Signet Coffee Roasters

Typically, the most noticeable feature of a coffeeshop is the smell, that invigorating aroma of freshly-ground beans.

At Signet Coffee Roasters in Downtown Pittsburg, the smell has competition.

“One of the first things you notice about Signet when you walk in is just how beautiful it is,” said Lindsey Chenoweth, who visited recently with husband Rob. “Most coffeeshops smell really good, but Signet is also beautiful to look at. The industrial look, the brick walls, the big windows … it’s really a gorgeous place.” 

Owners Dennis and Leah Posterick said they were hoping for that reaction when Signet moved last year to its current home at 109 N. Broadway. Signet first opened in 2011 a block south of its current location.

“It’s always fun to see people’s reaction to the space,” Leah said. “Obviously we’re quite proud of it, but it’s always nice when you can tell that others enjoy it. It’s certainly a step up from where we started. We’ve worked hard to get to this point, and we’re very grateful that the community continues to support us.”

Signet has grown over the years from a small coffee roasting operation to a full-fledged coffeeshop experience. 

“We’re a small, family-owned coffee roasting company that strives to give everyone the chance to enjoy fresh coffee at an affordable price,” Dennis said. “We sell freshly roasted beans, brewed coffee, espresso drinks, homemade baked goods, coffee merchandise and now lunch.”

And as part of a unique partnership with another Kansas small business, Signet also sells its own specialty chocolate bar.

“We now have chocolate espresso bars made by The Sweet Granada chocolate cafe in Emporia, Kansas,” Dennis said. “The Kansas SBDC at Pittsburg State coordinated a meeting with us and Kim Redeker from Sweet Granada. We were able to learn more about each other’s businesses and brainstorm as to how we could work together.”

Redeker, owner of Sweet Granada, said she enjoys working with Signet and other small businesses on specialty items.

“Our staff has had a lot of fun creating one-of-a-kind products with these regional businesses,” she said. “We did a couple of test runs last year as part of the process to find just the right product. We have worked quite a bit with coffee and coffee flavors, but Signet Coffee is unique, and it was an enjoyable process, taste-testing and finding the best pair with our chocolate.”

Leah said she and Dennis are grateful to the Kansas SBDC for helping her business connect with others.

“Small businesses are the heartbeat of all communities, run by people who live in them,” she said. “We feel it’s important to support people and businesses who invest their time, money and lives into helping make this community better. The Kansas SBDC knows how hard it is for small business owners to find the time to experience what other Kansas communities have to offer, so they help us link together.”

Their favorite part of being a small business owner is meeting new people and forming new friendships.

“We have been invited to weddings and graduations from people we didn't know before opening this business,” Dennis said. “We believe this could only happen in communities like Pittsburg. When we first started out in 2011, we never imagined how quickly we’d grow and become a part of this thriving community.

“Ultimately, we want to continue to grow as a business and support the community that we love to be a part of. We want to continue to partner with other small businesses and local makers to help support each other. Because we all do better when we all do better.”

Dennis and Leah said the entire Posterick family deserves credit for Signet’s success.

“Our new location definitely wouldn’t exist without the help of our kids,” Leah said. “Without their hard work and support, we couldn’t have grown this business to what it is today.”

Find Signet Coffee Roasters online at www.signetcoffee.com.