Kuppa Joy is a third wave coffee shop with three locations in the Fresno-Clovis area. Third wave coffee means purchasing coffee based on its origin and artisan methods of production. Started by ex Detroit Lions linebacker Zach Follet, Kuppa Joy aims to change the coffee culture in the Central Valley.

Wife of Zach Follet and founder of Kuppa Joy, Chelsea Wathen-Follet, explains why Follet started Kuppa Joy.

“Kuppa Joy was started by my husband,” Wathen-Follet said. “He played for the Detroit Lions then had a career-ending injury in his neck. He took the first year off to himself to go on a missions trip to England. He was sitting in a coffee shop and God gave him the vision to open a coffee shop somewhere back home and to love the people in his community.”

Fresno Christian alumni, Chelsea Wathen-Follet, explains her backstory and how she ended up working at Kuppa Joy.

“I graduated from Fresno Christian in 2010 then went to Fresno Pacific for two years,” Wathen-Follet said. “Then I transferred to a culinary school and graduated with my degree in culinary arts. I went and worked at a restaurant in Carmel called Casanovas and then came  back to Fresno to work full time with Kuppa Joy when the second location was started.”

Kuppa Joy has a unique opportunity to teach the Gospel through selling coffee. Wathen-Follet is a testament to this as she first learned about the gospel at Kuppa Joy Clovis.

For more information on Kuppa Joy, read Kuppa Joy provides welcoming atmosphere.