NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — A coffee shop owner is using his second chance to give back to people struggling with addiction in his community.

What You Need To Know

  • Monos Coffee Crafters opened during the pandemic

  • Andrew Eberhart has been drug-free for 16 years, after dealing meth 

  • Eberhart received his Masters in Divinity and became a pastor

  • Eberhart hopes Monos Coffee Crafters will become a safe place in his community

 

“I have a crazy life story. I was a meth dealer in Atlanta. And I'm now 16 years clean,” Andrew Eberhart owner of Monos Coffee Crafters said.

Eberhart hasn't always had the easiest life.

“I hit rock bottom. So, I was on probation, been to jail three times, and was 149 pounds and I'm 6'5", so I was skin and bones. So as my dad said when he stood up in court to the judge, he said, 'My son is either going to be dead or he's going to be in prison for life.'” Eberhart said. 

Eberhart says his life finally turned around after attending teen challenge for his addiction and graduating from the rehab program after 18 months, he decided to get his Masters in Divinity.

“I was on probation for a year, had to meet with a dean and stuff and they were like you know it's a big deal for a small bible college to take an ex-meth dealer. They wanted to make sure that things were OK and it really was,” Eberhart said.

Eberhart didn’t start getting into roasting until about 5 years ago when he realized coffee was a way to build community.

“My small group leader was a home roaster. And he roasted Kenyan AA. And I had only previously had Waffle House coffee. So, when I tasted his home-roasted Kenyan AA, it blew my mind. So I immediately fell in love with coffee and always wanted to roast,” Eberhart said.

Now a pastor and coffee shop owner, Eberhart wants to use his dark past and his new shop as a resource for anyone in the community who may be struggling with difficult situations. 

“Back then it was just about the next day, the next fix, the next high. And I know there's so many people who are in that boat, and I, you know, want to be able to help them move their lives into a healing space, a space that's hopeful for them instead of just that downward spiral,” Eberhart said.