Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabelle.
Hi Isabelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started working at the Dunn Brothers location in Maple Grove in high school, first as a barista and later as a roaster. Over the next five years, I grew to love both the coffee industry and the community that formed around that shop. When the owners of Dunn Brothers began planning for selling the business, I explored the possibility of continuing the business, but ultimately decided to open an independent coffee shop of my own. Maple Grove needed locally owned coffee shop rooted in quality, hospitality, and community, and that vision became the foundation for what I’ve Kingdom Coffee is today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. The first two years required long hours and a steep learning curve, but the most challenging part has been learning how to lead people. Transitioning into the role of owner and leader—especially at a young age—was difficult, and managing employees has been the hardest but most impactful.
Coffee shops naturally have higher turnover, as many roles are stepping stones, but investing in my team and supporting them through short seasons of life has been incredibly rewarding. While leadership has been the greatest challenge, it has also become one of my favorite and most fulfilling parts of the business. I’m deeply grateful for the relationships I’ve built with my team and the guests we get to serve every day.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We focus on doing things thoughtfully and with attention quality ingredients. We roast our own coffee, make most of our syrups in-house, and are intentional about the ingredients we use, including cooking without seed oils and many gluten free options.
I’m most proud of the space and community we’ve built—it’s not just about good coffee, but how people feel when they’re here.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My family deserves so much credit. I truly couldn’t have done this without them. There were countless early mornings where I was calling a sister because an employee didn’t show up and I needed help opening the shop. They always showed up when I needed it and reminded me to rest when I didn’t know how to slow down.
My mom has been my biggest cheerleader through it all. She’s instilled so much in me, and I’m incredibly grateful to be in a position where I can give back to her now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kingdomcoffeemn.com
- Instagram: @kingdomcoffeemn
- Facebook: @kingdomcoffeemn
