What if your morning coffee had a story that started in a popcorn maker?
That’s exactly where the journey began for Mary Stone, founder of Stone Stash Coffee, and it’s the story she shares with Bryan Eisenberg on this week’s Rock Solid Podcast. From roasting beans at home during the pandemic to building a subscription-based coffee business that’s become a staple in Round Rock, Mary’s path is the kind that makes you pause, smile, and maybe even rethink what’s in your cup right now.
Mary and her husband were coffee lovers long before Stone Stash was born. They used to drive into Austin for quality beans, but the cost and the commute added up. So, like many good entrepreneurial stories, they asked, Why don’t we try this ourselves? The first attempt with a cast iron pan didn’t go well. But the next experiment, a popcorn maker, turned out surprisingly delicious. Friends and family kept asking for more, and slowly the idea of a business began to take shape.
What makes Stone Stash stand out is its commitment to air roasting, a process that gives coffee a smoother taste compared to traditional drum roasting. Bryan compares it to the burnt edge many people taste in big chain coffee. Mary explains why: in drum roasting, the beans touch hot surfaces and the shells burn back into the beans. In air roasting, the beans circulate in hot air, and the shells separate into a container they compost. Cleaner beans. Cleaner taste. And a process that is more sustainable too.
Stone Stash is more than just coffee. It’s about how you start your day. They sell whole bean only, encouraging customers to grind fresh at home for a better experience. And instead of building a brick and mortar shop, Mary chose a subscription and delivery model. That decision kept the business flexible for her young family while making it easier for customers to never run out of good coffee. Subscriptions now form the backbone of their growth, and once someone tries it, the retention is high.
Community is where Stone Stash really shines. Mary is deeply involved in Round Rock. You’ll find her coffee at the Round Rock Chamber Business Leadership Series, 1 Million Cups, YMCA events, board meetings, and even ribbon cuttings. She shows up with coffee and conversation, and in return, she’s gained not just customers but mentors, friends, and fellow entrepreneurs who share ideas and advice.
In the episode, Mary talks about the lessons learned from these networks. Whether it’s business leaders offering tips on marketing and retention or other small business owners sharing struggles at 1 Million Cups, she’s found constant value in simply being present. Those connections have shaped how she runs Stone Stash today.
Of course, entrepreneurship isn’t without challenges. Mary is candid about wearing all the hats: roaster, packager, delivery driver, marketer, bookkeeper. She admits she tried doing the books herself for the first year before realizing that hiring a pro was the best investment. Bryan shares a story of asking an entrepreneur how much their time is worth per hour, then pointing out that doing $20 tasks holds them back. It’s a reminder many small business owners need to hear: working on the business matters more than being stuck in the business.
Looking ahead, Mary has big plans. A new warehouse is under construction, set to open in early 2026. That space will allow Stone Stash to grow while freeing Mary to hand off some of those hats. In the meantime, 2025 is already shaping up strong. Holiday seasons bring big demand for gift baskets, both for customers and nonprofits. Last year, they donated around 30 baskets to local organizations, a big effort for a small business and one Mary sees as a way to give back while raising awareness.
Stone Stash is also finding its way into local restaurants and shops. Urban Rooftop uses their beans for espresso martinis, Purely Provisions is set to feature their decaf in a new concept, and Mod Architecture has supported their growth plans from the start. These collaborations show how small businesses thrive when they lift each other up.
So how can the community support Stone Stash? Mary’s answer is simple: shop local. Show up at events where they provide coffee. Order a bag from their website. Try a subscription. Or give a gift of local beans to a friend. As one customer put it when moving away, “We shop local everywhere we go.” That’s the kind of loyalty and mindset that keeps small businesses alive.
And if you’re wondering what Mary does when she’s not roasting or delivering coffee, she’s out enjoying Round Rock: biking the trails, exploring new restaurants, catching a movie, or visiting Kalahari with her kids. Stone Stash isn’t just about coffee, it’s about being woven into the daily life of this community.
This episode of Rock Solid captures all of it: the origin story, the roasting process, the community connections, the struggles, the wins, and the vision for what’s next. It’s inspiring, practical, and a reminder that big stories often start in small, unexpected ways. Like with a popcorn maker on a kitchen counter.
Listen to the full conversation with Mary Stone on the Rock Solid Podcast. Then go taste the difference for yourself.
