MASSILLON – Andrew Keim stood at the rear of Pioneer Collective Coffee, a few feet in front of a top-of-the-line roaster being seasoned with coffee beans in order to achieve peak performance.
Holding a cup of single-origin, Ethiopian-blend java, his eyes were fixed on a customer who was receiving his order in the coffee shop.
The ambiance harkens to a bygone train station, with a distinguished black-and-gold color scheme, eye-catching chandeliers, grand piano and Amish-crafted, black leather benches.
While simultaneously holding an unrelated conversation with another coffee shop guest, Keim, a 30-year-old Dalton man who opened Pioneer Collective about three weeks ago, studied the interaction between employee and coffee drinker to ensure it met the high standards for which he s striving for.