Toward the end of her 31-year career in banking, Rochelle Boone was working 70-hour weeks originating, processing and underwriting mortgages.

“And I had no help,” Boone says. “I was making good money, but it wasn’t worth it because I had no life.”

The proper grind for Boone, it turns out, was learning how to become a great barista and opening Le Coffee & Moore in Fairway Village on U.S. 15-501 in Southern Pines.

“I’m working hard, but I’m having fun,” she says. “I feel like I’m on vacation compared to what I was doing.”

The seminal moment for Boone came last year when she stopped at a coffee shop in Apex to put out a banking “work fire” while taking her mother to Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

“I was talking to the owner of the coffee shop and ran into Blaine East, who developed Fairway Village,” she says. “Blaine kind of planted the seed, my daughter urged me on, and I thoroughly researched the industry.”

Boone discovered that coffee is the most-consumed beverage in the world, and that most Americans drink theirs before 11 a.m.

“My first love is music,” she says. “Second would be culinary arts; I love to cook. This just kind of came up.”

To learn the ins and outs of making the perfect cup of espresso, Boone plunked down $2,500 last July to attend the American Barista & Coffee School in Portland, Ore. She spent six days studying the proper grind, extraction, and steaming and foaming techniques.

“I took the time to get the expertise, so I came back with a wealth of knowledge,” she says. “Most importantly, the beverage has to be perfect every time. If it’s not, we throw it away and start over.”

Boone then paid six figures to up-fit 1,360 square feet of space in Fairway Village, where she created a Mediterranean feel to honor espresso’s Italian roots.

“I designed it, told my husband (Jay) what I wanted it to look like, and he took it from there,” she says.

The cafe, which opened last November, offers free wireless Internet throughout its four distinct areas: the outside, the bar, the lounge and the conference room.

“I wanted it to be higher end, but comfortable and inviting,” Boone says. “I want people to spend time here. I didn’t want a drive-through for that very reason.”

The conference room, which harks back to her banking days, features a table with seating for eight, a dry-erase board and a television that can also be used for PowerPoint presentations.

“I wanted to attract business people as well as students with laptops,” Boone says. “Business people are always looking for a place to take clients. I’ve almost got the whole month of March reserved.”

In addition to hot and cold coffee drinks, Le Coffee & Moore serves baked goods made by two local businessess — Kraz Elegant Cakes and PineScones — and lunch items created by Boone.

“I make soups and paninis,” she says.

Rae Anne Kinney, owner of PineScones, says she cold-called Boone in early January and left behind samples.

“I’ve been selling my scones at a variety of coffee shops in the area for a while,” Kinney says. “I was really impressed with her shop, so I gave her some of my scones.”

Less than two weeks later, Boone placed her first order.

“Rochelle had not found a good source for scones yet, so it was a perfect fit,” Kinney says. “I’m just happy to be in another location.”

Boone focuses on product quality, cleanliness and customer service so that her employees can make customers feel valued and appreciated.

“People have a choice,” she says. “We want our drinks and your experience here to be perfect. That is why we use the best quality and best techniques.”

Le Coffee & Moore is currently open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but Boone plans to extend closing time to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays beginning next month so she can add a wine and dessert menu.

“I didn’t do this for the money,” she says. “I can see the potential. And after 30 years of heels and suits, if I screw up, it’s on me.”

Contact Ted M. Natt Jr. at tnatt@thepilot.com.