Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheyenne Porras.
Hi Cheyenne, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Java & Jesus started because I saw a need.
I’ve always loved a good coffee shop, but I noticed something over the years…grabbing a specialty coffee had become expensive. Even I found myself thinking twice before stopping for a drink, and I watched friends order the smallest size they could or skip coffee altogether because it just wasn’t in the budget anymore.
That got me thinking: What if people could make coffee shop-quality drinks at home without spending coffee shop prices? And beyond that, what if I could build something that encouraged people and made a difference, too?
So I did a lot of research, took a deep breath, and jumped in. Java & Jesus was born out of a spare room in our little 900-square-foot home. It wasn’t fancy. I had a small inventory, big dreams, and a whole lot of faith.
Like most small businesses, it started slowly. But before long, people started catching on. They loved learning they could become their own barista and enjoy their favorite drinks at home for a fraction of the cost. What began in one room eventually grew so much that we had to move into a bigger home just to make room for the business.
But if I’m honest, coffee was only part of the story.
At the time, my husband and I were involved in ministry, and most people knew me as “Antonio’s wife.” I never minded being his wife…I love that role, but deep down, I knew God had created me with gifts and a purpose of my own. I wanted to build something that reflected my heart, my creativity, and my passion for serving people.
Java & Jesus became that place.
It became a way to encourage people, remind them to slow down, create meaningful moments, and hopefully brighten someone’s day. Over time, it grew into so much more than coffee. It became a community built on kindness, encouragement, and the belief that something as simple as a cup of coffee can open the door to connection, hope, and loving people well.
Looking back, I’m so grateful I took the chance. What started as one small idea in a tiny room has become something I could have never imagined…and we’re just getting started.
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?
Absolutely not. If someone tells you owning a business is easy, I’d encourage you to ask a few more questions.
One of the biggest struggles has been wearing every hat. In the beginning, I was the owner, customer service, shipping department, photographer, marketer, social media manager, bookkeeper, and everything in between. It can be overwhelming, especially when you’re passionate about creating but still have to handle all the behind-the-scenes work that no one sees.
There have also been financial challenges. As a small business, every dollar matters. You learn quickly that growth often requires taking risks, investing back into the business, and trusting that the hard work will pay off. There have been slow seasons where I’ve questioned myself and wondered if I was doing enough.
Another challenge has been learning not to compare my journey to someone else’s. Social media makes success look instant, but what people don’t see are the late nights, the mistakes, the orders packed at midnight, the products that didn’t sell, or the ideas that completely flopped. I’ve learned that growth isn’t always loud…sometimes it’s happening quietly behind the scenes.
The biggest lesson through it all has been perseverance. Every obstacle has taught me something, whether it was improving my business, serving customers better, or simply learning to trust the process. Looking back, I’m grateful for the hard seasons because they’ve shaped both me and Java & Jesus into what we are today. I still believe the best chapters are ahead.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At its core, Java & Jesus is about more than coffee….it’s about creating impact.
We specialize in helping people bring the coffee shop experience home through specialty coffees, syrups, teas, drink accessories, and thoughtfully curated gifts. Over the years, we’ve grown into a lifestyle brand centered around slowing down, finding joy in the little things, and building genuine community.
What I’m most proud of, though, isn’t just the products we sell, it’s what those products make possible.
Java & Jesus has become one of the ways I’m able to support Abundance Night, a community outreach that provides free meals to anyone who needs one. Every order, every event, and every customer helps create opportunities to serve others. For me, business has never been just about making a sale; it’s about using what I’ve been given to meet needs and love people well.
I think what sets us apart is that our mission doesn’t end when a package arrives at someone’s doorstep. We believe business can be a vehicle for generosity. Whether it’s supporting local makers, encouraging someone’s mental health through a thoughtfully named product, or helping provide meals through Abundance Night, everything we do comes back to one purpose: seeing a need and doing what we can to meet it.
At the end of the day, I don’t just want people to remember the coffee they bought from Java & Jesus. I want them to remember how they felt that they were encouraged, cared for, and that by supporting a small business, they became part of something much bigger than a transaction.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I think the biggest surprise is that Java & Jesus was never meant to be “just” a coffee business.
Most people know us for specialty coffee, fun flavors, and creative products, but what they may not realize is that every decision I make is filtered through one question: How can this help someone else?
The business has become a tool that allows me to pour back into my community through Abundance Night, where we provide free meals to anyone who needs one. In many ways, coffee simply became the vehicle for something much bigger.
Another thing people are often surprised by is that I’m an introvert. I can host events, go live, speak to groups, and run community dinners, but after those moments, I need quiet to recharge. Most of my best ideas come early in the morning with a cup of coffee or late at night when the world has slowed down.
At the end of the day, I don’t measure success by how many products I sell. I measure it by the people we’ve encouraged, the meals we’ve helped provide, and whether we’ve left our little corner of the world a little better than we found it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://java-jesus.square.site
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CvqcdRem2/
