Salutes and Sips with Googan Coffee

In honor of Veterans Day, sneak an inside peek at how Air Force veterans Tanya and Jim Mitchell are marching to the beat of their own brew at Googan Coffee

Kristen Desmond LeFevre

November 5, 2025

The Googan Express rolls out to local events to serve up cups of joe on the go. Photo courtesy of Googan Coffee

The coffee hustle is not for the faint of heart. Filling orders quickly and competently (considering all the one-off details like temperature levels, foam additions, mylk preferences, shot add-ins—and more) for folks who need their caffeine fix now is more challenging than Tanya Mitchell makes it look. Perhaps that’s because she’s battle-tested—and not just as a veteran coffee barista. Mitchell is a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. She and husband Jim (who is also an Air Force vet) are co-owners of Googan Coffee—a buzzy Stuart spot that has commanded a loyal local following.

The Mitchells met when they were both serving in the Air Force. Photo courtesy of Googan Coffee

Before running a successful coffee counter culture in Stuart, Tanya served as a logistics officer in the Air Force, spending time in locations like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq. “My first assignment in Turkey during [Operation] Desert Storm really showed me the power of military partnerships,” she recalls. “Those leadership and teamwork skills have been invaluable in running Googan.”

Both Tanya and Jim retired from the Air Force to run a firm that trained combat medics. But they eventually sold that business and moved to South Florida. Still, retirement wasn’t in the cards. “We missed creating something that made a positive impact,” Tanya says. “So we used what we learned and started Googan Coffee.”

The name “Googan” is a playful nod to the fishing world—a term used to describe a person who lacks serious skills. “It’s a bit cheeky,” Tanya says. The name serves as a reminder, she explains: “We don’t take ourselves too seriously.”

Gooey marshmallow meets bold espresso in Googan’s S’mores Shakerato. Photo courtesy of Googan Coffee

Armed with an agreed-upon store name and their own military might, the Mitchells opened the first Googan Coffee outpost in North Stuart during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges many businesses faced during that time, Googan grew a steady customer base. “The community embraced us,” Tanya says. “When a location in downtown Stuart became available, we couldn’t resist.” There’s also a mobile truck, known as the Googan Express. Originally intended as a tool to attract attention on U.S. 1, the truck has become a hit at local events. “It’s just so darn cute,” Tanya says.

Tanya and Jim Mitchell at Googan Coffee’s North Stuart location. Photo courtesy of Googan Coffee

With two locations and the café on wheels, Tanya says the focus now is still the same as it was on day one—creating a positive environment for employees and customers alike. “We have over 35 staff members, and we treat them with respect and appreciation,” she says. “When they’re happy, it translates into better service for our customers.” For Tanya, the coffee, tea, and energy drinks Googan serves are just as important as the community they serve them to.

What’s the Mitchells’ next campaign? It’s no surprise they have plans to expand. Next up: opening a roastery, unveiling an e-commerce site, and launching a café. “We started with a five-year plan to build and sell the business,” Tanya says, “but now we’re focused on growing the brand and continuing to make an impact.”

Now that’s brewing up something special—one cup at a time.