Small Business Spotlight: Daisy Chain Coffee

Daniel Bosman never really pictured owning his own business.

Sure, he is a well-known local connoisseur of coffee, having served as Mars Cafe’s primary barista for 14 years.

But ownership of Daisy Chain Coffee came because of a pandemic-era beekeeping hobby turned passion and integral part of Bosman’s coffee shop business model.

About six years ago on his 10-acre property near Pleasant Hill, he started with one beehive for fun — resulting in a few dozen pounds of honey to start. Two years later, a turn of events provided the perfect opportunity for growth and change: Amid the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bosman’s longtime employer, Mars Cafe, experienced several changes in location, ownership and structure including closure of the Downtown Des Moines (DSM) location he managed. Additionally, he was laid off from his radio gig of 15 years as well. With more time on his hands, he turned to his beekeeping hobby which quickly grew to 10 hives; he was also able to cultivate an even greater knowledge of the beekeeping and honey harvesting process thanks to an acquaintance offering him hands-on experience with hundreds of hives in nearby Belmont, Iowa.

A well-timed conversation with Mike Draper, owner of Raygun, and lots of brainstorming of the coffeeshop brand and name led to the opening Daisy Chain Coffee in November of 2020, adjacent to Raygun’s shop in the Historic East Village of Downtown Des Moines.

Of course, the name Daisy Chain is a subtle play on the underlying theme of the key ingredient in many of the handcrafted drinks: Daniel Bee’s Honey.

And as the coffeeshop continues to grow, Bosman’s beekeeping must also keep pace with the shop’s growing demand for honey. With 25 hives, Bosman’s bees produce a whopping 1,500 pounds of honey each year for Daisy Chain. A unique aspect to beekeeping: Honey is harvested just once a year around mid-August, so planning is critical. Daniel mentioned he is now building 10 more hive boxes for future use.

“It’s a lot of work, but days are so busy at the shop making drinks then get home and put on my bee suit and go straight to the bee yard,” said Bosman.

Beyond roasted coffee, handcrafted espresso drinks and ice-cold lemonade, the shop has a small retail selection of items available in-store ranging from raw honey to beeswax candles in various shapes and sizes, plus Daisy Chain’s roasted blend of coffee beans and an ever-changing lineup of apparel items, too.

But overall, the menu is short and sweet, and Bosman likes it that way: “I have to resist adding more to it and keep it as simple as it is. It’s just me and a few friends and a coffee shop. Coffee and honey. It’s important to stick to the vision.”

His fave drink? The Miel, a latte with Daniel Bee’s Honey and cinnamon. Bosman says its fun serving drinks made with his own honey, and people are often surprised it’s his name on the honey jar as the owner.

Bosman is quick to give credit to others in their support of Daisy Chain’s success. First, he has a dedicated yet small staff of employees. Impressively, he’s maintained all the same staff over the past four years — which is unique in a retail or food business. He points to his unique style of managing people as the reason:

“We work really hard, but it’s somewhat casual and no-nonsense. I like to hire similar people with a similar vibe to my own. I can leave the shop with any of them at the helm, and I know the shop is in good hands.”

He’s also had the joy of working with his own family members, too. Both of his children, a 21-year-old son and daughter (pictured above) that just started working for the shop at age 15 have been “fantastic, tons of help,” says Bosman.

Additionally, Bosman draws inspiration from nearby small businesses and the unique sense of place in the Historic East Village. He also relies on a community of like-minded small business owners for encouragement. He underscored his support of local small businesses by mentioning his connectivity to Raygun and nearby Storyhouse Bookpub, which opened around the same time. You’ll also recognize local partners when visiting the coffeeshop, like Thelma’s ice cream sandwich treats and apparel partnerships with the Fontenelle Supply Co.

“It’s great being in the Historic East Village surrounded by other small businesses. It is helpful to have community with a group of people to encourage you. There’s a hyper-specific local community here, and everyone supports each other. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be in Des Moines.”

Fun Facts About Daisy Chain Coffee

• Doggos welcome here! Your furry best friend with four legs can stop into Daisy Chain for a dog treat.
• We’re throwing it way, way back when we say you might recognize owner Daniel Bosman from the 2012 viral video, Shit People from Des Moines Say.
• Daisy Chain has drawn several big-name performers to the shop during their visits to Downtown DSM, including the AJR brothers, John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats, Tyler Childers and members of the band, Turnstile — to namedrop just a few!
• Bosman's skull beeswax candles and honey bears have both won Blue Ribbons (which means first place) at the Iowa State Fair.

About Daisy Chain Coffee

Location
505 E. Grand Ave. #104
Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Hours
Monday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
Saturday & Sunday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Learn More
Website: daisychaincoffee.com
Facebook: facebook.com/daisychaincoffee
Instagram: instagram.com/daisychaincoffee

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