Neighbors Barista – Featured Coffee Roaster

We get to meet a lot of cool people in coffee, and meeting Spencer from Neighbors Barista is no exception. Call it fate (or possibly the Instagram algorithm), but through some networking we quickly found some common grounds over coffee.

“You don’t need to be perfect to enjoy coffee.”

This was probably one of my favorite quotes when I spoke with Spencer. There is something freeing knowing that we’re not just after perfection. We are here to enjoy a cup of coffee. Spencer and his wife Lulu serve their community in Gaithersburg, MD. That’s all the way on the other side of the country from us in Southern California. But despite the distance we share a similar passion for coffee and community. We got to spend some time on a Zoom call recently to learn more about Spencer’s background!

Before There Was Coffee

Spencer has always had that “entrepreneur spirit” to start his own thing. He wasn’t sure what it would be in, but that feeling was there. After finishing college in 2018, he went on a trip to Seattle with some friends to celebrate the end of an era. He recalls a moment when his group attended an event at the KEXP Gathering Space – an event center for the community to gather together around music and the arts. In addition to the arts, there is also coffee.

At the time, La Marzocco had a coffee booth where they would feature a coffee roaster each month. Spencer wasn’t much of a coffee guy, but the set up and quality of the coffee blew his mind. This experience is what ignited a little idea inside. For the next couple years, the idea of doing something in coffee was “brewing” up. The way he described it was that it was like an itch (in a good way). He credits his wife who eventually challenged him to finally just do something about it!

Bears, Beets, Brunch Barista

For someone with zero experience behind the bar, what is the next step? Fortunately for Spencer, he had a buddy who worked at a restaurant in DC, Nina May. He was offered an opportunity to work as a brunch barista for the restaurant’s weekend menu. This was exactly the opportunity he needed.

“It was truly the beginning stages of my coffee journey. I had limited knowledge and experience. For me, my goal was simple: Is this something I truly am passionate about and can I see myself doing this for the rest of my life?”

This was the moment things started to come together. After training and getting experience serving a brunch crowd, the excitement only grew. The culmination of this experience was when a lady came up to him after the brunch rush and said “this is the best latte I have ever had!” If he was looking for any validation, this was it.

But it was short lived. Covid hit a couple months after he started and he had to throw in the towel. But the stage was set and the coffee seed planted. It was now only a matter of time.

Preparations and Inspirations

During Covid, he had the opportunity to go back to school for his MBA. But coffee was on his mind. While going to school, he would fill up his spare time learning and experimenting with coffee. After completing his MBA, him and his wife celebrated by visiting Nepal in January 2023. Fun fact – his wife is Nepalesse and is related to one of the founders of Himalayan Java Company.

One thing that stood out on this trip to Nepal was the quality of the coffee shops. Not only were they beautifully designed, but the quality of the coffee was something that he inspired to. He went to cafes where the barista would ask what brew method he wanted.

In May 2023, a buddy of his who owns a high scale barbershop, Barbers and Brews, invited him to set up his coffee gear to serve on the weekends. Again, this was an easy yes. This time, it was really about confirmation that this is what he wanted to do. After a few months and tons of happy customers walking away with fresh cuts and fresh coffee, everything was lining up for Neighbors Barista.

A Barista that can Roast

Now, making coffee is one thing, but Spencer didn’t stop there. As he was deep in some coffee research in July 2023, he stumbled across an Aillio Bullet Roaster for sale and he jumped on it. Spencer really enjoys knowing processes from start to finish. He quickly became a student of coffee roasting because he believes in providing the freshest quality of coffee for his customers.

Spencer and his wife are truly a dynamic duo. Working 9 to 5 during the day and roasting coffee by night is no easy task. Did I mention they make all their syrups in-house too? But they see their work as a truly rewarding experience. The connections they make and the positive reactions they receive from their customers is what they do this for.

When he isn’t roasting coffee or practicing his latte art, you will probably find him hiking with his wife and pups, or working out and jumping in a cold plunge with his buddies. Or you might find him catching the latest Liverpool game while taking care of his fish tank. This guy keeps himself busy with lots of interests!

Where Can I Find Neighbors Barista?

Today, you can find Spencer and his wife, Lulu, setting up at the Kentlands Main Street Farmers Market every Saturday. Whether you like your coffee strong or decaf, they are ready to delight your senses with a variety of freshly roasted coffee and quality lattes.

Spencer and Lulu are super engaged on Instagram at @neighbors_barista. They are always posting behind the scenes of their processes which is fun to watch! I am interested in seeing how they continue to grow and develop their coffee business. You can also buy their beans direct from them at neighborsbarista.com.

Everything they have accomplished so far they attribute to their community of friends and family. “Coffee brings people together to talk about things that are important to them.” Neighbors Barista is all about people coming together. And they hope to continue to inspire others to come together through their coffee.