Coffee, Robots, and Human Connection
Welcome back to Tech with That Tech Pastor.This week’s episode is a little different. We recorded inside Kindled and Grounded, the robotic cafe my wife Courtney and I opened in downtown Napa, California. It is a coffee shop, candle bar, and slime bar built for families, conversation, creativity, and slowing down.In this special episode, Courtney sits down with Brent Wallace of Coffee Eclectic, the roaster behind our coffee program, to talk about what makes our blend so unique. They unpack Brent’s journey from the corporate world into coffee roasting, why coffee has the power to slow people down, and how thoughtful technology can make human connection stronger instead of weaker.This conversation gets into more than beans and espresso. It touches hospitality, design, experience, automation, and why we believe robots should do robot things so humans can do human things.If you have ever wondered what it looks like to use technology without losing warmth, story, and soul, this episode is for you.In this episode:* Why we built a robotic cafe in Napa* How Kindled and Grounded blends coffee, candles, slime, and community* Brent’s story behind Coffee Eclectic* What makes Southeast Asian coffee profiles so distinct* Why some coffee tastes better black* How technology can create more room for conversation and care* Why experience matters just as much as the productAlso, my new book The Agentic Church is out now. It includes a practical 36 to 90 day plan, 50 tools, 300 prompts, and an AI policy framework for churches, nonprofits, businesses, and teams.Get the book here:agentic.jrlester.comYou can also connect with us here:Kindled and Grounded: kindledgrounded.comJustin Lester: jrlester.comIf this episode helped you think differently about coffee, community, technology, or hospitality, make sure you like, comment, and subscribe. New episodes of Tech with That Tech Pastor drop every Friday.Tell me in the comments:What is one area where technology could give you more time to be more human?