Meet Louisa Finch | Barista & Dead Stop Coffee Owner

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

Hi Louisa, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am originally from the Midwest, with roots both in Minnesota and South Dakota. When I was in my early elementary years we lived just outside of a small town in Northern MN, so I had a couple acres of pine forest and a rocky ravine as my closest neighbors. I loved playing outside, whether it was a below zero snow day digging out snow tunnels or a summertime day in my fort, climbing trees. Nature is now where I continue to find my greatest comfort and deepest faith in what is, and I am ever drawn to our relationship to plants as a species and how we connect with the land on which we live. Another strong aspect of my story is that my parents were pastors as I grew up, which definitely influenced me in some unique ways. Both have always been the type who welcome and embrace each and every single person for who they are and leave room for differences to exist. More than anything, I watched them again and again meet people where they are at and listen to their stories, holding space for all the ups and downs of regular life and the need to share that with others at times. Now, after years as a barista in the coffee world, and as I work towards opening my own shop, I realize how much of this I do in my own day-to-day. For me, the difference between a good coffee shop and a great one is as much the emphasis put on a quality cup as it is being present and interested in the customers and their lives.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Dead Stop Coffee has both come a long way and has a long way to go business-wise. If it was up to us we would have opened a physical shop long ago, having started our brand and our online coffee bean and tea sales in April 2023, but if I have learned one thing about this world of small business it is that it never really is up to us, at least during this process of securing funding to accomplish our coffee shop goals. What we can control is who we ask and what we ask and how we present our business plan and financials. What we cannot control is what responses we receive as we navigate not having much by way of collateral to offer a bank in exchange for a loan. We also cannot control the decisions of possible investors. It is throughout this back and forth of asking the question “how?” while at the same time developing our Dead Stop brand and local presence that we have learned so much and grown in our resolve to not give up. It really becomes about asking the right questions to the right people, detaching as much as possible from the eventual outcome so as to be able to stay neutral and balanced. It is truly such a challenge to both have expectations and shed expectations, but it is necessary indeed. It can be easy to get discouraged, but I am committed to the belief that “good things take time, great things take longer,” and I do know now how much of that time is spent in the details, the small things that I can now look back and see have been the beginnings of our scaffolding, the foundation on which we stand as a business. What Dead Stop will bring to the Broomfield community is a memorable coffee shop experience, a “home away from home” where anyone can become a regular and everyone is encouraged to “Come as you are, leave even better.” I am most excited to be able to meet my community and broaden the ability for connections to be made and good coffee to be had. I truly love and take pride in my craft as a barista and am passionate about my business being the best that it can be. I look forward to more and more people being able to benefit from what Dead Stop Coffee has to offer as we are able open our doors and grow beyond our online storefront.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Most of my itinerary would revolve around getting outside and enjoying the nature Colorado has to offer, first of which would be going to El Dorado Canyon for a hike. On the way, we would stop at Paul’s Coffee and Tea in Louisville for a fresh roasted cuppa and we would have already stopped at Jus’ Burritos in Broomfield for a Colorado breakfast burrito with green chile. Another hike for another day would be heading up further in the mountains to Nederland to see the Carousel of Happiness and find a trail nearby to check out, maybe even camp if possible. We’d have to go to Boulder for a day, having a hike at Chatauqua and grabbing a sandwich at Snarf’s. We would definitely take a walk down Pearl Street and enjoy downtown Boulder as well as spend a day walking around in downtown Denver. We would make sure to visit the Denver Art Museum and take a walk through the Denver Botanic Gardens as well. If we had time to take a longer trip towards the mountains, I would take them to the Great Sand Dunes and enjoy driving through all the amazing fourteeners to get there. Colorado just has so much to offer!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family has always been a supportive force in my life, and now my husband, Daniel, is my greatest supporter and encourager as we make our way through this life together. We have our four young sons to thank for giving us the extra drive and motivation to truly make it happen for ourselves in this world, they have taught us so much and constantly give us reason to be self aware and do our best. Everyone at Paul’s Coffee and Tea, Paul, my coworkers, and also my amazing customers have all been pivotal to my story as a barista and now manager and future shop owner and I am so grateful for such a great shop to call home away from home.

Website: https://www.deadstopcoffee.com

Instagram: @deadstopcoffee

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