Meet Daniel Klehm | Founder & Change Agent

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

Hi Daniel, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
As a youth I was in and out of incarceration. After that for most of my working life I have ran corporate restaurants as an Operator and Executive. With experience in multiple brands (Cheba Hut (COO) , Illegal Pete’s (COO), Rock Bottom Brewery (Brand Vice President) and Applebee’s (Vice President of Operations) ) I had been directly exposed to the corporate greed at the top level of the industry and knew that was an issue as well. I had the idea for Convict Coffee Company ( convictcoffeeco.com ) on Christmas Day of 2023. I had been offered a CEO role for another restaurant company and ultimately decided I just could not continue to work for organizations designed to increase the wealth of the people at the top with little regard for their people or their communities. That day I shared the idea with my two sons and daughter and Convict Coffee Co. was born.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We take a lot of pride in Convict Coffee as being a very different kind of company. We support multiple difference causes through donation and promotion, including 8 Sober Living Homes that serve as reentry housing for ex-convicts, a domestic violence shelter for women, and a mommy and me shelter, Our cold brew beans are roasted by women in the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility (Redemption Roasters) on Havana in Denver. It pays them a fair wage and they get the opportunity to learn a transferable skill they can use when released. All of the art on our walls is done by incarcerated individuals through a program (Art for Redemption). We have raised thousands of dollars through our “Quarter for a Quarter” program for groups like Step Seven Ministries, Redemption Road Fitness and our current partner The Realness Project. All of these programs support Convicts either while incarcerated or upon release.

Additionally we believe in Pay Equity at Convict. In the 70s a CEO would make 14 times a new employee on average. Now that number is several hundred times. In the foodservice industry it is many times that. With CEOs like Brian Niccol at Starbucks making 85M just to sign on and Joth Ricci at Dutch Bros. making 63m in 2023 in compensation the divide is disgusting. When CEOs live in mansions and employees sleep in cars we have an issue with that. At Convict we have in our bylaws no one can ever make 10 times an employee, this includes bonuses, dividends etc. and also includes any future franchise operators. Our long term goal is to franchise to felons so they can have an opportunity to build a life on the outside and impact their community.

Lastly we are focused on being “coffee for the rest of us”. We feel like most coffee shops are very similar in atmosphere, music, and menu. We have created a shop that is authentic to who we are and we have found a group of people who were looking for something different. We have had some customers ask us to change our music because it is uncensored and we let them know we do not adjust the music or atmosphere but that if they choose to go elsewhere please go local! You cannot really be a place for anyone if you are trying to please everyone.

We pride ourselves in being a place where all walks of life can come and be comfortable. We have people who have served serious time come see us, law enforcement, kids, parents, etc…. we want everyone to feel safe and welcome in our shop.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Colorado is an amazing place! For me the outdoors is what makes it special. I love the Pike National Forest, all of the mountain towns, and of course no trip to Colorado would be complete without a visit to Red Rocks.

In Denver I am a big fan of the local music venues, Marquise, Summit, Mission Ballroom but I don’t get up there as much as I used to. I am currently in Parker where my daughter is in her last year of high school In town here I love Black & Haus, West Main Tap and Grill, Poulette Bakery for a bite. We are also lucky to have the Cherry Creek Trail as well as Castlewood Canyon Park nearby for outdoor time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When I began my journey at Convict Coffee I was at a low point in my life. I was depressed, drinking alcoholically and generally disappointed and disillusioned with life. It is at times like these you find out who really has your back in life. A huge shoutout to my son Damien who joined me in this venture and encouraged me, literally building the entire shop with our own hands. My son Daniel is the talent behind the brand, designing all of our brand assets, our website, our e commerce platform and doing an amazing job telling our story. My daughter Jadyn was really the glimmer of light that pulled me out of my depression, she is such a strong influence in my life and I knew she could not see me fall victim to my depression. This experience has also brought my ex-wife Bonnie and I closer together as she has supported my efforts through her business Mother Cutter Design, at times working for free to help me with my signage, printing and merchandise. Without any of these people I am not sure Convict Coffee would exist today.

Website: https://www.convictcoffeeco.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/100539625

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/convictcoffeecompany

Image Credits
Tonyal Shelton