Meet Brian Hinkle | Coffee Shop Owner

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

Hi Brian, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The initial thought process was one of creating new challenges for ourselves and bringing to life a social space where one was needed. It was a long, gradual process and, in a way, many of the thoughts that went into it were answers to what we were looking to accomplish in our personal and professional lives. We both had great jobs and were not looking for less work but more meaningful work in an environment of our own choosing.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Cambrian Coffee is a neighborhood coffee shop in the Spring Branch area of Houston, TX. We offer specialty coffee and British-inspired baked goods made fresh in-house daily. The theme and décor of the shop is Earth Science and Paleontology due to the owners, Brian & Gemma’s love of Geology and the sciences. What sets us apart from others is a customer service first mentality and attention to detail. We have an amazing team who take pride in where they work and every drink they craft and are empowered to always do the right thing. We have a saying that we may not do great things everyday but we can power up the people who do great things. We take seriously that though we are a small cog in the wheel, we do have an important role in society: we are the first interactions many of our customers have each day and we know how important it is that we set them off fueled up and in a positive mindset.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Houston is a huge, amazing place where you will never run out of things to do…or places to eat! I would show off this city’s amazing diversity and culture by visiting many different areas. The EADO area, east of downtown, is expanding rapidly and a stop at Brother’s Taco House is a must. A tour through the Montrose are with it’s great shops and coffee houses leads us down to the museum district. Houston’s Museum of Natural Science has an amazing fossil collection as well as a detailed exhibit on Houston’s oil and gas industry. Our art museums are second to none as well, with highlights including The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Menil Collection and The Rothko Chapel. Saint Arnold Brewery offers the best beer the city has to offer along with one of the best views of our amazing skyline. For barbecue, Blood Bros BBQ offers a mix of traditional and fusion unlike any other barbecue you have ever had. One nice days take a walk around Canino Farmers Market and grab some specialty cheese from The Houston Dairymaids.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My drive has always come from my wife, Gemma, and our cats. We joke that we work hard to provide our cats a better life! Every cat we care for was born and raised on the street in less than desirable conditions and we try to provide them everything they need to be happy and comfortable in our home. Gemma has been my best friend and partner since we met and nearly all credit for where we are today belongs to her.

Website: cambriancoffeehtx.com

Instagram: Cambrian Coffee

Facebook: Cambrian Coffee