Brewing Success: From a Single Table to a Coffee Experience on Wheels
Mentoring & Services, Inc. dba Mastery Coffee of Hillsborough County
In the heart of Downtown Tampa, Mastery Coffee is redefining what it means to enjoy a cup of coffee. What began as a simple mobile setup by business owner, Nestor Ramirez, and his family has grown into a thriving specialty coffee business that delivers not just beverages — but an immersive cultural experience rooted in Colombian coffee traditions.
Driven by a passion for quality and education, the Ramirez launched the business to bridge the gap between commercial coffee and true specialty coffee. “When I make the specialty coffee and explain I explain to you about the make, the farm to the cup, and explain what you [are] feeling in your senses, in your mouth, it’s a total difference,” he shares.
His mission is clear: teach customers how to appreciate high-quality coffee while offering insights to aspiring entrepreneurs.
With guidance from Florida SBDC at USF Business Consultant Pablo Arroyo, the owner received critical support in navigating startup logistics, laws, and regulations.
“The information from Pablo and from SBDC is very important for me,” Ramirez said. “When I meet with Pablo, the best information for me is the business plan, how [to] expand my business according [to] the business[es] around, studies about the coffee in the country, the numbers is very important, and how much people [are] coming [for] the best coffee,” he says.
Starting with just a table, the entrepreneur leveraged SBDC networking opportunities to build momentum. “My business grows with the help of [Florida] SBDC [at] USF because when I start, I start in only [with] a table and remember [my] first event was in Florida SBDC of Tampa. I attended more than 15 [people] in networking,” Ramirez said.
Today, the business operates two fully equipped coffee trucks, participates in events across Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties, and has expanded its reach to obtain three partnerships with local businesses.
“In this moment I have three partnerships working with me, I make different events, last October, I bought another truck,” Ramirez said. From sporting events to corporate gatherings, demand continues to grow through strong community engagement and online visibility.
For this business owner, success is measured in customer satisfaction: “My biggest success is when the people appreciate about the drinks, about the service, about the coffee. When I receive your feedback and you discover that it’s good coffee, it’s for me the best reward.”
As he looks ahead, he remains committed to working with the Florida SBDC at USF and encourages other entrepreneurs to take advantage of its resources to turn passion into sustainable success.
“For the different entrepreneurs that want to start a business, I think that the [Florida] SBDC at the USF is a good way. Most important[ly] it’s free, [you] don’t pay nothing for their help, it’s true, not a scam… the [Florida] SBDC at USF is true, [it’s] help, and the people is always ready for help you,” Ramirez concluded.
