Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Powell.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
Drift began as a desire to relive the coffee and cafe culture we experience while primarily in pursuit of surfing the best waves around the world. We stumbled upon something special around in these cafes that served coffee alongside delicious and functional food. Traveling was necessary for contests and or collecting content for publications/media. Most of the time, the focus was on contest results or successfully getting quality footage or images to share. With the focus on the waves, the destinations culture and other cool experiences were passed by. Nearing the end of my contract (with surf brands), I began questioning so much, and part of that was why I needed this (winning) to be happy. I happened to see coffee, something I knew nothing about at the time, as a beverage for people who could sit, read a book, write music, or have a conversation, and that piqued my interest in what coffee was. I tried to make it in the hotels, leading me to coffee shops and cafes.When I started going to the cafes, I could sit, think, drink, and be happy. I felt taken care of by how dedicated some staff were to quality and the design of the space. It was unreal for me at the time. This led me to find more of that and share it with my brother, who also took part in some surfing travels and events, so we started traveling to experience more. No surfboards. It eventually became a worldwide search for cafes that create these special moments. It is more than just caffeine. It’s a place to feel cared for, refreshed, and nourished with real food and heartfelt human interaction with design elements that evoke appreciation—stripping back the unnecessary distractions and focusing on what is real. These experiences provoked more positive reflection and led to actions of care for the people we came in contact with. The story is still evolving, but at its core, small moments motivate us to do good.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, lol. Plenty of struggles. Ben and I started this with basically no experience in coffee, hospitality or management. We were busboys for one summer in Ocean Isle. We came from an industry that lacked formal structure, training, or a clearly stated purpose/mission. So many good things come from entering into it with an outside perspective, but many obstacles you encounter are completely new. Building relationships and learning how to lead people has been very hard. Broken relationships are painful.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We serve premium coffee, and health-minded delicious food, in a comfortable and tasteful space! We aim to create moments for our guests so they can “do good today!” Drift, in its current life cycle, has two use cases. Drift Coffee Shop + Kitchens combines premium coffee and fresh, made-to-order food in a quick-service setting. Drift Cafes offer a more encompassing experience through the food, service style, space, and beverage offering (alcohol). A more elaborate and larger format food program, extensive seating, and service taken care of by our professional team of baristas and servers, designed to let you relax and enjoy! Offering delicious and functional food alongside premium coffee is our value proposition, and doing it with a smile at a reasonable price point is what sets us apart! We are proud of the front-line teams working tirelessly to make special moments for people who visit us! The key team members who show up daily to create solutions and improve value for all stakeholders in our bubble deserve accolades for their dedication. We have much to learn, but we are constantly pursuing improvement and committed to that process!
What does success mean to you?
Success to me is, harmonizing faith, family, and professional endeavors to give more than I receive and find peace where I am. This is so hard. I often feel like I am failing. There are many ways in which I self-destruct and chase after the shiny object that takes me away from the mission above. It’s constantly renewing the mind, asking for help to stay on the path, and seeking to do good every day!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://driftcoffee.kitchen
- Instagram: @driftcoffee.kitchen
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/driftcoffeekitchen/
