Making a Living , Diné Coffee

by Amanda Teller

“Gohwééh haaji” or “gohwééh shaani’kah” are phrases often heard from elders and younger generations alike. I know exactly what is being asked for because no matter the time of day, our Diné people love a good hot cup of coffee. The best coffee is brewed over a fire—all bundled up, we enjoy gohwééh around the fireplace with our families, perhaps closing up a ceremony, taking a break from the shoe game, or maybe while we wait for the goodies to be thrown out at nidáá. Other times, we enjoy coffee in our homes. The sound of a percolator brewing fresh coffee and the fragrant aroma wafting through the air offers sentiments of reservation living. A good cup of gohwééh is a beloved staple in our homes.

Troy Baldwin, co-owner of Diné Coffee in Gallup, New Mexico, recognized this love for coffee and its ability to keep him going through long working hours. For many years, Baldwin worked in the oil and gas industry where his body was pushed past its limits. After being stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, his work took him to Utah for several years after he served six years in the Marine Corps. “Many times, I would work over 100 hours, I needed caffeine to work those long hours,” said Baldwin. The physical toll on his body, a new love of coffee, and passion for hard work, inspired his calling down another path—starting a journey as an entrepreneur, serving his local community through coffee.

Leading The Way Vol. 23 No. 5