Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Lancaster.
Hi Daniel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Short Sleeves Coffee started really simply: we just loved coffee and loved people, and we felt like our little town deserved a spot that made both feel special. What began as a small idea — “what if we created a place that felt fun, honest, and totally unpretentious?” — slowly turned into a real shop with a real community around it.
We started scrappy. Lots of late nights, lots of figuring things out as we went, and lots of saying “let’s try it” before we really knew how to do it. But people showed up. And they kept showing up. That’s when we realized we weren’t just building a coffee shop — we were building a little community hub.
Over time we leaned deeper into what makes us… us:
good coffee, good people, a sense of humor, a space that feels lighthearted and human, and a desire to make our town better in small, everyday ways. We roast our own coffee now, we host fun events, we experiment constantly, and we try to be a friendly spot in Swannanoa — especially for families and kids.
We’re still learning, still growing, still not taking ourselves too seriously. But we care a ton about doing things well, investing back into our community, and making coffee feel accessible and actually fun. That’s pretty much the whole story — simple beginnings, a lot of heart, and a goal of doing something good for the place we call home.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. We’ve had plenty of highs, but also some real blows. When Hurricane Helene hit, it shut us down overnight — power out, roads closed, our shop basically frozen in place. Instead of waiting around, we grabbed whatever equipment we could and set up a pop-up coffee station in town so people had somewhere to gather, recharge, and feel a little bit of normal again. It was chaotic, scrappy, and honestly kind of beautiful. That season reminded us why we do this in the first place.
We’ve also dealt with the typical small-business struggles — equipment breaking at the worst times, learning the roasting world from scratch, staffing challenges, and those classic “are we going to survive this month?” moments. But every hit sharpened us. The setbacks made the shop stronger, and made us even more grateful for the community that kept showing up for us.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At Short Sleeves, our work really centers on making great coffee feel human, approachable, and fun. We roast our own coffee, we run a busy little shop in Swannanoa, and we try to create a space where people feel taken care of — whether they’re hardcore coffee folks or just need a solid latte on the way to work.
One thing I’ve become a tad known for is my coffee writing. I love breaking down coffee concepts in a way that feels simple, warm, and actually enjoyable to read — not overly technical, not pretentious, just clear. Education is a huge part of what we do. We want people to understand coffee in a way that makes them appreciate it more, not feel intimidated by it. Whether it’s explaining processing methods, talking about flavor, or sharing roasting insights, we try to make it feel like a conversation, not a lecture.
We also specialize in craft, quality, and intentionality. We’re small, but we care deeply about doing things well — from sourcing to roasting to service. I’m most proud of the balance we’ve found between high standards and a lighthearted, welcoming vibe. We take the work seriously, but not ourselves.
What sets us apart is that blend:
high-quality coffee + clear, friendly education + a shop culture that feels joyful and community-driven.
We’re trying to build something that’s both excellent and approachable — a place where people learn, laugh, and drink genuinely good coffee.
What matters most to you? Why?
People, handled with care.
Coffee is great, and we love it…but at the end of the day, it’s always used as a means to an end. The end, is to surprise and delight people.
We use really really good coffee to do that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shortsleevescoffee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shortsleevescoffee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shortsleevescoffeeco
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/short-sleeves-coffee-swannanoa
