Black Diesel | Cafe, Roastery, and Barista School | Nick Ferris

In this episode, I sit down with Nick Ferris, founder of Black Diesel Coffee in Ann Arbor — a truly multifaceted company spanning a café, barista school, wholesale roastery, and dry goods distribution. Nick's path to coffee started far from the espresso machine, in corporate and food consulting in 1980s California, before he took the leap to build something of his own. I also delve into Nick's philosophy around what it means to bring the "universal language" of coffee to Ann Arbor and how he's built Black Diesel to function as a true third space — somewhere to reconnect, recharge, and meet up. Topics covered include: How Nick would describe Black Diesel to someone who's never heard of it The lessons from his consulting days that still shape how he runs the business What motivated him to leave the corporate route and take the risk of starting Black Diesel Why he started the Black Diesel Barista School, and what he's learned running it What "third space" means to him — and why it was worth fighting for Whether that meaning has changed in a world of remote work and phones How Ann Arbor has shaped Black Diesel, and how Black Diesel has shaped the community in return What he'd tell his younger self, looking back What he hopes people remember about Black Diesel — beyond the coffee