Kristen Dering, owner of Cipher Roasting, didn’t set out with the intention of starting a small business. Her passion for great coffee led her to start experimenting with small-batch coffee bean roasting. As her friends and family began tasting the coffee brewed from the roasted beans though, they couldn’t keep it a secret. The buzz around Kristen’s coffee slowly grew to the point of officially opening business in July of 2020.
Kristen felt she needed a nudge of motivation and accountability as she worked through the first stages of her new business and she sought help through the North Metro SBDC’s Entrepreneurship for Creatives course. Kristen says of the course, “That class and the resources provided really brought it all together and solidified the plan. It was right after that that I launched off and starting putting products out there”. Since graduating from the course Kristen has completing the registration and EIN process, started selling products, identified customers for testing, increased her web presence, and has been working through unique offers likes gift bags, holiday specials, etc. She has also expanded her delivery to include surrounding areas around Broomfield, but does take pride in keeping the operation as local as possible.
Kristen loves helping her customers start their day off in a special way, with small-batch freshly roasted coffee beans. Of her experience in her business Kristen says, “And it feels like I am delivering a gift, something practical, but indulgent, to each coffee loving home, so that they too can enjoy the simple pleasure of really good, really fresh coffee.”