I don’t know about you, but my best ideas don’t arrive politely. They come storming in between the first and third sip of coffee, like, “Hi, I’m here to save your entire life. Also, we should buy a goat.”
And no, I don’t mean some sad, bitter sludge from a pod machine.
I mean real coffee. The kind that’s been roasted fresh in small batches, kissed by sunlight (probably), and brewed by someone who understands that life before caffeine is just chaos.
Experience Dawn Patrol by Front Porch Café. Smooth. Bold. Dependable. The kind of coffee that doesn’t just wake you up—it makes you believe you can do things. Like finish that novel. Or finally organize the garage. Or, if you’re Laura Wayland, turn rock bottom into a multimillion-dollar retail group with nine locations and a wholesale roasting operation. Casual.
Yeah. That kind of coffee.
Let me tell you a story. A real one.
Once Upon a Debt Pile
Fifteen years ago, Laura Wayland was a stay-at-home mom; no savings, house underwater, credit cards maxed out. Two young kids. Zero room for error. Sound familiar?
And instead of panicking (or okay, maybe after panicking), she and her husband did something wild.
They bet on themselves.
They cleaned out their 401K, got a small business loan, and bought a tiny wine and beer store in the Outer Banks.
It was not glamorous, but it was a beginning.
That one store became two. Then three. Then came coffee. Glorious, life-affirming coffee.
The Front Porch Effect
Here’s the thing about Front Porch Café: It’s not just a coffee shop, it’s a feeling.
You walk in and smell the freshly roasted beans, you feel like hugged, welcomed, like someone just handed you a warm blanket and said, “You’ve got this.”
And that? That’s deliberate.
From the start, Front Porch Café was designed to feel like your favorite front porch: inviting, familiar, filled with good stories and better coffee.
Laura built this place from the ground up—quite literally. She painted walls. Hauled fixtures. Probably cried in a mop closet once or twice. And through it all, coffee became the constant.
It’s fitting, then, that their signature roast is called Dawn Patrol. Because that’s exactly what this journey has been—showing up before the sun, one cup at a time, ready to do what needs to be done.
What’s in the Cup
Let’s talk about Dawn Patrol for a moment. This isn’t some generic grocery store brew that tastes like cardboard regret. This is hand-roasted, small-batch, ocean-side magic.
It’s smooth. Bold. Balanced. The kind of roast that doesn’t slap you in the face but nudges you out of bed with the gentlest whisper: “Hey. You’ve got dreams to chase.”
It’s the brew that carries you through those early morning school runs, 3 pm slumps, and late-night brainstorming sessions where you somehow convince yourself that yes, you can renovate your kitchen by yourself.
But if Dawn Patrol is the dependable ride-or-die of the coffee world, then The West Third Mocha is its romantic, slightly indulgent cousin.
The Legend of West Third
Sadly, West Third Mocha isn’t available for purchase online yet. And believe me, that “yet” is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, because this drink is the kind of cozy you don’t forget.
Named after the original Front Porch Café location on West Third Street in Kill Devil Hills, it’s a blend of espresso, dark chocolate, hazelnut, and caramel. Rich. Comforting. The kind of drink that makes you forget your to-do list and contemplate writing poetry instead.
Imagine sipping this on a rainy day with a novel you haven’t opened in years. Or better yet—imagine standing in that original café, where this whole wild ride began, cup in hand, taking in the buzz of conversation, the clink of mugs, and the slow hum of dreams being brewed.
There’s something powerful about a drink that’s more than a drink. West Third Mocha is a memory in liquid form.
The Salty Beach (Yes, Really)
But don’t get too cozy yet, because there’s another local legend: The Salty Beach.
This isn’t just a cheeky name (though, 10/10). It’s a salted caramel shaken espresso with cold foam. Think of it as summer vacation in a cup—playful, refreshing, with just enough sweet and sass to get you through the day.
It’s the kind of drink you grab when you’re wearing flip-flops and forgetting what day it is. When you’re on your way to the beach, or pretending you are.
The locals love it. The tourists crave it. And once you’ve had one, you’ll find yourself randomly craving that perfect balance of espresso bite and caramel smoothness at the most inconvenient times. Like at 11 pm. Or during a Zoom meeting.
A Cup of Grit
But let’s zoom out for a second.
Because as delicious as all these drinks are (and I’m not saying I’d trade my left sock for a lifetime supply of Dawn Patrol, but I might), what makes this brand so compelling isn’t just what’s in the cup.
It’s the story behind the cup.
Laura didn’t just build a business—she built a life, one steeped in resilience, creativity, and about 1,000 gallons of coffee.
She didn’t wait for permission. She didn’t wait for the right timing. She didn’t wait for a “safe” opportunity.
She started scared. She started broke. She started anyway.
And every decision since—whether it was roasting their beans in Kill Devil Hills, launching a mobile app, or designing a franchise model—has been rooted in one question: How do we make this experience better?
Better for the customer. Better for the staff. Better for the community.
Because when you build something from the heart, it shows.
Brewing Beyond the Outer Banks
Fast forward to today, and Front Porch Café has four thriving locations across the Outer Banks, with the first franchise set to open soon in Raleigh, North Carolina.
That’s right—the porch is getting a lot bigger.
But here’s the thing: even as they grow, they’re not losing what made them special.
The roasting still happens in Kill Devil Hills, daily. The vibes are still warm, easy, and deeply local. The goal isn’t to become a sterile national chain. It’s to bring that Front Porch magic to more porches.
To more communities.
To more dreamers.
What Coffee Teaches Us
Maybe this whole thing isn’t really about coffee.
Maybe it’s about what coffee represents.
A second chance. A fresh start. The little rituals that hold us together when everything else feels messy.
The decision to believe in yourself when the numbers don’t add up.
The courage to keep pouring—even when you’re not sure who’s coming through the door.
Laura’s story reminds us that success isn’t always flashy. Sometimes it’s slow-roasted. Built cup by cup. Morning by morning.
Front Porch Finale
So yes—Dawn Patrol is delicious. And yes—The Salty Beach is dangerously addictive. And yes—The West Third Mocha needs to be in all of our hands yesterday.
But more than that?
Front Porch Café is proof that a coffee shop can be a love letter to a town, a lifeline to a family, and a launchpad for something way bigger than caffeine.
So, the next time you’re holding a cup of coffee, ask yourself: what could you build with it?
Maybe a better morning. Maybe a beautiful business. Maybe a life that feels a little more yours.
Whatever it is, Front Porch Café will be cheering you on.
One cup at a time.
There’s a moment most of us don’t talk about. It’s not the first wrinkle. Not…
It’s early morning, and the first rays of sunlight spill over the horizon. Birds are…
Let’s get real for a second. Skincare can feel like a full-time job. There’s the…
You’re curled up on the couch, maybe wrapped in that blanket you never lend out…
Alright, let’s settle in with a cup of tea (or, in this case, maybe a…
Let’s just get one thing straight: I love naps. Not in a casual, “oh, naps…