We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dura & Joshua Clodfelter. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dura & Joshua below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Dura & Joshua with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
Our work ethic stems from a shared foundation of service, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the blessings we’ve been given. Before we met, both of us—Dura and Joshua—individually participated in a Christian missionary journey called the World Race, where we served in 11 different countries, often in some of the poorest and most challenging environments. This experience not only taught us how to work and live under difficult conditions but also gave us a profound perspective on gratitude and purpose.
When we returned to the United States, we met and pursued careers as Paramedics, dedicating ourselves to helping our community during times of need. After nearly a decade in emergency medicine, we felt called to grow further and decided to pursue higher education as nurses, continuing our commitment to serving others.
This journey has fueled our drive to create meaningful connections and serve our community in all we do. It’s also inspired our passion for coffee—something we love to share. Building a coffee business allows us to work together, bring joy to others through our favorite brews, and create something lasting from the ground up.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
In 2021, we embarked on a long-held dream to establish a mobile coffee shop and specialty coffee roasting business in Peoria, Arizona. Choosing to differentiate ourselves from mainstream roasters, we adopted the air roasting method over the traditional gas roasting technique. This decision has allowed us to produce roasts with complex and clean flavors, setting us apart in the coffee community.
A core aspect of our mission is giving back to those in need. Inspired by James 1:27, we launched Project 127, committing 10% of all profits to support orphans and widows both locally and globally. This means every coffee purchase or wholesale account contributes directly to uplifting communities and individuals facing hardships.
After years of perfecting our roasting techniques, we began showcasing our craft at weddings, farmers markets, and events throughout the valley. Our goal is to foster community by bringing people together over a good cup of coffee, whether at local businesses or special celebrations.
We are excited to offer our micro-roasted coffee both locally and online, making it accessible nationwide through one-time purchases or subscriptions. Additionally, we have initiated cold brew and coffee bag deliveries in the Peoria and Glendale areas, ensuring that whenever our customers need their coffee fix, we can bring it directly to them.
Looking ahead, we are planning to expand our presence by participating in more local events and farmers markets, and exploring opportunities to collaborate with other local businesses. We are also developing new coffee blends and products to delight our customers and continually enhance their coffee experience.
At Sunrise Coffee Roasters, we are passionate about crafting exceptional coffee, building community, and making a positive impact in the world. We invite you to join us on this journey, one cup at a time.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Reflecting on our journey, three key factors have been instrumental to our success:
1. Supportive Community: The encouragement and mentorship from friends and family were invaluable. A friend in Iowa, experienced in air roasting coffee, generously shared her knowledge, propelling us forward. Additionally, our community’s unwavering support kept us motivated during challenging times.
Advice: For those starting out, actively seek mentors and build a supportive network. Engage with local business communities, attend industry events, and don’t hesitate to ask for guidance. Surrounding yourself with positive influences can provide the encouragement needed to persevere.
2. Perseverance: Launching a business is akin to training for a marathon; it demands dedication and resilience. Perseverance is a vital yet often underestimated quality. Consider an individual who has only ever run a 5K but sets an ambitious goal to complete a marathon. Initially, they might underestimate the challenge, believing it’s a straightforward progression. However, as training intensifies, they confront unexpected physical and mental hurdles. Despite the pain and fatigue, they choose to push through, mile after mile, embodying true perseverance.
Similarly, a traditional 9-to-5 job can be likened to running a 5K—structured and predictable, requiring consistent effort but within familiar boundaries. In contrast, starting a business mirrors marathon training. It demands a higher level of dedication, resilience, and the ability to navigate uncharted challenges, much like enduring the grueling miles of a marathon.
We faced numerous obstacles, from financial strains to steep learning curves, but our determination to succeed kept us moving forward.
Advice: Anticipate challenges and prepare mentally for setbacks. Develop a mindset that views obstacles as opportunities for growth. Setting realistic goals and celebrating small victories can help maintain motivation.
3. Embracing Failure as a Learning Opportunity: We encountered failures along the way, but each misstep was a lesson that guided us toward improvement. Understanding that failure is not the end but a stepping stone was crucial.
Advice: Adopt a growth mindset where failures are seen as valuable learning experiences. Analyze what went wrong, make necessary adjustments, and persist. This approach fosters resilience and continuous improvement.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Absolutely, we’re always excited to partner and collaborate with others to bring our shared visions to life! We’re looking to connect with a variety of businesses and organizations, including:
• Wedding planners and caterers: To enhance wedding celebrations with a coffee experience that offers a unique, non-alcoholic alternative for guests.
• Local floral shops: To explore partnerships that bring together the beauty of fresh flowers and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee—perfect for special events or in-store experiences.
• Outdoor activity hubs: Skateboarding shops, bicycle stores, or other activity-focused spaces, where we can provide a coffee experience tailored to their customers.
• Other local businesses: From boutiques to coworking spaces, we’d love to explore setting up a small coffee cart or collaborating on unique offerings to help drive foot traffic and create memorable customer experiences.
Coffee brings people together, and we’re passionate about working with others to create these connections. If you’re interested in collaborating, let’s talk! You can reach out to us via email, social media, or through our website. Together, we can brew something amazing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.sunrisecoffeeroasters.com
- Instagram: https://Www.Instagram.com/sunrisecoffeeroastersaz
- Facebook: https://Www.facebook.com/sunrisecoffeeroastersaz
- Other: https://Www.tiktok.com/sunrisecoffeeroastersaz
Image Credits
Olivea McKnight: first picture of Dura and Joshua
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
