For Ronnie and Donna Tidwell, selling freshly roasted artisan coffee started with a day at the beach.
“We were at a coffee shop one day at the beach,” said Ronnie Tidwell. “There was a lady that was standing near us that had a T-shirt on that mentioned a coffee and a wine shop, like a café.”
The idea of opening a combination wine and coffee shop took root in Ronnie Tidwell’s mind that day, and sprouted back years later while the couple was actually at a coffee shop. He decided to order some green coffee beans to take home and roast. Learning how to roast and preparing the coffee in his backyard, he eventually bought a roaster. The journey toward Vino Caffeen’O was underway.
“I didn’t want to have a kitchen, I didn’t want to cook a lot of food,” said Tidwell about how the vision developed. “I’d just rather have the café.”
The initial impetus for this endeavor led to the new business’ moniker.
“I said, ‘I’ve even got a name for it,’” said Tidwell. “The wine and the coffee kind of morphed into ‘Vino Caffeen’O.”
Vino Caffeen’O launched in 2019, a 50-50 partnership between the husband and wife. Vino has since gone on to include wide variety of coffee beans from all over the world that the couple sells online, at the Aiken Market, the Augusta Market and via local restaurants. Currently, its only retail location is Hildebrandt’s, but it has also sold at Sheehan’s and Taylor-Made Kakes.
Vino offers coffees from countries as varied as Rwanda, Ethiopia and Kenya; Colombia and Brazil; Kenya and Indonesia.
Tidwell says blends with arabica are among Vino’s bestsellers. The Godfather, an Italian dark roasted coffee, is also popular, as well as Ethiopian strains.
While a brick-and-mortar store is the end goal, Tidwell says the business has been doing well. Online sales have increased since Thanksgiving, and Vino’s social media has teased followers with “big news” soon to come.
Tidwell notes that a strong enough customer base has developed to where he isn’t worried about the coming Starbucks location on Walton Way, due this summer, as he sees the local market for artisan roasted coffee growing towards a more intimate and loyal niche.
“There’s a lot of roasters,” said Tidwell. “And there’s a lot of coffee shops and they’re becoming more neighborhood-related. I think that’s a good thing. I don’t think Starbucks is going to sweat us any more than we sweat them.”
Vino Caffeen’O is based in Augusta. For more information, visit its website at www.vinocaffeeno.com.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering Columbia County with The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
