Meet Derek Pettus | Owner and Founder of Guardian Coffee Co.

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

Hi Derek, how do you think about risk?
Risk vs. Reward is definitely a real thing. I feel if you don’t take any risks at all, you will miss out on an exponential amount of life and opportunity. However, the same happens on the other end of the spectrum. If you take too many risks, you will lose either your life itself or the opportunities it will offer. I have many scars, have had many surgeries, etc. from the overly risky decisions of my youth. The older I get, the less I feel the need to take the overly risky path to my goals. You should never be afraid to take them, though. I just try to make sure that every move I make is purposeful and calculated, as growth simply does not happen in a comfort zone.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Guardian Coffee Company is one of the many veteran owned coffee companies in the market today, but we are different. We are one of the newer ones, but our customer service and same day roasted coffee selection are truly unmatched. Our name came from my unit’s call sign many years ago, Guardian. The proudest and most rewarding part of our business is that we get to donate to charities within the veteran community; we get to give back. Our go-to charity is the Conner T. Lowry Memorial fund, and we will be donating 10% of our profits to them. Guardian Coffee Co opened earlier this year (2022) and we greatly look forward to writing them their first check in December. We got to where we are by pure determination and lots of perseverance. The “veteran coffee” niche is full of some of the greatest folks the world has ever known. Some are straight up super heroes. To stand out in this crowd, you really have to put in the work. As mentioned before, we are one of the newer teams, but we are chugging along nicely. Our coffee is already rated very highly compared to our peers, some of which are exponentially larger companies than us. You can buy coffee from veterans pretty much anywhere you look. When you buy from Guardian Coffee Co, though, you are supporting a family business that truly cares and appreciates you. You are not buying someone’s exotic car or vacation home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The United States Marine Corps. The Marines changed my life for the better, forever. For the entirety of my active duty enlistment, I was constantly pushed to do better, be better, and achieve greater. This was from fellow Marines, senior leaders, and just the general vibe of Marines now and historically. We strive to be the best at anything we do and quitting is just simply not an option.

Website: https://www.GuardianCoffeeCo.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guardiancoffeeco/

Facebook: facebook.com/guardiancoffeeco

Other: guardiancoffeeco@gmail.com +1 (979) 645-7377

Image Credits
Guardian Unit Logo, Alfred Velapatino