All You Gotta Do is Sayso!
Kylan Reasoner, Sayso Coffee co-owner, said when he focuses on loving everyone that walks through the doors (instead of worrying about the future), his days as a small business owner go much smoother. (Photo by Madalyn Yates Photography)
The Mountains to Sea Coffee Crawl ft. Sayso Coffee
Sayso Coffee owners Kylan and Rebecca Reasoner didn’t let a pandemic shut down their dream of serving high-quality coffee with a side of something that tastes like home.
In 2020, this husband-and-wife team saw that coffee shops were still popular even when visitors couldn’t sit inside. Seriously — there were lines out the door and down the sidewalk at coffee shops they frequented.
When they decided to go for it, they found a home for the shop inside the West Salem Public House. There they quickly became a neighborhood and city favorite in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
This is a coffee shop that’s good to its customers, community, employees, and vendors who help make the day-to-day workings at Sayso possible.
Sayso Coffee Quick Facts:
Coffee Roaster: Black & White
Most popular drink: Cardamom Latte
Go-to home brewing method: Pour over with an origami dripper
More options: baked goods, curated teas, fresh fruit soda + sparkling water
Normal hours: Mon-Fri 6:30 AM to 4 PM, Sat 8 AM to 4 PM
Address: 400 S Green St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Distance from I-40: 2 miles/5 minutes
Appeals to: Coffee aficionados + the everyday coffee drinker
(Photo by Madalyn Yates Photography)
Without further ado, let’s jump into a little Q&A with Kylan to see what he has to say about being a small business/coffee shop owner:
Q: Have you always dreamed of owning a coffee shop? What's the origin story of your shop?
A: Since I started working in coffee several years ago, yes. Sayso started as a mobile cart two years ago. At that point, I was working for a friend of mine.
During covid, they decided to shut it down permanently, which is when my wife (then fiancé) and I decided to buy it from them and open it in the space we are at now. (We share a space with a local beer and wine pub, which is open in the evenings when we close.)
Q: What makes your coffee shop different from others in NC?
A: The thing that makes us unique is who we are. As a husband (coffee background and passion) and wife (food background and passion) team, we are striving to create a place where the highest level of coffee and the highest level (fresh, seasonal, local, consistent) of food coexist and complement each other. In April of 2021, we started offering fresh-baked goods Thursday through Saturday. Rebecca stays up until around 3 on bakery mornings, creating the pastries available that day.
Q: Can you tell me about your shop's atmosphere? When new guests walk in, how do you want them to feel?
A: We strive to create a welcoming and relaxed environment. Our goal is to welcome everyone who walks in the door. We want them to feel free to ask questions about our food and coffee and why they should expect to have a great experience.
There is one part of our atmosphere we can’t take the credit for. Our regulars are friendly and a big part of the atmosphere of Sayso. We love when people connect over the common grounds of our shop.
Q: Would you be willing to share your hopes for the shop in the future?
A: We are working to expand food every day, as well as a second location that will offer made-to-order breakfast and lunch.
Q: What’s the story behind the name of Sayso Coffee?
A: When Sayso started two years ago, the original owners named it based on their desire to create a safe space where people could speak to each other, speak up, and generally be heard. Whether they want to use their voice for deeper, more meaningful topics or whether they need to speak up and ask their barista for a napkin or lid.
About the Mountains to Sea Coffee Crawl
Like the Mountains to Sea Trail, the Mountains to Sea Coffee Crawl will span from the mountains of North Carolina to the sandy beaches of our Tar Heel state. Following the 1-40 corridor, Local Type copywriter Sarah Stricker and brand photographer Madalyn Yates explore the Carolina coffee scene while meeting up with passionate small businesses owners along the way.
Special thanks to Madalyn Yates for choosing to hop in a car and drive the length of North Carolina with me!
If you’re a small business owner who would like to contact Madalyn Yates Photography, you can find her information below.
Madalyn Yates Photography | madalynyatesphotography.com | IG: @madalynyatesphoto
“You know, I think I’m starting to feel the effects of the caffeine...”
