For Daniel and Emily Lancaster (’18), coffee has always been so much more than a delicious jolt of energy. To them, the biggest perk of a warm cup is an invitation to gather and interact with people they might not connect with in any other setting. That love for coffee, paired with a deep passion for community, led them to open their own coffee shop in Swannanoa in May 2025.
Daniel and Emily first met as students at Montreat College. Daniel, a Bible and Theology major with a concentration in Preaching and Evangelism, was drawn to Montreat’s tight-knit community, an ideal setting to study ministry. He also aspired to continue his running career, and Montreat provided the perfect combination of athletics, deep fellowship, and the beautiful backdrop of the mountains.
Emily pursued a degree in Music, cultivating her gifts academically and artistically. She also cherished the Christ-centered community that laid the foundation for her passion for making meaningful connections.
“Anything career-related has spawned from Montreat, whether from staying in the area to contacts from friends, professors, and other faculty members,” she said.
During their time as students, Daniel and Emily would frequent local coffee shops on off-campus dates. Those shared moments not only sparked their relationship but also planted the seeds for their community-centered coffee shop they would eventually create.
Although the Lancasters had always envisioned ministry within a church setting, coffee was never far from the picture. Daniel began writing about coffee, which led him to brewing his own coffee on the side for fun. In 2021, he published a book called The Coffee Recipe Book. By 2024, while Daniel was attending seminary, the couple sensed the Lord redirecting them toward opening a shop in Swannanoa as a way to invest in the community outside the walls of the church. They secured a location, gathered funding, and prepared to open later that November, until their plans were interrupted when Hurricane Helene hit.
While the shop itself was fortunately spared from significant damage, the Lancasters feared their dream might be over. As they volunteered with Valley Hope to aid in recovery efforts, they realized they had a surplus of coffee on hand. With folding tables, a brewing machine, and a generator, they set up a makeshift station and began offering warm cups to neighbors in need.
“It was a small luxury, but many had not had coffee in weeks,” they said. “It was warm and familiar, and it allowed people to gather in community again.”
As Daniel and Emily continued their pop-up coffee shop, customers began asking when they planned to open a permanent location. Through those conversations, they recognized that God was still calling them to pursue their vision of their own shop.
“God provided the way,” they said. “We figured it would be beneficial for the community to also provide jobs, a new place to gather, and the hope of something new opening instead of another business being torn down.”
Short Sleeves officially opened on May 15, 2025, with the goal of creating a welcoming place where anyone from any walk of life could feel at home. The shop’s name reflects Daniel’s own personality.
“I’ve always been more of a short-sleeves guy than a suit-and-tie guy,” he joked.
That same casual spirit defines the atmosphere of the shop. Short Sleeves Coffee is designed to be a space where customers can show up as they are for the short-sleeve moments in life. Beyond a cup of coffee, the shop offers a way to meet people who may never step foot into a church and greet them with the love of Jesus.
“People come in for many reasons,” they said. “Whether it is coffee before work, they have experienced a loss, or they’re in a season of great joy, we get to interact with them without an agenda.”
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, opening Short Sleeves Coffee in Swannanoa brought an extra sense of pride. Once often overshadowed by the neighboring communities of Black Mountain and Asheville, Swannanoa has rallied together in a beautiful way, welcoming new businesses, rebuilding homes, and embracing a renewed commitment to a stronger and better Swannanoa.
As new business owners, James 4:13-15 has grounded Daniel and Emily, reminding them that their shop is truly the Lord’s. Their approach is simply to submit to Him, follow His guidance, and trust that things will fall into place.
“It could be easy to get sucked into the bottom line and growth for the sake of growth,” said Emily, “but Daniel’s background in ministry has helped ground him and keep business in its proper place.”
Looking back, Daniel and Emily encourage Montreat students to invest in relationships.
“It is easy to get caught up in the end goal, to focus on the steps to get there, but the best thing you can do for your future is to do the end goal now,” they said. “Help people now and invest in people now because those relationships will carry you through the rest of life.”
They also recommend that students be open to God changing their plans and broadening their horizons.
“Whatever class you are in, even if it does not seem to apply to what you want to do in life, soak it in and allow it to shed a new light on your goals,” they said.