This is a guest post from Big Guns Coffee’s CEO T. Shane Johnson. Big Guns Coffee brings coffee farming indoors by transitioning to hydroponic coffee farming. Doing so helps to reduce the environmental footprint of coffee farming, localizes coffee production, and puts pressure on the coffee industry’s reliance upon international supply chains for coffee. Read on to learn more about hydroponic coffee and the future of coffee farming.
The U.S. is one of the world’s top consumers of coffee, but nearly all of it is imported. For decades, this has been considered just the way things are. Coffee requires specific climate conditions, tropical altitudes, and nutrient-rich volcanic soil—none of which are easy to find on American farmland.
But one company is rewriting the rules.
Big Guns Coffee, a veteran-owned business based in Tryon, North Carolina, is taking on the global coffee industry with a bold idea: coffee can be grown right here in the United States—without soil, tropical climates, or overseas supply chains. Through a combination of hydroponic farming and a franchise-style co-op model, Big Guns Coffee is not only proving it’s possible but making it accessible.
Redefining the Roots of Coffee Farming
Founded by Marine Corps veteran and motivational speaker T. Shane Johnson, alongside his 10-year-old daughter Charli Johnson, Big Guns Coffee started with a simple love for coffee and a shared vision of doing something bigger with it.
Instead of importing beans and competing with legacy coffee brands, the Johnsons decided to build something from the ground up—or more accurately, above the ground. The company is now leading the way in hydroponic coffee farming, a method that removes soil from the equation entirely. In place of dirt, the coffee plants grow in a nutrient-rich water solution inside a controlled environment.
This allows for greater precision, fewer resources, and better environmental outcomes. It also opens the door to something never before done at scale in the U.S.—domestic coffee production that is local, sustainable, and scalable.
A More Sustainable Cup of Coffee
Hydroponics isn’t just a novelty. It’s a sustainability breakthrough.
By comparison, hydroponic farms use up to 90% less water, don’t rely on pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and can be operated year-round in enclosed greenhouses. The environmental footprint is dramatically smaller, and the results are consistent—making it easier to deliver a reliable, high-quality product without compromising ethics or sustainability.
Traditional coffee farming can be extremely resource-intensive. It requires massive amounts of water, leaves crops vulnerable to climate disruption, and contributes to deforestation in some of the world’s most delicate ecosystems. Labor practices on coffee farms around the world are also frequently under scrutiny.
“The goal isn’t just to grow coffee—it’s to grow it better,” said T. Shane Johnson. “Hydroponic farming gives us the control, consistency, and responsibility that traditional farming just can’t always guarantee.”
Bringing Coffee Back Home
Currently, Big Guns Coffee offers two flagship blends sourced from a small fair-trade farm in Colombia—Charli’s Blend, a smooth and approachable roast named after the young co-founder herself, and The Motivator, a bold dark roast inspired by Johnson’s career in motivational speaking.
These blends will debut in Sprouts Farmers Market in May and are also launching in Walmart, helping build brand recognition while the company prepares its hydroponically grown beans for market.
But the real story is what’s coming next.
Big Guns Coffee is rolling out a Coffee Farm Franchise Co-Op Program, a first-of-its-kind opportunity for entrepreneurs and small-scale farmers to build their own indoor coffee farms. The first franchise is already underway in Kentucky, led by veteran Juan Ayala and his wife. The couple is building their farm directly on their property, using Big Guns Coffee’s proprietary hydroponic growing system.
This model makes it possible to grow coffee in places that were never viable before—from suburban warehouses to rural homesteads—without relying on traditional soil or climate conditions.
“We’re creating an ecosystem where coffee farming is accessible, profitable, and sustainable,” Johnson said. “It’s about giving people tools, not just a product.”
A Growing Network of Local Hydroponic Coffee Producers
As more farmers and investors join the co-op, the company’s reach is expanding. Big Guns Coffee is already in discussions with Montana’s co-op program to establish a West Coast presence and has received inquiries from entrepreneurs in Atlanta, Florida, and beyond.
Each new franchise will be equipped with guidance, equipment sourcing, and connections to roasting and retail partners, making it easier for participants to succeed—even if they’ve never farmed before.
This approach doesn’t just decentralize coffee production—it could reshape the domestic supply chain. With beans grown and roasted locally, consumers will get fresher coffee while reducing the carbon emissions typically associated with international transport.
Turning Heads—and Taking Big Swings through Hydroponic Coffee Farming
The momentum behind Big Guns Coffee has also led to a new opportunity: a chance to pitch the company on Shark Tank.
T. Shane and Charli Johnson will travel to Kansas City on May 15 to attend an open casting call for the show. Their goal is to share their vision of “The American Dream 2.0”—a future where families, veterans, and everyday entrepreneurs can grow a business from their own backyard, quite literally.
“Hydroponics allows us to bring coffee back to America in a way that’s meaningful, sustainable, and empowering,” said Johnson. “We’re not waiting for change—we’re building it.”
The Future of Coffee Is Local
As the first hydroponic coffee farms break ground and Big Guns Coffee expands into more retail locations, the company is moving closer to something that once seemed impossible: a thriving, American-grown coffee industry.
It’s a vision rooted in resilience, backed by innovation, and led by a father-daughter team that believes coffee should be as bold in impact as it is in taste.
For more information about Big Guns Coffee, their hydroponic farm program, or to shop their blends, visit https://biggunscoffee.com.
