10 Years of Cat & Cloud (+ an Announcement from Chris)

On September 30th, 2016 we opened the doors of our first cafe and roastery on Portola street, Santa Cruz. Ten years later, we're still here, thanks to the enduring love and support our community has shown us.

In this birthday special, we sit with Chris, Jared, and Charles to reflect on everything from road trips to Santa Barbara with green coffee in the trunk before the brick & mortar days, to the 16-month permitting journey and sealing the floor the night before inspection, to what we got right & wrong over the years, and how our mission & values have always been at the core of who we are.

In addition to the ten year anniversary, Chris has an announcement: he's stepping away from day-to-day operations at Cat & Cloud, and the change takes effect on our birthday. While he's keeping ownership and moving into an advisory role, this also means that this will be his last podcast as a regular host. Chris takes a minute to say thank you to everyone who's listened, visited, and supported us along the way.

You can follow Chris's next chapter on Instagram and YouTube at @realchrisbaca.

Chris's departure from the podcast also highlights some exciting news: we are gearing up to launch some changes to the Cat & Cloud Podcast. We'll be introducing new segments, fresh industry voices, and candid insights into all things craft, hospitality, culture, and leadership development. 

We'll be taking a short hiatus while we're heads down, new episodes to launch Winter 2026.

Podcast Info and Contact: www.catandcloud.com/podcast 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/catcloudcoffee/ 

Webstore: www.catandcloud.com/ 

Roasters Choice Subscription: www.catandcloud.com/collections/subscriptions 

Wholesale Partners: Interested in serving our coffee at your business? Learn more about our Partner Program https://catandcloud.com/wholesale

Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first.

Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them. The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations.

Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby