James Cook was born and raised in “The Golden State.” He was fortunate to experience country life in northern California, as well as city life in southern part of the state. In search of a new career path, James moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where he attended the Johnson & Wales University Culinary Program.

Upon graduation, he was hired as the Executive Chef and General Manager of a 300-seat restaurant in Indiana. Missing the warmer climate, he moved to Florida to become the restaurant, bar, and room service manager at the Wyndham Hotel on Harbor Island, Tampa.

An opportunity arose at the Marriott Hotel in Rhode Island and James found himself back up north. In 2006, he was offered an Executive Chef position at the Ocala Hilton. James and his wife, Heather, moved to Citrus County to begin the next chapter in their lives.

Shortly after taking this position, the economy collapsed and James found himself unemployed. Unsure of their future, James and Heather discovered the quaint coffee shop in Hernando, which had been closed, and fell in love with it.

James shared, “I met my wife, Heather, at culinary school. In our down time, we would dabble in creating a variety of culinary delights, including roasting coffee.” In February 2008, they reopened the doors to Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters. The Cooks soon realized that this little coffee shop would be their best endeavor.

Today, Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters purchases coffee beans from over 14 countries ranging from Guatemala to Ethiopia. The beans arrive in their raw state and are roasted on-site.

James adds, “We do private, personal roasting for our customers upon request, typically by the next day. We carry over twenty different flavors that are created in-house, and make and bottle our own cold brew.”

Staying on pace with the national coffee trends, Cattle Dog has begun brewing nitro cold brew, something no other coffee shop offers in the Nature Coast. Brew geeks call this coffee “nitro” because it is infused with nitrogen. Nitrogenized coffee is very smooth and frothy, comparable to Guinness beer. Black coffee enthusiasts typically love it, and it boasts only five calories per serving.

James and Heather’s coffee shop offers freshly roasted beans for sale in 12 ounce packages. You can choose from their wide variety of beans that are roasted daily. (Yes, it smells great in here.) Single serve coffee (K-cup style) is available in over twenty flavors and ten different blends, including fair trade organic coffees.

There is always Cattle Dog House Roast on tap, as well as a featured Dark Roast of the day. If you have a hankering for your special roast, an Americano is available. Lattes, mochas, expressos, cappuccinos, iced coffees, and even fresh teas are crafted for guests by their diverse, but professional staff.

Pair your coffee with a homemade breakfast sandwich, bagel or freshly baked pastry. Lunch items, such as healthy salads, Paninis, and wraps are available daily. Choose from flatbreads, focaccia and ciabatta rolls that are prepared daily.

Are you planning an event or holiday party? 

Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters can cater your next function by providing a variety of food and drink options to suit your occasion and your budget.

James and Heather have created a warm, friendly environment for patrons to enjoy fine, fresh  brew and to socialize. Stop in and see for yourself why their company motto is “Where friends come to meet.”