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Meet Josh Premuda (@joshpremuda), owner of a Specialty Cofee Roaster in Indiana, USA.
1. Give us a short introduction about yourself.
My name is Josh Premuda, and I have spent the majority of my life in the American Midwest. I currently live in Jasper, Southern Indiana, with my wife and daughters. I’m the owner of Smalley Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster.
2. How do you define your style?
My style is based on where I am and what I’m doing. I like to be ready for anything, so I tend to prefer clothing that can smoothly transition from one activity to another. I grab casual, classic and (cross) functional pieces, and usually gravitate towards shades of black, grey, white and navy. Solid patterns and similar colors make it easy to get dressed without any fuss. I’ve jokingly named this style “midwest coast gothic prep”.
3. What does it mean for you to be a Modern Gentleman?
I personally put my focus into my family, friends and community. I concentrate on what good I can bring to the day and hope that enough of those days add up to a well-lived life.
4. When it comes to style, where do you mostly get your inspiration from?
I take inspiration from all over. I am observant with what people wear and am old enough to know, for the most part, what works for me. I might see someone in person, something on a film or an old photo online with a look I like, and Instagram ends up being a big source for new brands and styles that regularly pop up in my feed. A few brands I particularly like are Drakes, Aimé Leon Dore, Field Day, and Ghiaia Cashmere.
5. What’s your personal style signifier?
It varies from time-to-time. More than likely it’s that I’m wearing black. Otherwise, I usually have a Detroit Tigers hat, a hoodie, and the Omega watch I inherited from my grandfather in my bag. One thing that most people know me for is carrying a 4-color bic pen and a small notepad.
6. What are your favorite wardrobe essentials?
I’ve got a solid list of things that can’t miss from my closet: polo shirts, Vans shoes, hoodies, flannel overshirts, leather boots, oxford button downs, 5-pocket twill pants, cashmere sweaters and finally grey sweatpants, because they always come handy in cozy situations.
7. What are your main passions and how do you cultivate them?
I’ve had a golf club in my hand since I was 3, and after temporarily giving up in playing during my early years of work, I’ve now got back into it with full vigor – and yet, I still don’t get to play as much as I would like to.
Aside from golf, I love to travel and I do that mostly through my stomach, eating and drinking the local cuisine and always being on the lookout fot my next interesting meal. Travel doesn’t necessarily have to be far for me, and getting outside for a hike or an overnight campout can scratch my travel itch; but of course I love to go places.
Recently, I’ve begun re-building my vinyl collection and have enjoyed the hunt for good deals through thrift stores, flea markets and anywhere else I can find crates to dig. I also have an obsession with Land Rover Defenders, so I spend a lot of time online, looking for the one I’ll eventually bring home.
8. What does your ideal Sunday look like?
An ideal Sunday is all about the things I love: it involves a big cup of black coffee, some time with my family, a few holes of golf, a nice meal and a stiff cocktail.
9. Describe an interesting trip you have taken and tell us what’s the next destination on your bucket list.
My wife and her best friend celebrated their birthdays in Italy recently, and husbands tagged along – so the four of us got to spend 10 days sipping Negronis and espressos, walking off the plates of pasta and taking in the culture. And while at home, we are always planning the next trip. A couple of places we would enjoy ticking off our list are Mexico, Banff and Michigan, with many other ideas on the horizon.
10. Tell us what can never be missing in your liquor cabinet.
A part of me that wants to say sweet vermouth, since it’s an ingredient in both of my favorite cocktails, but it actually has to be bourbon. I keep a stock of Evan Williams for cocktails or to enjoy on the rocks, but I have a bourbon collection that seems to continually grow and is a great base for my tastings. I’m sort of a basement mixologist, and I share a lot of my experiments on my Instagram profile.
11. What are your three favorite books?
This is a hard one: I‘m an avid reader, and pinning out only three is no easy task. Let’s say that Barbarian Days by William Finnegan stands out. Currently, I’m reading The Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers. I only read non-fiction, and prefer biographies of interesting characters – chefs, rockstars, business leaders – or financial dramas involving fraud, trading and collapses.
12. What are your three favorite movies?
Since I was a child, I’ve loved Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Then I’d add Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums, and the list wouldn’t be complete without a Bond film, so let’s go for Skyfall. Finally, if I’m allowed a bonus film, there’s a movie I must always watch whenever it’s airing, and that’s Point Break.
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