Sisters Camie Carlisle and Chelsea Lanier brew more than just great coffee; they pour heart and heritage into Summit Sisters Coffee, their Nashville-based, female-led roastery. Originally started by their father and now fueled by a passion for making specialty coffee accessible, their thoughtful approach to roasting, design, and storytelling makes pouring your own coffee at home feel a little more special. Get to know this week’s FACES of Nashville!
What makes Summit Sisters Coffee stand out in a crowd?
Camie: One of our sayings is that we have a coffee for everyone. We try to offer a variety of coffees that everyone in the household will love and enjoy. We’re a one-stop shop for quality blends, single-origin varietals, high-end coffees, and even flavored coffee.
How did you two join forces on this journey, and how has your father’s legacy shaped your approach?
Chelsea: I started working for the coffee company when I had my son. My main goal was a better work-life balance, so I could still work while spending time with my family. I left my career as a social worker and dove into coffee entrepreneurship. Even though I’d grown up around coffee, I didn’t know the first thing about running a business or roasting.
At almost the same time, my sister was exhausted from the healthcare industry and ready for a change. She decided to join as well. The first year, we focused on learning the trade and business. We were only a wholesale business selling to coffee shops, schools, and medical centers … we realized we wanted to create a way for our community, friends, and family to have access to freshly roasted coffee at home.
We knew we wanted Summit Sisters Coffee to be deeply rooted in what our father started, but also reach more people through an online storefront and social media.
What’s one early memory you both share that first sparked your love for coffee?
Camie: Coffee has been a part of our lives since I was born. We grew up watching our dad roast coffee and build a business from the ground up. I loved going by the roastery and watching the roasted beans fall into the cooling tray. I have always been inspired by our father and how he pursued his dream, but also put his family first.
How do you bring the “luxury in everyday coffee” vision to life?
Chelsea: I find luxury in the ritual of making a morning coffee. I’m the mom of a 4-year-old son; one of my favorite things to do is wake up early and make myself a cup of coffee. I love making a pot of coffee using a French press or making a latte. My luxury is taking time to sip my coffee in the still and quiet morning while I meditate, pray, or read.
One of our favorite things to do with our content is to come up with recipes to share via social media. We want to show our customers that they can be their own baristas and make delicious coffee creations at home.
What advice would you give other women looking to start a business together?
Camie: Keep pursuing your dreams even when it seems impossible. It’s challenging to navigate the work-life balance, but it’s also incredibly rewarding to create something new.
Chelsea: If you are going to be in a family business, you have to respect each other and realize everyone has a vital role in the business. It isn’t always easy, and we may not see eye to eye on everything, but we always put our relationship first. It is indescribable how great it feels to have people you work with who want to support you and truly see you succeed.
Where can we find your coffee?
Camie: You can find our coffee in local shops surrounding Nashville and also on our online storefront, which ships nationwide. Gammon’s Market in Hendersonville has our boxes of coffee and other delicious local goods.
Chelsea: Our online storefront features all our coffee collections … You can locate all our retail locations on our “Where to Find Us” webpage. We post on our social media when we attend farmers’ markets and events.
What are your favorite Nashville coffee shops, if you had to choose?
Camie: Crema. Their espresso tonic is one of the best in Nashville!
Chelsea: Flour Your Dreams Bakery. I love an iced Cuban and a freshly baked blueberry muffin.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Camie: From my father: “Put God first, and the rest will fall into place.”
Chelsea: Our parents taught us to put our whole heart into everything we do and always go above and beyond for our clients.
We also listened to motivational speaker Alison Levine at an NCA conference, who inspired us. She said, “We can’t control the environment; all we can control is how we react to it.” We never know what each day will bring, but we can always control how we react.
We always ask: Name three things you can’t live without.
Camie: Family, friends, and the great outdoors.
Chelsea: An iced latte or cold brew in the afternoon, getting my nails done, and boating on the lake. It’s my happy place.
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For more inspiring stories of Nashville women, visit our FACES archives.
