Darleen Scherer

Over the last two decades, I rode the highs and lows of the specialty coffee industry.

In 2018, I lost everything.

After building and selling a successful coffee company, I dove headfirst into a second venture without the same careful planning. My hubris came at a steep cost.

For two grueling years, I made every mistake in the entrepreneurship playbook trying to save that business.

But, before I could let failure define me, I had a revelation.

I believed my hard-won experience – both successes and failures – could be incredibly valuable to others in the industry.

So, I took a leap and flew to Northern California to meet with a visionary CEO who had recently acquired two coffee brands.

And the connection was instant.

I found smart, ambitious teams ready to scale, paired perfectly with my battle-tested industry knowledge. The CEO saw my complete journey – including the painful parts – as an asset.

I transformed those two coffee brands into double-digit growth companies.

What most don't know is that I started my career in the fast-paced world of NYC advertising, crafting campaigns for Fortune 500 brands. This Madison Avenue experience became my secret weapon in the coffee industry.

My mission is to be the "Coffee Growth Architect."

My journey:
→ Led marketing for Fortune 500 brands at NYC agencies
→ Built, scaled, and sold my first coffee company 
→ Survived (and learned from) a complete business failure
→ Transformed 2 coffee brands into high-growth ventures 
 → 20+ years deep in specialty coffee trenches 
→ Now guiding the next wave of coffee entrepreneurs

INDUSTRY CREDENTIALS: 

☕✨ Roasters Guild, Former Executive Council Member
☕✨ SCA, United States Barista Championship, Former Sensory Judge
☕✨ Coffee Quality Institute, Arabica Q Grader