How often do you get to meet two people who met in a coffee shop, fell in love in a coffee shop, got engaged in a coffee shop, and now build coffee shops together?
Meet Chris and Ali McColl. These two coffee lovebirds are the founders of Our Spot Coffee and Goods. While they don’t have a physical building just yet, I’d like to focus on their origin story (they serve up an amazing drink with this name by the way). This is what drew me to them in the first place. Their story.
The Origin Story
Chris has been in the coffee industry for over 11 years. He started at Peet’s Coffee, where he thought he would just be the kid behind the register selling things. He actually didn’t want anything to do with the coffee bar at the time because of how overwhelming it appeared. But all that changed over time, and he quickly fell in love with coffee. So much so, that he would regularly experiment with creating fun beverages and became known as the guy who made the best coffees.
After a couple years, Chris took on a role at Starbucks and continued his coffee journey. It was around this time he realized that coffee could actually become a career. A few years later he took up an opportunity to run the coffee program in a cafe in Costa Mesa, CA. Right next door from where he worked was Portola Coffee Roasters. When he wasn’t working, he would constantly be hanging out at Portola dreaming of working in a specialty coffee shop like that. After tasting specialty coffee for the first time, Chris said he couldn’t look back.
The Regular and the New Barista
Meanwhile, Ali was working hard in the field of ABA Therapy. She always had an interest in human psychology and helping others become better versions of themselves. While visiting her regular coffee spot in Huntington Beach, CA, she couldn’t help but notice this new barista serving her drinks. Chris, now at AOSA Coffee, was bringing the best coffees to a new crowd. With his coffee skills and charm, he quickly captivated the attention of a girl who thought she was just coming in for a cup of coffee.
As time went on, Ali began texting her friends wondering when this barista would finally take the hint and ask her out. Chris, on the other hand, was razor focused on his craft. This was his first job in ‘specialty coffee.’ He didn’t want to do anything that would compromise his role as a leader in the store. They remained good friends during this season (and Ali remained patient), and after a couple years he was offered to come help open the first Coffee Dose location. With the manager/customer barrier removed, Chris and Ali became official, and a new chapter begun.
Better Together
When you meet Chris and Ali, you immediately get the sense that these two absolutely love what they do. Their personalities shine through their work in building Our Spot Coffee and Goods. Where they are today is a reflection of the journey that they took together.
After a little over a year at Coffee Dose, Chris was offered a chance to help open a second location. This would mean that he would need to move closer to LA to make this happen. The drive from Orange County to Melrose Blvd is not an ideal commute, so they made the decision to pack it all up and move to the heart of Los Angeles.
Moving Forward When Everything Stops
The world was an open road for Chris and Ali. It seemed like they were unstoppable. But that was in early 2020, and we know how difficult that year was for everyone. It was especially difficult for those in the food and beverage industry. As that year slowly moved on, the unique shopping area on Melrose was just not bringing in the foot traffic needed to sustain the business. The shop had to close down.
Although without a job, it didn’t keep the couple from embracing change and making the best of their situation. Almost immediately a new opportunity presented itself: co-ownership of a new coffee shop in West LA. With a few business partners at the table, they started to build a business from the ground up. Chris was there at the helm creating the entire coffee program. Eight months later, Little Lunch Coffee was born. 2021 was a new year of fresh possibilities.
The process of building Little Lunch inspired Ali to make some changes to her own life as well. She decided to take the leap to become 100% self-employed as a life coach. So while Chris was building out physical spaces, Ali was busy creating a flourishing online brand.
The Perfect Blend
The experience they gained from building Little Lunch Coffee helped Chris and Ali grow even more. Chris continued to develop his business acumen by being a coffee consultant in addition to his ownership. Ali adjusted her work to focus more on business coaching. And from all this, a seed was planted. What if they joined forces to create their own business? What if they created their own spot?
With Chris’s background in coffee and business, and Ali’s background working with people, these two have a unique chemistry that they are applying to their ideas. And so, Our Spot Coffee and Goods went from an idea to a fully fledged business plan. In 2023, they sold their ownership in Little Lunch. Now they are all in as they build their dream. They are both committed to transparency and authenticity in their business. They hold people in such high regard that it becomes so natural for them to approach their business in a way that serves others.
Chris’s experience gave him exposure to both the good and the bad in the coffee industry. He’s been able to take the sum total of his experience to develop a mindset of growth and care for others. These are things that he wished he had more consistently in his career. So together, Chris and Ali desire to invest in others and provide a space where people can grow
“We always strive to be people in the world that our younger selves needed.”
Chris and Ali McColl
Fourth Wave Coffee
Did you know that coffee has different waves? You might hear the phrases “Specialty Coffee” and “Third Wave Coffee” used interchangeably. Now, I’m not an expert on this topic, so if you want to take a deeper dive into this, check out this post here by The Perfect Daily Grind.
In summary, Third Wave elevates the product (coffee). Chris and Ali are both proponents of fourth wave coffee in the way they view their work. They define it as taking the best parts of Third Wave, but with a bigger emphasis on elevating people.
Chris is an absolute genius when it comes to coffee as a business. Ali is amazing with people. And in some of their experiences, they’ve seen a pattern of “gatekeeping” in the specialty coffee industry that they are keen on moving past. “Through our desire to really step into a fourth wave we want to break down those barriers so that coffee can be the vessel that connects all of us together.”
Community is another factor that Chris and Ali are leaning heavy into. Not just as a statement – they are very intentional about it. Even without a brick and mortar, they have already been active in their local community through pop ups and sourcing their ingredients from local small businesses. Through the creative efforts of others, they hope to bring something special to the table rather than just copy and paste the coffee shop model. Coffee is the means to connect with people.
“I find that too many businesses get stuck in what they think their identity is rather than listening to the immediate community around them.”
Chris McColl
Beyond Coffee
Being business owners is hard work! But when they finally get some down time, they are typically relaxing at home with their two cats, Cortado and Bru. They look forward to growing a family together someday. And when time allows for it, they enjoy traveling to explore other local food and beverage scenes.
Their easy-going nature, passion for supporting others in the coffee space, and genuine connection with their community make “Our Spot Coffee and Goods” more than just a business. This is a reflection of their commitment to creating a space where everyone can feel at home.
