Every great venture starts with a spark—and sometimes, that spark is a single word delivered at the perfect moment. For Favajava, that moment connects a stressed-out tech founder to a world-weary artist and master builder whose journey began in a tiny coffee shop 30 something years ago.
The Original Temple of the Bean
The story of Favajava doesn't begin in the High Desert; it starts in Tacoma, Washington, at a small, beloved coffee shop called Temple of the Bean. For a young Whitey Flagg, who had returned to Tacoma at 21, this tiny space overlooking Wright Park was more than just a place to grab a cup—it was a catalyst for community and creativity. It was here that Whitey started meeting artists and musicians, inspiring him to pursue his own artistic path that would lead him to successful galleries in Tacoma, New York, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, and Paris.
However, after two decades in the high-stakes, "blue chip" art world, Whitey realized he was creating art as others expected him to. He made the decisive choice to cut and discard 20 years of his large paintings, leaving behind the "baggage" of the market to seek a creative life connected to nature and natural building. This search for an authentic life took him around the globe—from an apprenticeship in Hesperia to building domes for rescued children in India, and teaching in the Andes of Peru or the heat of Chad in Africa.
During these travels he encountered a mentor, now deceased, who asked Whitey to unveil a fava bean decaf coffee recipe. Whitey put this gift in his pocket for the right time.
15 years later, Whitey's journey led him to Joshua Tree—living in a trailer almost as a hermit, intending to focus solely on building. It was a return to ground zero, where he re-integrated into the local community by working on artists' houses.
His lifelong quest for authenticity and connection became the invisible foundation for Favajava.
The Message that Changed Everything
The bridge between Whitey's journey and Favajava was Scout, whom Whitey met years earlier through a mutual friend in the Harley-Davidson chopper circles of Grand Rapids, MI.
Scout was an Army reconnaissance specialist on the Korean DMZ (hence "Scout") before getting his art degree.
Belize jungles, Korea DMZ, Michigan many times, Indian Himalayas, Venice/Long/Huntington Beaches, Kentucky...Scout's never lived anywhere for longer than a few years.
When Favajava was introduced to him he was tech co-founder/CEO of a scrappy startup, and was at the height of a major breakdown well beyond professional burnout, trapped in a desperate cycle of anxiety, depression, acid reflux, sleeplessness, and caffeine dependency that was crushing his performance putting his whole world at risk. His board of directors removed him from his leadership position. To break out of this profoundly low point in life, Scout had undertaken an intensive, deep dive study of recovery, treating it like a do-or-die academic subject and seeking a way out of his downward spiral.
He indeed did successfully map the way out of the dark place. At it's core, it required a major life philosophical pivot highly focused on being a "character elegantly harmonizing with the pendulums of life with deliberate direction", not the old character that is always brute-forcing toward goals that may not be his. Coffee did not fit the new character.
Then in the middle of these ardent personal repair efforts, completely unaware of Scout's struggles, Whitey sent him a synchronistic text:
"Don't let me forget to tell you. Keyword: decaf."
That was a life turning point. From there, Favajava flowed into Scout's picture which was clearly a signal to follow. It tied together his program designed to remedy broken executive function, anxiety and depression. Of course, removing caffeine heavily from the equation was an obvious move already in practice, but the bean blend was more than a coffee swap. He found it leveled the turbulent mind. It felt peaceful.
Curious about how it did so, he researched the composition of the bean and saw how the components within it could stage somebody for excellent centering. The toasty, roasty, nutty, creamy tones felt therapeutic as well. Favajava instantly became a nutritional part of his strict recovery routine that included sleep, exercise, social efforts, meaningful hobbies, getting outdoors, self respect, meditation, study and of course fuel to make the body feel and function delightfully. Favajava was core to the new character being built and it naturally calibrated to the life scene he wants, feels and assumes.
Setting his lifestyle to be optimized for ideal emotional, physiological, physical, professional and spiritual states, FJ upgraded his daily ritual away from an agitation enhancer (coffee) to a calm, keen cup of creativity kick start.
A Wise Alternative for a Calm Flow State
The challenge in the modern world is to achieve calm, keen, elegant energy, the precious precursor to a flow state, without the anxiety-inducing jitters of caffeine turbulence.
The ancient legume, the fava bean provides a subtle sensation of being "calm but not tired", which is necessary for avoiding anxiety while remaining sharp. To us, this timeless state of being arrested and present was key to not only productivity, but healthy spiritual connection that helps one embody the desired future.
Fava beans contain L-dopa, a precursor to dopamine, along with B vitamins and proteins that help poise us for that deep, creative work, relaxation and beyond. The result is a nutty, earthy flavor profile and a product that is inherently clean, not chemically decaffeinated, perfectly aligning with a holistic approach to wellness. It goes great with epic outdoor landscapes and the smell of campfire, and vice versa, all contributing to an elevated state of being.
The fava bean also brings a message of sustainability. It’s a crop that requires significantly less water than coffee, making Favajava a sustainable choice that honors our fragile ecosystem. This is why Favajava is a wellness-oriented beverage aligned with conscious living.
To the Modern Pioneers and Seekers
We are inspired by those taking point, looking closely at what we're learning about the mind today, and see how it's coming full circle to bring more sense to old wisdom. It's for the creators, like us, seeking a mindful and intentional life away from the "jittery hustle culture" whose time has come for so many. It’s for anyone who recognizes the power of the peaceful state and want to bring the desert's spirit home.
We hope to cocreate a community around the philosophy and passions around intentional living and friction-free creation, one where a rich life is built on genuine human connection and personal growth beyond career. For us, Favajava is another anchor to that mindset—a daily ritual that supports your ability to center, create, and achieve.
Cheers to you
Our mission is clear in our heads and hearts:
We craft a cozy, warm decaf brew designed to cleanly support the calm, keen and creative flow state.
It's for those who want to attune elegantly into deep work, relaxation, meditation, or more.
Our ultimate vision is to unlock an uplifted social norm where calm, keen and creative FLOW STATE is a normal path to achieving desired goals and personal transformation in ways that jitters can't. Favajava is the only beverage that delivers the calm, keen energy necessary for an enduring flow state. We want modern makers at their best building and creating toward their desired reality.
We invite you to explore this new day cowboy coffee. Experience the rich, earthy, compelling flavor and raw/natural texture, and discover how our decaf ritual can become your true partner in mindful living, allowing you to cultivate creativity and focus
Welcome to Favajava. Ritual without the rush, designed to nurture the calm, keen and creative flow state so you thrive.
The Favan
We got the famous Joshua Tree bail bonds van if you're wondering where it went.
