Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Eric Mullins, Co-Owner of Hyperion Coffee Company, LLC., located in Ypsilanti, MI, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are Hyperion Coffee Company. We have two cafes, one in Ann Arbor and one in Ypsilanti. We also do wholesale roasting for hundreds of accounts in the Metro-Detroit and Ann Arbor Area, as well as ship our coffee across the country.

Tell us about yourself

Dan, Alex, and I were inspired to start Hyperion after working in the coffee industry for years and seeing a lack of transparency and education on all things coffee. We found that most coffee shop owners and coffee roasters didn't actually care about where their coffees came from, how it was roasted, or who the producers were.

So, in 2015 we came up with our plan to start a Hyperion Coffee Company, where our focus would be intentionality towards all aspects of our business, our relationships with our producers, and our customers.

In 2022 alone, we have brought back and maintained relationships with approximately 15+ coffee producers around the world and have a focus on maintaining those relationships through feedback, communication, and quality control through all steps of the value chain.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

For me personally, it is knowing how many lives we have touched and the reach our company has had over the years. It is unfathomable that 7+ years ago when we were starting that we would service thousands and thousands of customers and that we would be able to share the stories of the amazing producers that we partner with all of our neighbors, customers, and wholesale accounts.

Turning a dream of wanting better coffee into a far-reaching reality where people are truly invested.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The hours that you can invest tend to be the hardest part for me. I have a one-year-old kid at home and want to spend as much time with him as I can, but keeping the business chugging day after day, although endlessly fulfilling, can be a bit of a challenge.

If folks want their business to truly succeed and grow, they can't be passive about it. Dan, Alex, and I all have a passion for what we do and love every minute of it.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Stay true to your mission. If we ever question a decision as a company, we ask ourselves if it is being intentional and true to our mission.
  2. Make decisions based on facts, not emotions. In the modern world, it is super easy to get wrapped up at the moment and lose sight of the chaos of running a business. However, when you look at the facts, numbers, and reality, it will be the true compass of success.
  3. Always keep an eye on your time budget. If all you have is time, you can spend forever in the minutiae. If you have no time for anything, every second is precious and can cost you money. Sometimes it's easier to train someone to do something. Sometimes it's cheaper to hire a project out. Identifying your time budget is crucial to your own success, stress management, happiness, and success as a business.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

To anyone starting up a business: get a good lawyer, accountant, and partners that are willing to tell you the truth and not just what you want to hear.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.hyperioncoffee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hyperioncoffeeco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hyperioncoffee/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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