A Bold Start with a Bigger Purpose
In the summer of 2024, a small coffee shop opened its doors in Aberdeen, Maryland, with a simple mission: brew exceptional coffee and build meaningful connections. What began as a humble hangout quickly blossomed into a local institution. The Screaming Bean Coffee Shop didn’t just serve caffeine—it sparked conversations, friendships, and a movement rooted in purpose. Now, with a second location opening July 15, 2025, on Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), The Screaming Bean is expanding its reach—and its impact.
Founder Martin Grams, a longtime Harford County resident, envisioned something different from the impersonal corporate chains dominating the coffee landscape. “The idea was simple,” Martin explains. “Serve great coffee, create a welcoming space, and make people feel like they belong.”
From day one, The Screaming Bean delivered more than coffee. It became a vibrant hub where first dates unfolded, business ideas were born, and neighbors came together. The result? A community cornerstone that goes far beyond lattes and pastries.
Built on Values, Fueled by Action
At its core, The Screaming Bean has always been more than a coffee shop—it’s been a mission in motion. Rather than leaning on performative branding, owner Martin Grams and his team have focused on tangible acts of giving. From raising funds for local charities to supporting youth and homelessness programs, the café’s commitment to service is evident. Employees aren’t just hired—they’re mentored and empowered, with clear pathways to leadership.
“I often say we do not accept applications — we accept commitments,” says Martin. “Half of the people we hired over the past year were not hired during the interview process. I wait to see if they follow up and push themselves to the level of saying, with varied verbatim, ‘I want to be a part of this.’ That is when we hire them. As for our brand, we are not — and have not — been interested in self-promotion. While some shops talk about being a ‘community hub’ on social media because they offer seating space, we define ourselves through action. We give quietly, we show up consistently, and we empower others along the way.”
That quiet commitment has resonated. Word-of-mouth spread quickly, and The Screaming Bean became a symbol of what can happen when small businesses prioritize people over profits.
“It appears we made an impact early on,” says Martin. “Two months after we were open, the owner of a coffee shop in a neighboring county walked in with a handful of his employees and proclaimed loudly and boldly, ‘Okay guys, take photos and we’ll compare notes later.’ Then he revamped his own coffee shop to mimic ours. Later, a former employee of ours went to work elsewhere and replicated some of our menu items and began using such buzzwords as ‘good vibes’ on their social media. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I guess we did something above average to warrant the imitation. I suspect this is why multiple people approached us over the last few months, offering to lease space they own for possible expansion. We entertained those invites and contemplated a Screaming Bean 2.0, but we kept saying to ourselves that we want to become even better before we become bigger. That is, until someone from APG came to the coffee shop with an offer that appealed to our mission statement.”
Expansion on a Mission: Serving Those Who Serve
The next chapter in The Screaming Bean’s story unfolds on the Aberdeen Proving Ground, an active U.S. military base in Maryland. The new location, set to open July 15, will serve military personnel and base employees while continuing the café’s values-driven mission.
More than just a business move, this expansion comes with a promise: a portion of profits from the APG location will be donated to CHEP (Construction of Housing for Empowering People), a nonprofit that builds permanent housing for homeless veterans. For Martin and his team, the cause is personal—and urgent.
“Our veterans deserve more than thanks—they deserve action,” Martin says. “We are proud to stand with them.”
What’s more, the APG location is being led by employees from the flagship café who have risen through the ranks.
“I never went to them and made them the offer to take charge of a second location,” says Martin. “They stepped up and said they wanted it. They say true leaders do not ask — they insist.”
Promoted into management, those two team members, Kaylie Sprissler and Tayler Blansfield, now have the autonomy to make decisions, lead operations, and continue shaping the shop’s legacy. Other employees at the flagship location were promoted to succeed Kaylie and Tayler, while others are being mentored into leadership. As Martin explained, today’s cashiers are tomorrow’s managers.
“We are being offered a potential third location but what I really want to do is mentor a number of our employees into leadership positions before we agree to sign on the bottom line for a third location,” says Martin. “We have an awesome crew who knocks it out of the ballpark. I will be excited a year from now to see how far they go and what we can offer them when I hand the keys to the front door for Screaming Bean 3.0.”
Redefining What a Coffee Shop Can Be
The Screaming Bean’s success isn’t built on marketing buzzwords—it’s built on authenticity. With one thriving location, a second on the horizon, a deeply loyal customer base, and a business model rooted in empowerment, the café is showing that a coffee shop can be so much more than a pit stop.
Whether you’re grabbing a drink on your morning commute, catching up with a friend, or supporting a meaningful cause, The Screaming Bean offers something rare in today’s landscape: sincerity, substance, and a seat at the table.
Visit. Connect. Make a Difference.
Whether you’re passing through Harford County on I-95, stationed on APG, or simply searching for your next great coffee fix, The Screaming Bean is a must-visit destination. With locally-roasted coffee beans, a focus on community, and a commitment to giving back, it’s redefining what it means to be a neighborhood café.
To explore the menu, subscribe to their coffee delivery service (available in whole bean or ground), or learn more about their mission, visit ScreamingBeanCafe.com or follow them on Facebook at The Screaming Bean.