Meet Cameron Waggener | Coffeeman

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cameron Waggener and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cameron, what principle do you value most?
I don’t want to be like anyone else and I don’t want to do what anyone else is doing. I like to joke that it’s almost a phobia.

I started developing this fierce feeling of individuality 10 years ago when I left my hometown’s suburban bubble and headed off to the city for undergrad. All my life I felt different; a late bloomer who was dropped by different groups of childhood friends, heading off to Washington, DC with the cliche “clean slate”. 3 years later, I had started a small business selling coffee on the city streets with no industry experience, no business classes, and no upfront capital. With no predictable revenue and natural elements barraging my little sidewalk cart each day, it was difficult at first. But, being a tiny cart in the middle of a S***bucks-fueled metroplex gave me an exciting feeling of individuality and, with each passing morning, that feeling grew.

As I grew my operation over the next few years, opportunities presented themselves to sell my coffee in grocery stores, other cafes, or through brick and mortar shops. However tempting, I would ask myself “Has this been done before?” and invariably the answer would be “Yes”. So, the choice was clear, I knew that my destiny lay in the unknown, the unthought of, and the undone.

Today, Cam’s Kettle Coffee Club provides a uniquely special coffee journey from the lands of our Latin American farm partners directly to your door. Each night, I rest easy knowing that I am doing something that no one else has done.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Cam’s Kettle Coffee Club has blended the convenience of monthly coffee deliveries with the personal touch of a community where unique stories are told and real impact is made in the lives of our coffee farm partners.

We took inspiration from our farmer’s market roots to create a personal coffee program where members feel connected to something real.

I learned that you have to value each member the same whether you have 20 or 200. That may seem easier said than done, I am referring to actually getting to know each member and understanding what matters to each one.

I would simply ask the coffee drinking world: when you make your cup each morning, do you feel connected to something real?

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My brother lives in Silverlake and we like to take night walks in the hilly neighborhoods to the west of the lake listening to Jim Morrison and drinking bottled yerba mate. The best times for these walks are when the moon is full. We harken back to our idyllic childhood and feel free.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate this shout-out to my brother, Hayden Waggener.

Website: www.camskettle.coffee

Instagram: @camskettle

Facebook: facebook.com/camskettle

Image Credits
Anour Esa Enoc Flores, Cesar Flores Alcerro, Antonino Alcerro