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NILES -- Many people love to drink coffee. Rick Whetstone loves to make it.
The 57-year old is the owner and founder of the Steamed Rebellion Coffee Shop on Robbins Avenue in Niles, which is Whetstone's hometown.
"I developed a love for coffee as I was traveling the world,"Whetstone said. "My wife, Sherri, and I love to travel and we made it a point to try local coffees. I asked a lot of questions and learned a lot about coffee along the way."
The Whetstone destinations have been impressive, including Norway, Italy, Belgium, Iceland, Germany and Austria. During their journeys, Whetstone began a dream to someday open his own coffee shop after retiring from his job as a heavy machine operator for the city of Youngstown.
That dream became reality sooner than Whetstone expected.
"We were on a hiking trip to Mackinac Island in Michigan in September of 2022," Whetstone explained.
"My left heel basically exploded. I knew that I had diabetes for about eight years, and that I had a small hole in my heel because of it. The hiking caused it to rupture."
After getting the bleeding to stop, the Whetstones got in the car and drove back to the Mahoning Valley, rather than deal with the situation on a remote Michigan island.
"I wanted to get home," said Whetstone, "and I didn't want Sherri to be stuck up there."
Eight hours later, the Whetstones were at St. Elizabeth Hospital listening to doctors debate whether to amputate Rick's leg. He had blood poisoning, bone poisoning and plenty of infection. Under the direction of Dr. Ramy Fahim, they decided to amputate the heel and not the entire leg.
Whetstone knew that he could never go back to operating heavy machinery, despite being too young to retire. Necessity being the mother of invention, Whetstone began formulating his dream coffee shop much sooner than expected. His plans were made to open his coffee shop in the summer of 2023, when Sherri noticed in June some discoloration from the heel amputation. She insisted they go immediately back to Dr. Fahim. It was a good thing they did. A second surgery was needed to remove more infection.
"Sherri saved my life," Whetstone said, "and Dr. Fahim saved my leg. I don't have a left heel, but at least I still have my leg."
He also still had his dream. Despite losing 100 pounds during a year in which he was in and out of hospitals (he has since gained the weight back), Whetstone opened the Steamed Rebellion Coffee shop in August of 2023, almost a year after he blew out his heel. It was then that his love for coffee and all of his expertise came to fruition.
According to Whetstone: "Making coffee is a skill and an art. I look for really good local beans that are fresh and dark roasted. I take my time and make it right. Blending beans and doing so with just the right temperature are very important. I tinker with it all the time. I really take pride in making a great cup of coffee."
To that end, Whetstone and his wife travel around Ohio stopping at other local coffee shops to sample products and ask questions.
"Local mom-and-pop coffee shops are helpful to each other," Whetstone said. "We are not territorial with trade secrets, because we really don't have much customer overlap like the chain coffee shops. Therefore, we help each other by sharing tricks of the trade. We make each other better."
Another unique aspect of local coffee shops is that many are themed, according to Whetstone. Being an avid collector of antiques, especially antique toys, Whetstone fills his shop with gadgets and toys that are more than 100 years old. Each item has a background story that Whetstone is eager to tell. The only thing he likes to talk about more than coffee are the toys that kids played with around the turn of the 20th Century.
In addition to the antiques and relics, Whetstone's coffee shop has a Steampunk theme, which is right up his alley.
"Steampunk is a Victorian idea of what the future should look like," said Whetstone. "It focuses on an ideal world without inequities or judgment. It is pretty popular among circles all around the world. There are festivals and celebrations. I want people to come into my coffee shop and be relaxed, to read and play chess. Steampunk means not being judgmental. Just be yourself."
So why the name Steamed Rebellion if rebellion is the opposite of relaxed and nonjudgmental?
"Great question," laughed Whetstone. "The name is actually a pun to enjoy a cup of coffee while quietly rebelling against inequities and judgment. Life is too short to be carrying around hate and excess baggage."
Despite switching careers due to his medical hardship, Whetstone has not stopped dreaming. "I would love someday to have a bigger place with a drive-thru," he said. "If I had more room I could serve more food and really showcase all my unique toys and antiques."
To suggest a Saturday profile, contact Metro Editor Marly Reichert at mreichert@tribtoday.com or Features Editor Ashley Fox at afox@tribtoday.com.