Meet Matt Rosenblum | Coffee Roaster

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

Hi Matt, how do you think about risk?
Greatness has never been achieved without a certain level of risk involved. In what feels like a lifetime ago I was in search of security. Young and hungry, I dipped my toes in the corporate world and quickly realized I am not built to sit behind a desk 9 hours a day. My roots and heart have always been in a fast paced environment where you feed off the heat, pressure, and challenges of tackling a new goal everyday, always looking to better yourself in the process. I’ve spent the last decade battling risk around every corner, especially as a business owner. Business or otherwise, accomplishing any goal or dream involves getting out of the comfort zone and stepping up to the plate to take a few swings.

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?
It started with an idea on the other side of the world born from venturing into what mark twain referred to as “the territory”. My travels took me around the world a couple times over and each lap the experience of coffee culture became a constant. What started out as a simple search for a good cup of coffee turned into a ritual, engrossed in the culture of each community and the conversations had over said cup. spending years as a student of the craft, I had the goal to bring the aspects we appreciated most of specialty coffee culture from my travels around the world back home to our own community, which had been largely rooted in commodity and corporate coffee.

Our mission became simple: To inspire and educate through a premium, personable, and approachable experience. Our philosophy is humble: do not settle for mediocrity. Instead, we strive to learn and grow every day. Our outlook is always positive: We believe that running a successful business involves more than serving a good product.

So how did we get. here? I feel like you need equal parts passion, patience, and persistence, and a well balanced business model to really make a dent these days. Business owners need to be as versatile as a swiss army knife, because you’re wearing a different hat at any point during the day or week.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Nothing too crazy, it would be a crime for someone to visit OC and not experience the beaches, whether it be Doheny, Salt Creek, or 1000 Steps for before brunch at Ramos House in SJC. You could spend a day just cruising PCH alone, swinging by Gitana Cafe in Hermosa for an afternoon coffee, or a little more north to Manhattan beach for a steak at the Arthur J. If they are into live music, maybe see who’s playing the Bowl or Greek for a show with a vibe.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There’s not short list of shoutouts to those who have helped, supported, or guided me on my journey. My wife Kelsey, who has been in my corner since day 1, believing in me no matter what the venture. Misha Mansoor, who understood my vision from my early days in the garage and helped me turn it into a real business . My immediate and extended family for their constant support. Paul Waggoner for showing me the way so many years ago. Jared Hales for being an incredible mentor and friend. All of the coffee business owners who have become friends and family along the journey.

Website: www.goldenlanterncoffee.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/goldenlanterncoffeeroasters

Image Credits
Photos by Daniel Walsh @wesleydphotography and Ekaterina Gorbacheva www.instagram.com/ekaterinagorbacheva.art