What’s more important for the perfect cup of coffee? The roast? Or the beans?

“It’s both,” says Carla Wroten, who co-owns Steady Eddy’s Coffee House with her husband, Jamell Wroten.

Steady Eddy’s Coffee House, located at 5 E. Main St. has been a fixture in the city of Winters’ food and coffee scene for nearly 20 years. Carla and Mell have overseen it for around 11 of those wonderful years.

How have they been able to sustain their success? According to Carla Wroten, the Winters community has played a significant role.

“This is the ideal community to be a part of,” she said. “They embrace us. I love getting in the middle of all the activities and networking with other business owners. It’s been awesome for our customers to become our friends and family. I think the most special thing about the shop is that everyone in town has a connection with it. I would say it’s everyone’s coffee shop, not just ours. People look forward to that kind of unique connection that sometimes doesn’t happen anymore.”

“We are so community-focused. That’s just who we are,” Wroten continued. “This is such a special place where you can run into half the community and get updates in person in real life. It’s really a special thing how we can connect with people at the shop. We truly care about each other.”

Three years ago, Carla received the Theodore Winters Award, an honor given to candidates who have made significant contributions to the betterment of the Winters community. Four years ago, Sen. Bill Dodd named Steady Eddy’s the Yolo County Small Business of the Year for 2021.Earlier this year, the awards resumed as Carla was awarded the 2024 Citizen of the Year award by the Winters Chamber of Commerce, which is given annually to recognize an individual’s outstanding community service. The tradition of the award is that each of the previous award winners gets together and nominates the next winner.

“I was contemplating what I was going to say that evening before I received the award, so I reached out to John Pickerel, owner of Putah Creek Cafe and Buckhorn Steakhouse,” Wroten said. “John was a previous winner, but is also just a notable icon around Winters. I asked him why I was chosen, and he said that I saw the potential in all the citizens of Winters.

“I think that is so true, I see past obstacles and have a positive outlook. We have people who deeply care about the community, and once we get together, the energy is multiplied and we make things happen.”

With the recent awards, recognition, and certification, Wroten hopes that even more people can discover their coffee shop.

“I think our coffee shop has a soul,” Wroten said. “Its success is not dependent on any one person. It’s dependent on the big picture. We hire kind people. I always hire kindness. They are the people that I want to represent us. We have a big potential to positively impact someone’s life. People come here to socialize. Our shop provides a happy place for people and a consistent place. People have really come to count on us.”

This past year, while serving on both the Winters Chamber of Commerce and the Winters Downtown Business Association, Wroten dedicated her time to work toward a merger for both orginizations. She now serves as the vice chair of the new Chamber of Commerce.

“By serving on both boards, I had a sense that both organizations shared the same goals and were aligned enough to make the merger make sense,” Wroten said. “We just want to have a greater impact on the community.”

Wroten mentions that the Chamber of Commerce kicked off the year strong with the annual Spring Open Weekend Event, which took place in late March.

Up next is the inaugural Art and Wine Festival, set for Saturday in May. 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Downtown Winters.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with the Chamber of Commerce as we host more community events,” Wroten said. “This upcoming gathering will showcase local wineries and talented artists, offering a vibrant glimpse into the rich cultural fabric of Winters. With each event I am a part of, I’m reminded just how truly special our town is.”

For more information on the coffee shop, please visit steady-eddys.com/.

For more information on the Winter’s Chamber of Commerce, please visit winterschamber.com/.