Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jeff Dodd. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Jeff, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I’ve loved movies ever since I was a kid thanks to my father and grandfather. I was also introduced to coffee at a young age by my grandmother. I’ve always dreamed of founding my own business and decided to create something that married two of my passions in life – film and coffee. I pictured a clapperboard with a cup of coffee as our logo. My idea of owning my own coffee company has evolved but my vision for coffee has never changed: be simple, yet bold with a focus on the coffee bean above all else. Pair a cup with your favorite movie, and you are in for a thrilling experience.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My goal from the very beginning was simply to perfect a great cup of coffee. I started out selling hot coffee at a local farmer’s market. I had a lot of folks asking me if they could buy a package of coffee which motivated me so I learned how to roast my own coffee beans. Once I perfected our roast, I began packaging and selling our coffee. In March of 2025, we served our flagship Colombian coffee and offered coffee bags for sale at New Jersey’s first ever Coffee Festival. This September, we will be serving coffee at the Pennsylvania Coffee & Chocolate Festival. I am most proud of the fact that we were able to pivot into coffee roasting and showcase it to as many coffee fanatics as possible.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Research – I can’t emphasize how important this is. Make sure you do your homework. Create a business plan, crunch your financial numbers, watch YouTube videos, and follow others who have done something similar to what you want to do. Once you’ve done your research, ask yourself if this is still something you want to pursue.
2. Find a Mentor – This is one that some people overlook. A mentor can be anyone. They don’t even have to be in the same industry just as long as they motivate you and push you to do things that you didn’t think were possible. You don’t have to become an entrepreneur all by yourself.
3. Be Willing to Evolve – My initial idea was to open my own coffee truck. When I began researching, I realized that it wasn’t something I could do right away so I came up with a plan to start by serving coffee at markets and festivals. I never imagined that I would also be roasting coffee but I listened to my customers and paid attention to market trends. I have fallen in love with coffee roasting and am so glad that I was able to pivot our business.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents have done is to be believe in me. They attend our coffee events. They ask me how things are going with the business. They are always spreading the world about our business to friends, family, and colleagues. In fact, they have even sent a considerable amount of business our way. Needless to say, I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for parents that not only believe in me but have motivated me to be better than I could have imagined.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.finalcutcoffee.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finalcutcoffeenj/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FinalCutCoffee
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreydoddjr/
- Twitter: https://x.com/finalcutcoffee
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