Born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, David “Dave” Fajman made the jump to Indiana nearly two decades ago to transform a passionate hobby into a full-fledged career. The result is Smugglers Coffee, where Fajman became what he refers to as a “dealer in the dark arts of caffeination.”
“I used to write for a couple of beer websites, and I did an article about beer brewers and the coffee they used. That sent me down a deep dive into coffee,” Fajman said. “Eventually, I talked my wife into letting me buy a small coffee roaster. I started roasting for friends and family, and people just kept asking for more – it snowballed from there and took off. What started as a hobby turned into a full-time job.”
Fajman doesn’t just sell your average cup of joe at Smugglers Coffee, he specializes in barrel-aging.
“We do a lot of barrel-aged coffee because we work with different breweries and distilleries,” Fajman said. “We get used bourbon barrels from them. We’ll let the coffee beans sit in the barrels for a while so they pick up the flavors, and then we roast them. We also do traditional coffees too, like single origins, blends, and decaf.”
The shop got its start in Lowell before moving to Dyer, where supporting local businesses is a top priority.
“Especially right now, with prices going up across the board, I’d rather see the small, local guys survive and thrive than the big mega-corporations. Maybe it comes from how I grew up, but I’ve always rooted for the small shops over the giant corporations,” Fajman said.
Step inside Smugglers Coffee and you’re immediately drawn to the shop’s unique aesthetic. It’s not just for fun but a perfect reflection of Fajman’s own interests and personality.
“I’ve always been a nerd, playing Dungeons & Dragons, reading comic books, and watching ‘Star Wars,’ so it just felt natural. A lot of the pop culture references we use are rooted in the late ’80s and early '90s, which is when I grew up,” Fajman said. “We’re proudly letting our nerd flag fly so others can see and enjoy it.”
Outside of brewing bean juice, Fajman stays productive with leisurely activities and quality time with family.
“Playing games is always fun. I love watching my kids play their sports. One of my sons just committed to college. He’s a track athlete and was signed by Purdue University Northwest to join their track and distance running teams, which is really cool. My other son plays soccer, and I love watching him play. It’s awesome seeing him excel in that. My daughter, on the other hand, hasn’t quite found her sport yet. She’s trying out running, basketball, and even considering music. It’s fun watching her explore different things,” Fajman said.
The future of Smugglers Coffee looks bright, with Fajman focused on building a strong community atmosphere.
“I think I want to bring in more gaming. I love Dungeons & Dragons, but right now, the smaller independent games are more my thing. I want to focus more on those games, like Shadowdark and Dungeon Crawl Classics, so people can come in, try them out, and enjoy some coffee,” Fajman said.
With a diverse array of options, including non-alcoholic beers, sodas, and other beverages for those who aren’t coffee drinkers, Smugglers Coffee has something for everyone, but if you ask Fajman for his favorite, look no further than Irish.
“I love Irish, but when I’m working, I have two favorite drinks. One is what we call the Dirty Horchata, which is half of our bourbon barrel-aged cold brew and half horchata. The other is I Am Rudy, which isn’t as sweet, but the root beer and cold brew really complement each other. The first time people try it, their faces are priceless. They’re usually skeptical, but then they try it and say, ‘Wow, that’s actually really good.’ It’s fun to see that reaction,” Fajman said.