Deb’s… the Best Coffee Shop the Emerald Coast has Ever Seen!
Where We Started… Where We Are Today… and Where We’re Going
As the sun rises to warmly kiss the ocean waves, the Emerald Coast awakens to a new morning. It’s always a beautiful day in paradise. For many residents and vacationers alike, morning paradise includes a perfect cup of coffee. The equation is simple; morning in paradise + the perfect cup of coffee = Deb’s Coffee Drive-Thru! The Best Coffee Shop the Emerald Coast has ever seen!
What started out in 2012 as a little coffee trailer on an empty lot aside US 98 has grown into two beautiful locations… and the journey has just begun!
John, Texas
“Coffee is incredible. Service is great, and they are very fast.
The building is super cool and the much needed breakfast was delicious, had a chocolate croissant and a turkey and cheese and they were both delicious.”
Where We Started
The brainchild behind Deb’s Coffee Drive-Thru is, of course, Deb! Deb has long been a coffee enthusiast with a passion for sales. In fact, Deb has spent most of her working life in sales… and… she’s good at it! Deb also has a passion for entrepreneurship, starting in California with a cleaning business, then as a mobile notary and closing agent, and today… a self-made coffee queen. Her passion for great espresso came from time spent in Europe, so she knows good coffee when she tastes it. Deb spent a large portion of her life in the beautiful wine country of Northern California. Since her sales territory ran from San Francisco to Oregon, she would always plan her sales routes around great coffee shops. However, found it so inconvenient and time consuming to have to park, get out of your car, (in the rain at times) go inside and stand in line. At the time, there were no drive-thru coffee shops. Even Starbucks was in its infancy. So… the Deb’s Coffee Drive-Thru concept was born.
“I knew there were a lot of commuters just like me that would love to be able to stay in their car and grab a great cup of coffee and be on their way”, reflects Deb. “That’s when the coffee drive-thru idea really began to solidify.”
In 1990, and for the next two years, Deb began researching her next business venture, including traveling to the coffee hub of the world, Seattle.
Shannon, California
“We just stumbled into this drive-through and we are so very glad we did! Their espresso is out of this world and their variety of sugar-free syrups was amazing. Best coffee ever!! We’ll be back!”
“Seattle had many little coffee trailers and carts all using the grab-and-go model. I loved the convenience, how quickly I could get my coffee fix, and the unique tastes and flavors these little boutique coffee businesses were creating. In fact, I worked at one of these little coffee kiosks for free, just to get a feel for the business, and I was instantly hooked.”
From here, Deb started drafting her business plan, designed her drive-thru concept, found the perfect coffee beans, and secured an ideal location, all while keeping her goal of opening the best coffee shop in mind.
Brittany, Texas
“I am 12 weeks pregnant, haven’t been able to drink coffee in more than 8 weeks due to nausea. Woke up this morning with a very specific hankering for coffee and a croissant. Quick search led me to Deb’s and I was NOT disappointed. Exactly what I was craving and I would happily come back here next time we are in town!
I got a blended salty dog & a couple ham & cheese croissants. I recommend both!”
“This journey took an additional 3 years and a ton of money, but I was never able to break ground. I was too new, the concept was unheard of in the bay area, and California regulated me right out of existence. I had to walk away.”
Deb may have walked away, but she held onto her dream. Fast forward to 2011, Deb had since gotten married, and she and her husband, Rob, went to visit Deb’s brother in Destin, FL. He had a little scooter shop in Navarre with an empty lot next door. Craving a good cup of coffee while driving from Destin to Navarre, they soon discovered there was none to be had. The couple fell in love with the Florida panhandle and decided to move. Rob had heard Deb’s coffee stories over the years and thought the idea was brilliant. He suggested revisiting the coffee idea, convincing her that by putting their heads together, they could make it work. And bonus, there was no coffee anywhere between Destin and Navarre.
A Milestone Day… Rob & Deb’s first five-dollar bill!
“I resisted, because of my painful failure, but he pursued with a new concept of a trailer instead of a building. He did all the research, designed the trailer and before I knew it, we were moving forward.”
The entrepreneurial couple moved to Navarre in September 2011, and started researching, experimenting with products, blind tasting and sampling coffee from anywhere and everywhere, and engineering and perfecting unique recipes in their kitchen.
Deb still had the original logo her sister drew for her by hand so many years ago and used her original business model: Great Coffee, Great Customer Service, Grab-and-Go with a Smile!
Deb’s Coffee Drive-Thru was born in January 2012. While the menu was limited in the beginning, Deb and Rob would custom make any drink upon request, and they quickly became the best coffee shop in Navarre!
Chris, Texas
“Fantastic, consistently tasty coffee with speedy and polite service.
My lady drank the redneck and thoroughly enjoyed it. I tried it as well and liked it.”
“As we started getting customers, in order to expand our menu, we put up a sign that said, ‘make up a drink and we’ll put your name on it’. We had a chalkboard out front and would feature a new drink one of our customers had made up and named. To this day, you will see Kyle which is chocolate and Irish cream. Kyle was one of our first customers.”
Most all of the drinks on the menu today were concocted by and named after one of Deb’s customers or dedicated employees.
Terri, Florida
“Deb’s is delicious! Staff is always so sweet! Love how they have different flavors than Starbucks, and they’re a bit cheaper too. They always have fun seasonal specials. Their croissants are large & very good. Ate my bacon/cheese one before thought about a pic lol.”
“Our success to this day is based on great customer service and great coffee on the go. We are a family business everyone who has ever worked for us, and all of our customers, have become a part of our family.”
In 2019, Deb and Rob’s daughter, Tiffany, joined the family business. Tiffany holds a degree in Nursing, and while she loves the medical field and helping others, she has no regrets for her career change.
“This business is my Mom’s legacy and I wanted to be a part of the business and hopefully be able to pass it down to my daughter someday. I love seeing the rewards of my hard work,” says Tiffany.
Lauren, Alabama
“Super good coffee! Service was quick and friendly! Would love to visit again next time we are passing through to go to the beach :)”
While Deb’s Coffee Drive-Thru continued to grow and grow, they found themselves outgrowing their current location and trailer. They had always wanted to be a permanent part of Navarre, so in 2019 they purchased an empty lot on the South side of US-98, and again, Rob put his engineering skills to the task and designed Deb’s Coffee Drive-Thru # 1. This little red and white building is now an extremely popular staple in Navarre. In fact, business was so good that in 2020, Deb’s Coffee Drive-Thru # 2 opened in Shalimar.
Amber, North Carolina
“The absolute best place to get coffee!! Staff is always friendly and happy. Coffee is amazing and has plenty of unique flavors. Great atmosphere and easy to drive thru.”
Where We Are Today
Today, after more than a decade of dedication to Deb’s Coffee, Rob is happily retired. Though Deb is still very involved in the business, Tiffany manages both locations. Extremely busy with a husband and six-year-old daughter, Tiffany still manages time for volleyball or visits to the beach. Tiffany’s husband, Steve, is also retired from the Army and he now manages the business’ warehouse.
Brianna, Florida
“Out of everywhere I’ve went to get coffee this place is absolutely the best!! I’m in loveeeeeee and addicted to this place. I recommend it all the way!”
Deb’s Coffee is truly a family business, and that includes customers. Tiffany’s favorite part of managing Deb’s Coffee is getting to know each customer on a personal level and to spread happiness and positivity throughout the community with a cup of coffee. Now that’s passion!
Where We’re Going
So, what’s in the future for Deb’s Coffee Drive-Thru? While there are no definite plans in place yet, Deb would like to open a third location. Tiffany is looking even farther into the future and would like to open 4-5 more Emerald Coast locations with an eye toward franchising eventually. This means that at some point in the future, YOU could own a Deb’s Coffee Drive-Thru… how cool is that!
When interviewing these two dynamic, smart, and ambitious women, I could immediately see that passion and commitment is in the forefront of Deb’s Coffee Drive-Thru, making it the Best Coffee Shop the Emerald Coast has ever seen! I am confident this business will do nothing but grow and thrive in the future and I personally can’t wait to watch it happen.
Read the interview below and see for yourself…
Maddie, Georgia
“Great little Navarre coffee joint! Even if the line seems long, it moved fast! I had the Becca one day (iced w/1 extra shot) and the Redneck the other and both were delicious. I tried my man’s Phatty Natty with 2 extra shots of espresso and it was excellent. The staff is friendly and the menu is unique – with changing monthly specials. Check this business out!”
Q: Comparing Deb’s Coffee from when it opened to now, what has been the main thing that allowed you to expand and grow?
Deb: For us, there was no turning back once we opened and got going. I think the main thing is you can’t get discouraged, and you have to put in the hard work. We love what we do, and it shows in every drink we make. Quitting or stopping was never an option. We did it one drink at a time, one day at a time. I think people get too impatient and have unrealistic expectations regarding time and money. Slow and steady wins the race. It takes time and most of all patience. It took us a good two years to arrive and by year four, we were off and running.
Tiffany: At first, it was just my parents running the trailer. They worked countless hours and sacrificed so much to make sure the business was successful. One of the things that helped Deb’s Coffee expand is when I came back to join the business. I helped open the Shalimar location with my father in 2020. After that we opened the new building in Navarre. It has grown even more so when my husband joined the business. Also, having an amazing staff that are like family played a tremendous role in helping our business grow.
Kaia, California
“The service is amazing and super fast. I have ordered the Iced Redneck and Blended Salty Dog so far (both were good but I would say I prefer blended over the iced and loved the Salty Dog). I recommend this place to any coffee or drink lover and will be ditching Starbucks for here!”
Q: What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever been given?
Deb: The best piece of advice ever given was from my Dad, “Don’t quit 5 minutes before the miracle.” I think people give up too easily.
Tiffany: To stay consistent, and always be present in your own business. No one will ever care about your business as much as you do. Perseverance is key.
Susan, California
“I found Deb’s by mistake. What a great find. The Croissants are magnificent. I ordered one of each: everything, raspberry, bacon and cream cheese, and apple cinnamon. I cut them in half and served them for breakfast. I also picked up a caramel macchiato frappe that was perfect.”
Q: What does Deb’s Coffee do that is different from other coffee shops?
Deb: I think doing one thing great has always set us aside. We do COFFEE. Our espresso drinks are prepared old school… we are not automated. All our shots are hand packed and timed to get the perfect espresso shot. Our iced drinks are actually filled with your drink, instead of all ice. We want people to get their money’s worth. Although we have never focused on food, we do offer a few grab and go items, but our main focus has always been great coffee and customer service, making us the best coffee shop! We’ll do it your way… just ask. Others may copy us, but I have never shied away from competition.
Tiffany: I can’t speak for other coffee shops, but we always try to go above and beyond with customer service to make sure the customer leaves satisfied. Also, our family actually works at both shops every day, we are very dedicated and passionate about our business.
Katie, Texas
“Great coffee, sweet employees and easy drive-thru! Even gave my pup a sweet treat I’ll be back!”
Q: How do you motivate yourself to keep going when things are difficult?
Deb: Running a family business can be difficult, but we all love and respect each other so much. We all have input, and we balance each other. I have no idea how to balance running a business and family life, but we try. It’s so much a part of me, I have a hard time making room. My daughter is learning how and does a much better job at it than I do.
Tiffany: I am a very stubborn person. I like challenges, and every day I learn something new. I’m constantly challenged emotionally, physically, and mentally, running this business. My family is what keeps me motivated. I want my daughter to have a brighter future and easier childhood than what I had.
Phyllis, Florida
“GREAT Blended Mocha. Yummy. Please bring Deb’s to Milton. Great friendly service and fast too.”
Q: What do you think the main reason is that people come to Deb’s Coffee?
Deb: I think the main reasons people come to Deb’s Coffee is because we offer a great product, great customer service, and the fact that we care. Deb’s Coffee has become the place to go because people can trust us. They know we will be fast and efficient, always thank them for coming and never allow anyone to leave disappointed.
Tiffany: Our coffee and menu choices are unique. Most of our menu has been created by customers or employees. We give a personalized touch to each drink we make. We pride ourselves on having amazing customer service, speedy service, and providing customized drinks. Our customers feel like family when they come through.
Brandyn, Virginia
“Best local coffee shop in NW FL! I’ve been all over the US trying different local coffee shops and this one definitely makes my top 5 list! Very impressive!”
Q: Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you?
Deb: Honestly, Deb’s Coffee has become who I am, more than what I do. I can’t imagine my life without it. I am grateful every day I get to do what I love.
Tiffany: I am very proud to work alongside my Mom, Deb. She is an amazing talented, brave, smart woman who I admire greatly. It has been a great honor to run this business with her.
Rhiannon, Louisiana
“Cutest little coffee drive thru shop I’ve ever been to! All the baristas are so nice and adorable. My friend and I needed some coffee after driving 4 hours to Navarre and I decided we stop by because it looked so cute. Their coffees are amazing! Super cool and unique lattes. The last day of our trip, I tried a redbull italian soda and it was so yummy! Please check them out if you get the chance because if you’re a coffee lover you’re guaranteed to like it :)!“
I’m sure you can agree that Deb’s Coffee has a bright future. Visit Deb’s Coffee Drive-Thru, the Best Coffee Shop the Emerald Coast has ever seen!
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