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Greg Lefcourt has had only one day off since he opened Beleza Coffee Bar at 2680 Broadway in December. But he’s not complaining. He doesn’t mind the daily grind at the store brewing a variety of beverages and taking care of day-to-day operations.
Lefcourt invested all his savings to bring alive his dream of owning a coffee business with his wife, Nafisa Ramos. For years, he worked in the coffee industry, as a barista, and more recently as retail director at Ozo Coffee Co., he said.
For Lefcourt, Beleza has a lot of memories. “I used to work at this location in 2003 when it was Vic’s.”
When he heard the spot was available, he began negotiating and after four months managed to strike a deal. He didn’t specify his monthly rent, but quipped. “The rent is fair and adequate for the space we have.”
Lefcourt leveraged his insider information about the industry to start his coffee bar to keep costs down, he said.
High quality machines provide quality extraction from coffee consistently, and are made to last a long time, he said. “It can affect the quality of the brew.”
The Daily Camera talked with Lefcourt about his love for coffee and for the business.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
1. What is it that you like about coffee and the coffee business?
Coffee is great fuel for the brain in stimulating creativity. I love the aroma of coffee. I didn’t drink coffee until I started making it.
I think the coffee business is about making people happy and building relationships with the community.
As a Boulderite, I take pride in the high-quality coffee that’s available locally. There are amazing coffee roasters here.
It’s crucial for everybody in the coffee chain — from seed to cup — to do their jobs correctly. I like to be at the end of the chain relying on our knowledge to produce a great cup of coffee. We’re the last ones to touch the beans.
2. How did your parents react when you told them about your passion for coffee?
My parents, like most parents, expected me to be a doctor or lawyer. But when they saw my passion to be involved with the coffee industry, they were very supportive. There was no pressure.
One of my brothers is technical wizard and the other is an ER doctor. They envy my lifestyle, I envy their bank account.
3. How do you distinguish your coffee business in a sea of high-quality local cafes?
I’m bringing in coffee from out-of-state roasters. I’ve developed a nice working relationship with Cat & Cloud in Santa Cruz, Calif. Theirs is a wonderfully sourced coffee. I plan to rotate out-of-state coffee providers. This way Boulder customers will be able to taste something that’s not found elsewhere locally. It’ll be unique and special.
My main provider of coffee is Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters in Lakewood.
4. How is the business doing?
We have been embraced by the community since the day we opened for business. Our hospitality and quality meets the expectations of the community. People in the neighborhood are used to having a coffee store at this location.
In terms of pricing, we’re right in the middle. We offer a variety of seating, a nice relaxed atmosphere, internet in addition to great coffee, tasty baked goods and light healthy nibbles made in-house.
A lot of our customers use our cafe as their office. I think they feel much more energized surrounded by happy people.
5. What are your goals for your business going forward?
We want to bring dynamic, delicious and flavorful coffees to our customers. We want to work with people who have ethical sourcing practices and who want to improve the lives of everyone in the coffee business.

Pratik Joshi: 303-684-5310, pjoshi@dailycamera.com

 
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