Greg Berkowtiz not only has the goal of providing the best roasted coffee beans, but he also aims to help others achieve success with their coffee businesses.
After more than three decades in the electrical business, a trip to the mountains resulted in a clear head and vision to launch a coffee roasting business, Berks Beans Coffee located in Concord. Now, Berkowitz has traded in wiring circuits for coffee beans from all over the world – approximately 60 different beans as he follows his passion.
The venture started as a hobby where he worked on his craft roasting beans after a trip to MoreBeer and picked up a roaster which kick started the beginning of his coffee journey.
“I was really enjoying it and getting the same sensation as the science of smoking meat, it’s similar to the science of the coffee bean,” explained Berkowitz. “I was learning, I liked it and I was getting that same feeling. I’ve also destroyed more coffee beans than I could tell you. But I also destroyed a ton of briskets too.”
He admits he destroyed more beans than he can remember, but it was all part of the learning process to help improve his craft. Once he figured out the science, the rest was history as family and friends began to notice how good the quality of beans was.
“I realized I was actually doing a good job at roasting, but the difference was they were getting fresh coffee. And with freshness, they are getting a new experience versus just buying old coffee sitting on a shelf at a grocery store,” explained Berkowitz. “Yes, it is coffee, but store bought is not always fresh, it could sit for six months or longer.”
The idea to launch a home based business came in 2020 during a trip to the mountains, spurred on by his kids, and perhaps multiple cocktails. Berkowtiz accepted the dare and launched the company. It took about a week to get started – including his 16-year-old creating his website. By January 2021, Berks Beans Coffee was launched.
“We had an idea. We had a product. We had a vision,” Berkowitz said. “We started with 10 coffees, all freshly roasted using our small roaster, working out of our garage.”
That humble beginning of working out of his garage quickly led to growth. One of his first orders — a $100 order to a friend in New York — mistakenly turned into a $300 delivery. “I made every mistake possible on that first order,” he said with a laugh. “But it taught us everything we needed to know about pricing, shipping, and systems.”
As orders poured in, Berkowitz realized he needed better equipment. His original setup was not sustainable noting his $100 order took 5-hours to roast. So, he upgraded to a larger roaster capable of handling two pounds in 12 minutes. Soon, even that wasn’t enough.
“We jumped from 20 pounds of beans to 132 pounds per order in under a year,” Berkowitz said. “The garage and part of our house were filled with coffee beans. We outgrew the home-based model fast.”
The timing, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, helped fuel the company’s growth. With many coffee shops closed due to local rules, Berks Beans stepped in to provide fresh-roasted beans delivered directly to customers’ doorsteps. His wife Lori often handled deliveries herself within Contra Costa County.
“It became real at that point because people kept saying they get this amazing coffee delivered to their door step that was freshly roasted,” said Berkowitz, who added the even expanded into the gift set business, and other goodies.
By 2023, the couple knew it was time to get out of the garage and into a commercial space. After scouting several East Bay locations, they settled in Concord, where city officials welcomed them with open arms.
“The City of Concord was great. They made it easy to set up and grow. They didn’t want to stand in our way — they wanted to help,” said Berkowitz.
He shared finding a location was a challenge because they wanted to focus on roasting, not become a coffee shop, while also being courteous to neighbors given the smell of burnt toast beans sometimes could give off on darker beans.
“I wanted to roast. That is what I am good at. I wanted to provide coffee shops with a good bean so they could let them do their masterpiece and make a good cup of coffee. I want their customers to be proud of the coffee being served. We don’t serve coffee, we roast the bean and our beans are in a lot of different places,” said Berkowitz. “Not everyone loves the smell of roasted coffee. Most do, but not everyone. It smells amazing because it’s a combination of sweet, nutty to other aromas but its awesome. But when you over roast, or use dark beans, it now smells like burnt toast. If you are a business next door to a roaster, that is not going to go over very well.:
Today, Berks Beans operates from a commercial space at 1717 Solano Way, where beans are roasted fresh and shipped within 24 hours of roasting. Their inventory includes over 60 varieties of beans from across the globe — from Africa to Hawaii to South America.
With growth, came other issues – selling to coffee shops. It was one of his biggest challenges.
“It wasn’t as easy as I thought,” Berkowitz explained. “Coffee shops already have loyal customers. If they switch roasts, it changes the taste profile. That’s risky for them.”
Instead, Berkowitz found success supporting new and mobile coffee businesses — pop-ups, trailers, and entrepreneurs looking for a local roaster with high-quality beans and fast service.
He also shared the roasting business is cutthroat and they do not pride themselves on price and never will. Instead, they focus on quality and service.
“You look at price, quality and service. You can only have two. But you can’t have all three. It is impossible to have all three. I don’t know anyone that has all three,” stated Berkowitz. “You can’t be the cheapest price yet have the highest quality and the best service. You just can’t. So, I pride ourselves in the things I can control which is service and quality. Those are the things that we do, and that’s what we brace our business around.”
Coffee Tasting Experience
In an effort to elevate coffee appreciation, Berks Beans offers an in-house Coffee Tasting Experience — a curated, appointment-only event that mirrors a wine tasting.
Guests sample four single-origin coffees from around the world and learn about bean origins, roast levels, drying methods, and flavor profiles. The tasting includes a complimentary 12oz bag of your favorite coffee, paired with biscotti and chocolate.
“The goal is to expose people to the richness of coffee from different regions,” Berkowitz said. “You’ll taste the difference between a bean from Brazil and perhaps one from Ethiopia or Hawaii.”
Lessons for Aspiring Coffee Entrepreneurs
For those dreaming of starting their own business, Berkowitz offers practical advice:
- Find a mentor: The coffee industry has a supportive community willing to help newcomers.
- Start small: Test your product and build a following before jumping into big investments like a storefront.
- Be flexible: “If it’s not working, pivot. Just because you love it doesn’t mean others will.”
- Use what you have: Berks Beans opens its facility to others looking to roast and learn the craft without committing to their own equipment.
- Focus on the experience, not just cost: “It might cost 5 to 10 cents more per cup, but you’re getting a fresher, better coffee. That matters.”
And above all, he says, “Don’t be afraid to take a chance. You don’t have to be perfect to start — just start.”
“I want to help everyone become successful. I don’t care if you are in my industry or not, our facility is open for people to roast. I have the equipment, why not let others use it so they don’t have to set up their own shop before they are ready to expand,” explained Berkowitz. “I want to do the right thing by others.”
Finally, he says not everyone has to be brick and mortar, instead, start small and build a brand by going the mobile or pop up route which could be higher profit because the cost of entry is much lower.
Try Berks Beans for Yourself
Whether you’re a coffee enthusiast, café owner, or simply looking for a better brew, Berks Beans offers everything from single bags to subscriptions, roasted-to-order and shipped within 24 hours.
Visit the Roastery
1717 Solano Way, Suite 12
Concord, CA 94520
Order Online or Book a Tasting:
https://berksbeans.com/shop
Taste the difference that fresh, passionate roasting makes — and join the growing community of coffee lovers discovering their favorite beans with Berks Beans Coffee.
