast to continue forming those connections inside and out of our cafes. The Cat & Cloud podcast was created as a space for us to share our experiences in the coffee industry and starting a business. Each week we sit down to talk about new challenges as business owners, how we utilize our mission and values to make decisions, and answer questions from our listening community. If you’re looking to expand your coffee knowledge, get some advice for your own small business, or just like the vibes, give us a listen! Enjoy!