Discover Zaca Coffee & Zaca Creek Ranch
One of the things that makes our little corner of California such a unique and wonderful place to live, work, and visit are the people and the businesses that call Buellton home. Sure, we have plenty of large chains that provide everyday conveniences for locals and guests alike. But the best of Buellton can only really be found by skipping the big brands and exploring the incredible crafts and creations of our homegrown businesses.
Today we are excited to take you behind the scenes of two of these amazing born-in-Buellton businesses: Zaca Coffee and Zaca Creek Ranch. Owner Hayley Firestone recently joined us for an interview about the two businesses so we could help you get to know them better. Before we jump in, here is where you can learn more about each:
Zaca Coffee
Roastery: 270 East Highway 246, Suite 107
Coffee Shop: 240 East Highway 246, Unit 109 – Now Open!
Coffee Trailer: 236 La Lata Road – in the parking lot behind Coastlands Church
Online Shop: https://zacacoffee.com/
Zaca Creek Ranch
Located off Highway 101 north of Buellton. Address provided when booking private tours or attending public Farm Days throughout the year.
To book a private tour click here
About The Business
Discover Buellton: Thanks for joining us Hayley, we’re excited to learn more about how Zaca Coffee and Zaca Creek Ranch came to be! We’d like to start by learning more about you. Where are you from?
Hayley: I was born in New York City and in my first 13 years of life, I lived in 3 different countries – America, England and Italy. We moved to Santa Ynez when I was 13 and since then, I have spent most of my life in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Discover Buellton: With roots in such diverse locations, what made you decide to start your business here in Buellton?
Hayley: Buellton is my home and it has been for most of my life. My parents built a business in Los Olivos, my brothers built a business in Buellton, and when my husband and I were thinking about where we wanted to locate our business, there really was not any other choice!
Discover Buellton: And we’re so excited to have you here! What can you tell us about the name, Zaca Coffee. Is there a special meaning behind it?
Hayley: Zaca Coffee is named in honor of our Ranch – Zaca Creek Ranch – but it is also named Zaca because that is such an iconic Santa Ynez word. Everyone knows of Zaca Peak, Zaca Station Road, Zaca Lake, Zaca Mesa Winery etc. It grounds our business in the Central Coast and particularly the Santa Ynez Valley. We are very proud to be a local business with deep ties to this region.
Discover Buellton: Zaca coffee first opened its doors in August of 2021. What are three things that our visitors should know about your business?
Hayley: We are the only coffee roasting company, sold throughout the tri-counties, that is located on the Central Coast. We are a family run, specialty coffee company and those who purchase our coffee know they are getting the freshest coffee available. We have opened two coffee shop locations, both of which are very family friendly and offer extensive parking. Finally, our logo is very unique. The llama featured is an actual llama living at Zaca Creek Ranch – Joe. The surfboard is my husband’s Yater Spoon that he has used on many surf trips to Central Coast beaches.
“Our logo is very unique. The llama featured is an actual llama living at Zaca Creek Ranch – Joe. The surfboard is my husband’s Yater Spoon that he has used on many surf trips to Central Coast beaches.”
Discover Buellton: We didn’t know that about your logo, that’s amazing! With so many delicious options available, are there any coffee blends you would consider your flagship products?
Hayley: Llama Blend is our dark roast that was created by Dennis (my husband) whose nickname for more than 20 years has been Llama. Yama Blend is our medium roast that I created and uses the name, Yama, that my grandchildren call me. From there we have introduced 5 more blends that have been very well received.
Discover Buellton: And do you have a personal favorite?
Hayley: While my favorite product is our Yama blend, my favorite thing about our business is the joy that I get when I serve someone at either the shop or the trailer who tastes our coffee for the first time. I love the coffee business because people are so happy to have their morning coffee and it is such fun meeting new people!
Discover Buellton: Aside from visiting your business in person for purchases, do you have online shopping or membership-based opportunities as well?
Hayley: I grew up in the wine industry and was part of the evolution of the Wine Club idea. With this in mind, we knew that we would have many different channels for buying our coffee. We offer online subscriptions – monthly or biweekly – and one time ordering from our website. We ship coffee all over the country every week.
Additionally, at our Roastery we have our “ZacaVac” program. A customer purchases an airtight coffee canister – ZacaVac – and then is invited to come to the Roastery to refill the canister with their favorite blend, freshly roasted, at a reduced price.
Finally, we offer the Zaca Coffee Loyalty Card for our Trailer and Coffee Shop customers… customers are offered a free drink after a certain number of purchased drinks. We are thrilled by how many customers use these and how many free drinks we have given out!
Discover Buellton: Being a small business owner is truly a labor of love. Are there any special milestones you were most excited to achieve for Zaca Coffee?
Hayley: When we received our 100th wholesale order, the whole team was truly thrilled and we celebrated. But, the opening of our Roastery on November 15, 2022 was a huge milestone for us as we had been contracting time at another roastery for the first 18 months of our business. Having our coffee truly roasted right in our backyard had always been the vision and when that happened, and it worked, it was true confirmation of our original idea. And now to add the ability to brew our coffee for customers right in our hometown… it does not get much better than that!
Looking Ahead
Discover Buellton: What is the next major milestone you are working toward for Zaca Coffee?
Hayley: We are in the final stage of opening the Coffee Shop, this is a huge step for us! Additionally, we are working on wholesale accounts throughout the region and our hope is to get into some of the larger grocery stores and to provide coffee to other specialty coffee shops.
Discover Buellton: We can’t wait for the Coffee shop to open! Do you have any new products or services in the works that you can share with us?
Hayley: Once the coffee shop is up and running, we are looking forward to introducing small batch specialty coffee blends that customers will be able to taste and purchase. We are also looking forward to offering coffee “cuppings” (tastings) and other learning opportunities. These opportunities will be available once things have settled after opening the Coffee Shop.
“We are looking forward to introducing small batch specialty coffee blends that customers will be able to taste and purchase. We are also looking forward to offering coffee “cuppings” (tastings) and other learning opportunities.”
Making A Difference
Discover Buellton: One of the things that defines our community is a shared passion for giving back and supporting others, as so many of our residents and local businesses do. Does Zaca Coffee support a special cause through the sale of your products?
Hayley: Yes! Dennis and I both are the proud parents of an active and a former Marine and have a number of family members who were military and police officers. Because of this, since opening our company, we have donated bags of coffee to the Buellton Community Foundation’s Veteran Program, and provided coffee to the local firefighters and first responders. Additionally, about 4 months ago, we partnered with Folds of Honor, a national organization that provides scholarships to the families of fallen military members and first responders with the introduction of our Honor Blend. A percentage of the proceeds of the sale of the coffee and the merchandise supports this important organization.
In Your Words
Discover Buellton: What is your favorite thing about Buellton?
Hayley: It is a town located on a major thoroughfare that still maintains its small, local feeling. You can go into the local stores and see people that you know who continue to care about the Santa Ynez Valley and their community. I can walk into the Post Office and they know me. I know the Mayor, the city director, city council members, the team that runs the Chamber, and they all care about their town. This is what I love about Buellton.
Discover Buellton: Aside from your own, what is one of your favorite small businesses to support in Buellton? What do you love most about their offerings?
Hayley: That is not a fair question because there are so many businesses that we love and support and friends who run these businesses… car mechanics, catering companies, restauranteurs, nurseries, wineries, vets, bakeries, ranchers, and so much more. We have friends who own insurance companies, who service cars, who make brilliant pastries/donuts/bagels… all in Buellton. There are the big stores and they have a place here, but… it is the local business community that really is key to living in Buellton.
Discover Buellton: As a small business owner yourself, why do you think supporting small business is important?
Hayley: Small/local businesses are the heart of a community. It is possible to go anywhere in the country and see national franchises and they have a place in business BUT… a community without small/locally owned businesses does not have a heart. I grew up as part of a locally based, family owned business. I am so proud of what my parents did and what they taught me about working hard and committing to the vision. But, it was the community that surrounded us and supported us that allowed us to be successful. This is what being a local, small business is about.
In Closing
Thank you so much for checking out our article on Zaca Coffee, and learning more about this incredible Buellton business with owner and local resident Hayley Firestone!
We encourage you to stop by one of their locations or visit their website to place an order online the next time you need a quality coffee fix. You can find them online through the links below!
