National Parks Coffee
When Jaykazen, founder of National Parks Coffee, talks about coffee, his passion shines through every word. Drawing from memories of slow-paced mornings in national parks—where people gathered over coffee and campfires—Jay envisioned coffee as a way to reconnect people with those meaningful moments. For him, coffee isn’t just a beverage—it’s a medium for storytelling, connection, and preservation. Inspired by his experiences as a wildlife photographer, documentary filmmaker, and marketer, Jay’s brand reflects a deep commitment to giving back, raising awareness, and "bringing back that sense of community and storytelling through coffee." This mission aligns seamlessly with Bellwether Coffee’s values of sustainability, innovation, and accessibility, making the partnership a natural fit.
"They’ve Had Nothing but Positive Feedback" - Quality and Freshness in Every Cup
Jaykazen recalls his journey into the coffee world, initially as a novice: “I wasn’t a coffee connoisseur... but learning how intricate coffee was—like the flavor profiles and where it came from—was amazing.” National Parks Coffee's emphasis on freshness mirrors Bellwether’s mission to deliver top-quality coffee through onsite roasting. Customers who were used to mass-produced brands quickly became hooked on the quality and flavor of National Parks Coffee. “The people we’ve sold to, especially in Bernie, TX, really see the consistency in this small batch, the taste of it,” he shared.
Even when experimenting with new components like the Shop Roaster’s autoloader, Jay was impressed by how the quality remained on point. “We’ve had probably 25, 30 people consistently tasting the coffee, and they’ve just had nothing but positive feedback.” This consistent, small-batch roasting, powered by Bellwether, allows Jay to build trust with his customers, ensuring that each cup tastes just as good and fresh as the last. With monthly roasting and ongoing feedback, National Parks Coffee maintains a level of quality that keeps customers coming back for more, proving that consistency is not only possible with small-batch roasting but also vital to building a loyal customer base.
"It’s Made Everything Seamless" - Accessibility Meets Innovation
Jaykazen dreams big. "I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be amazing to roast coffee in the middle of a national park, with the Tetons in the background?’” This vision of accessibility and innovation comes to life with Bellwether’s roaster, which fits perfectly into small spaces—even tiny homes like Jay’s. “When I got the Shop Roaster, it was perfect,” he shared. “No emissions. Very little electricity. It’s kind of like a little off the grid.” With plans to incorporate solar panels and make his setup entirely off-grid, Jay proves that small spaces can have a big impact when paired with the right tools.
Bellwether’s user-friendly design and cloud-based roast management make coffee roasting accessible for anyone, whether you’re working out of a camper van, a bustling café, or a 400-square-foot tiny home like Jay’s. “Bellwether allows me to operate an entire business from a tiny home. It’s made everything seamless,” Jay said. Even his mom, who co-runs the business and isn’t tech-savvy, operates the roaster with ease. “She's been able to come in and operate the roaster super easily,” Jay said. “For her to be able to come in and do it—that’s really impressive.”
Compared to other roasters Jay considered, Bellwether stood out for its simplicity. “I was watching YouTube tutorials for other roasters and thought, there’s no way I could just send someone in to roast. But with Bellwether, it’s easy to log in, see everything that’s going on, and troubleshoot if needed.” The exceptional support team, who promptly assisted with minor glitches in the system, further cemented Jay’s trust in the brand. “I texted [support] right away, and they texted right back,” Jay said. Bellwether’s combination of cutting-edge technology and user-friendliness empowers even first-time roasters to succeed with confidence.
"We Were Minimizing Waste” - Efficiency and Storytelling as Economic Advantages
One of the key economic advantages of Bellwether’s technology for Jaykazen is its ability to minimize waste while maintaining flexibility in its roasting process. “The small batch, under four pounds, and be able to roast that and get it out—That was just incredible to do because we were minimizing waste,” Jay shared. With Bellwether’s small-batch capabilities, Jay can roast only what’s needed, ensuring freshness, reducing waste, and allowing for experimentation. The durability of green beans over roasted ones also offers flexibility. “We could just roast four pounds of coffee and give some away or do samples,” he added, which helps him engage directly with customers and build brand awareness.
For Jaykazen, storytelling is the soul of National Parks Coffee, transforming his coffee into a companion for adventure. By embracing user-generated content (UGC), he has built a community where customers share their adventures, tying them back to his brand. “It’s like the first page of the book every morning,” he explained, describing how his coffee becomes a part of their journeys—whether they’re spotting wildlife, hiking trails, or simply enjoying a morning in nature. These shared stories not only strengthen customer connections but also drive sales, as customers return saying, “When they run out, they come back to the website, saying, ‘I want to buy more of that coffee because I saw a grizzly bear that day.’” Bellwether plays a crucial role in enabling this storytelling, providing ethically sourced beans and user-friendly roasting solutions that allow Jay to deliver fresh, memorable coffee experiences. Through Bellwether’s sustainable and customizable approach, Jay can bring his vision to life, helping his customers forge deeper connections to the parks they love and the coffee that inspires their adventures.
Additionally, the automation and efficiency of Bellwether’s roaster have freed up time for Jay to focus on expanding into retail offerings, such as store merchandise. "Coffee and retail go hand in hand," Jay said, sharing plans to offer mugs, shirts, and more. “People want to show off their coffee support," he explained, especially since the brand’s nature-inspired designs align with customers’ outdoor lifestyles. This merchandise serves as a powerful marketing tool, boosting both engagement and the visibility of National Parks Coffee.
"Roast Responsibly, Roam Responsibly" - Sustainability That Goes Beyond the Bean
Sustainability is a cornerstone of National Parks Coffee, reflected in their motto: “We roast responsibly, so you roam responsibly.” For Jaykazen, adopting a Bellwether roaster wasn’t just a practical but also an ethical choice. “I was looking at other roasters and watching their emissions, ventilation, and the harmful byproducts, and I was like, ‘I don’t think I can align that with my brand.’ So that’s what was very attractive to me from Bellwether,” he explained. “The low emissions, negating your carbon footprint—everything Bellwether stands for—was super important for me to incorporate.” From curbside recyclable canisters to compostable bags, National Parks Coffee embraces sustainability at every level, proving that even small businesses can make a big impact. “We’re bridging people's care and awareness of their footprint, even in the park, just as a general tourist,” Jay shared. “While you can't just overnight turn the planet green, you can make small steps and initiatives to ensure that your carbon footprint is as small as possible.” Bellwether’s eco-friendly, electric roasters enable businesses like Jay’s to align with these values seamlessly.
Jay is also committed to fair practices from origin to cup. “We’ve tried to stay in the fair trade, organic segment on the green coffee place, and that's been a lot of my correspondence with Bellwether.” he shared. While not yet certified organic, the brand focuses on sourcing sustainable beans, like the Ethiopian coffee in their Yellowstone blend, “the birthplace of coffee, the birthplace of national parks.” Jay also sees opportunities to support global coffee communities, from Kruger National Park in Africa to farmers in Nepal, where fair compensation can help prevent corporate exploitation and habitat loss. Partnering with Bellwether, Jay continues to explore deeper commitments to sustainable coffee sourcing.
A Partnership Brewed in Purpose
National Parks Coffee and Bellwether Coffee share more than a love for great coffee—they share a vision for a sustainable, connected future. By using Bellwether’s roasters, Jaykazen turns his passion for nature and community into a tangible product that supports both. Together, they prove that coffee can be more than a drink; it can be a story, an adventure, and a commitment to a better planet.
