Building Community Through Authentic Coffee

It’s our passion to bring craft coffee to new spaces…introducing people to the beautiful foundations of coffee, tea, chocolate, and so many other delightful drinks. All of this happens in the context of relationships.

Moving into Farmersville, we felt a deep responsibility to create and sustain a special menu bringing some of the best products in the metroplex and around the world to the people that call this town home.

We are focused on stories.

12 Stories is a place where everyone can feel comfortable and welcome to share their story…both with us and with one another. We love to see our front door swinging open with eager people ready to try wonderful and exciting products while sharing their unique, everyday lives.

The 12 Stories

Excellence

A mindset of constant improvement based on consciously choosing your best effort with the best resources available.

Antoni Gaudi was a Catalan architect from Spain, commonly known as the greatest exponent of Catalan Modernism. His works have a highly individualized sui generis style. Most are located in Barcelona, including his main work, the church of Sagrada Família.

Innovation

In tandem with excellence, we strive to see things from different perspectives and test out new ideas; bringing something new of value to each space we enter.

Melitta Bentz was a German entrepreneur who invented the paper coffee filter brewing system in 1908. Today, her company still sells a wide variety of coffee-related products, including filters derived from Bentz’s original invention.

Invitation

As a community, we cannot walk this journey alone…everything we do, we must invite others along the path.

JRR Tolken was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. His works used friendship and community as focal points of success for the protagonist.

Education

We are in a constant process and pursuit of learning. It never ceases or finishes.

George Washington Carver was accepted at Highland University in Kansas, however, they refused to let him attend because of his race. After years as a ranch hand, he began studying art and piano at Simpson College in Iowa, where he was the first black student. He continued his master’s degree and eventually taught as the first black faculty member at Iowa State.

Journey

The destination is the journey; we are never there, but we are always on the way. We never act like we have arrived, nor do we stop.

12 Stories Coffee is a living embodiment of the journey of owners David Hayes and Marty Garza. Constantly striving towards their next endeavor, they look to the present for the direction of the future.

Humility

We choose to not think of ourselves more highly than we ought and strive to put others before ourselves.

A.A. Milne was an English author popular for his books about Winnie-the-Pooh, along with children’s poetry. Milne was inspired to write the books for his son after a visit to the zoo. It’s regarded as one of the best-loved novels in the UK and has many accolades.

Unity

We fight for connection and community, not division and competition. While there will always be others in our field, we do not choose language and actions that are combative.

The Farmersville Founders made progress a keynote of their formation of this small town. The steady growth and development are evident to passers-by and one only has to pass through to realize it is one of the most progressing towns in the entire state.

Service

At all times, in all ways, for all people, we survive and thrive personally and as a business in the movement of service.

Mr. Hayes, father of owner David Hayes, exemplified service in every aspect of his life. In all areas of live, Bruce lived a life of service to others. It was a way of being for him and we strive to live in his example.

Discipleship

Every decision, action, model, project, and role should flow in the midst of discipleship…nothing we do should happen without the transplanting of that process to another.

Bruce Barton, the namesake of our classic Barton’s Cold Brew, was an author, executive, and politician. Barton came to embody a generation’s values in America, and he fought against Franklin D. Roosevelt for re-election to his third term. Many were inspired by his idealization of the American dream.

Honor

The flow of business and life carries the cadence of honor…every motion we make must carry honor and allow us to receive honor.

Martin Luther King Jr. was an American minister and activist, and one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. He advanced civil rights for people of color in the US through nonviolence and civil disobedience, inspired by his Christian beliefs and Gandhi.

Passion

We believe that every role should be met with a passionate pursuit…while we may not enjoy every aspect of our role, we must be passionate about its purpose and goal.

F. Scott Fitzgerald was an American novelist, essayist, and short story writer. Author of The Great Gatsby, some now hail the literary work as the “Great American Novel”. He enjoyed depicting the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age.

Equality

We never carry different levels of respect from one individual to another… all people carry the same level of treatment and respect.

Mr. Rogers (Fred McFeely Rogers) was a television host, author, producer, and minister. Rogers hosted Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which emphasized young children’s social and emotional needs. Rogers taught young children about civility, tolerance, sharing, and self-worth while tackling difficult topics like moving, the death of a pet, and divorce.

We pride ourselves in embodying the stories of 12 people and organizations that exemplify the characteristics we value.