Boost Coffee blend is made using the Laird Superfood Medium Roast coffee beans, functional mushroom extracts from Red Reishi and Maitake, Olive Leaf extract, and Agaricus mushroom powder. Each 12 oz serving has 15% of your daily Vitamin D needs when prepared using a wire filter.

This new blend of coffee made with nourishing, functional, and plant-based ingredients is available for pre-order now. As one of the first food and beverage companies to venture into the functional coffee space, Laird Superfood is ushering in the next wave for the coffee industry and setting the precedent for the future functionality of coffee.

Laird Superfood Boost Coffee ingredients:

• Organic Ground Medium Roast Coffee
• Olive Leaf Powder
• Organic Red Reishi Mushroom Extract
• Organic Maitake Mushroom Extract
• Organic Agaricus Mushroom Vitamin D Extract

With this launch, Laird Superfood introduces the first truly functional coffee that is as delicious as it is fueling. Each 12 oz. serving of Boost Coffee has 15% of an individual’s daily amount of Vitamin D when brewed according to directions. Upgraded to help consumers harness the benefits of thoughtful, functional ingredients and superfoods, Boost Coffee enhances the overall fueling experience.

“It has been a long-time goal to bring the first functional coffee blend to the superfood industry,” said Laird Hamilton, co-founder of Laird Superfood. “We believe that this new blend will radically change how we consume coffee. Once our customers experience the lasting benefits of the Boost Blend, they won’t want to return to a normal cup of coffee again.”

“In an effort to provide delicious, innovative products with functional benefits, we take normal, everyday rituals, such as your morning cup of coffee, to the next level,” said Sandy Egge, Director of Research & Development. “A morning cup can now deliver 15% of your daily value for Vitamin D, plus functional organic ingredients including Red Reishi, Maitake and Olive Leaf.”

In addition to the launch of Boost Coffee, Laird Superfood is launching three new items this month alone. The brand most recently introduced ACTIVATE Prebiotic Daily Greens supplements that are packed with superfood fruits and vegetables that nourish the gut microbiome.* Later this month, Laird Superfood is set to unveil Harvest Dates – a new plant-powered snack that provides a good source of fiber and can be added into smoothies and used for baking, as well as a limited-edition holiday coffee, Wonderful Winter Blend, that perfectly captures the delicious flavors of the season.

“This month we have launched four products that are meant to fuel every aspect of your day,” said Gabby Reece, Chief Brand Ambassador for Laird Superfood. “Whether looking to amplify your coffee, find a nourishing snack, or find balance internally, we want each item to be equally functional and easy to incorporate into a daily routine.”

Source: Laird Superfood

“Climate change is a reality and our future depends on going further and faster on our sustainability commitments. That is why we are accelerating our commitments to offer our consumers a way to drink a carbon-neutral cup of coffee by 2022. A coffee, made from the finest and rarest beans, sustainably sourced. I truly believe that both our business and the coffee industry can be a force for good in the world by tackling this pressing issue,” said Guillaume Le Cunff, CEO of Nespresso.

Having already achieved carbon neutrality in its business operations (scopes 1 & 2) since 2017, the company’s new commitment will tackle emissions that occur in its supply chain and product life cycle (scope 3).

Nespresso will achieve carbon neutrality through the following initiatives: the reduction of carbon emission; the planting of trees in and around coffee farms where Nespresso sources its coffee (insetting); and through support and investment in high-quality offsetting projects.

1. Carbon emission reduction: A crucial element of Nespresso’s vision is to decarbonize its value chain. These immediate initiatives include:
2. Sustainable energy usage within Nespresso’s operations: Driving towards 100% renewable energy in all Nespresso boutiques and increasing the use of biogas within the manufacturing process.
3. The expanded circularity of Nespresso products and packaging: Increasing the use of recycled plastic within Nespresso machines, as well as of recycled and low carbon virgin aluminum within coffee capsules.

Planting trees in coffee farms and the surrounding landscapes (insetting): Trees are the best way to capture carbon from the atmosphere while investing in nature and building a regenerative agricultural system. Planting trees provides the shade needed to improve the quality and quantity of a coffee harvest. The roots also help protect against soil erosion and landslides and promote soil regeneration. With its partner Pur Projet, Nespresso will triple the capacity of planting trees (with insetting) in coffee-producing countries such as Colombia, Guatemala, Ethiopia and Costa Rica.

Accelerate to make an immediate positive impact (offsetting initiatives): Nespresso will also invest in projects to support forest conservation and restoration as well as implement clean energy solutions within farming communities.

This carbon neutral commitment is part of a broader sustainability ambition that will be further communicated later this year: to preserve exceptional coffees, build a resilient and regenerative coffee agriculture system, drive sustainable livelihoods for farmers and build a circular business.

Source: Nespresso

“New Yorkers have something to be excited about today,” said Mark Feit, Director of Development for Hudson River Coffee & Tea. “The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand has been serving innovative and beloved beverages for nearly 60 years, and we are thrilled that now New Yorkers can enjoy them as well.”

Franchise partner Hudson River Coffee & Tea will develop The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf stores across the NY-Metro area with a second Brooklyn location scheduled to open by end of year. All stores will offer signature beverages and an incredible array of freshly prepared pastries and foods certified STAR-D Kosher Dairy by internationally recognized STAR-K Kosher certification.  The Greene Avenue location was designed locally featuring a uniquely Brooklyn vibe and boasts a private outdoor lounge and dining space where loyal guests can enjoy their The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf experience. The Brooklyn location will open with limited contact health and safety protocols, allowing guests to order ahead through The Coffee Bean® Rewards app and delivery through third-party vendors, including Postmates and DoorDash.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand is widely credited for driving innovation to the coffee and tea industry with the invention of the iconic The Original Ice Blended drink. They are also the first global coffee and tea retailer to offer cold brew tea. From its hero brewed coffee to its lattes and Ice Blended drinks, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand offers the craveable light and sweet taste profiles that loyal guests around the world love and demand.

“The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand continues to maintain a steady growth rate, even with the impact of current events,” said Peter Vavra, Director of Franchise Operations for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand. “New York City is a competitive and highly desirable market for any coffee retailer and our opening today in New York underscores our commitment to bringing our beloved beverages to more guests and demonstrates our strength as a leading roaster and retailer of coffee and tea.”

The return to New York and subsequent new store openings represents a key growth initiative for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand’s parent company Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), who aims to be one of the top five restaurant brands in the world. To date, the beloved Los Angeles-based chain has 225 stores in the United States and more than 1,094 locations across 30 countries worldwide. New York marks the 11th state to welcome The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand.

Source: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Teaming with NuZee, Golden Ratio is poised to disrupt the coffee category with a craft beverage that—true to its name—is golden. By roasting its beans at lower temperatures and for a longer period of time, Golden Ratio created “gold coffee,” which tastes like tea while having the caffeine kick you expect from coffee. This new coffee is also five times less acidic than regular coffee and can easily be brewed hot or cold thanks to the tea bag style format provided by NuZee. Its luxuriously smooth flavor is keto-friendly with zero sugar or additives.

At launch, Golden Ratio is offering two flavored varieties, Vanilla Coconut and Chai Spiced, as well as an original flavor designed with intermittent fasters in mind. Vanilla Coconut is blended with natural vanilla flavors and toasted coconut for a subtle sweetness and smooth finish. Chai is blended with traditional flavors like cardamom, cinnamon, allspice and ginger for a cup of comfort that’s familiar and refreshing. Original has a very subtle, nutty flavor that’s easy on taste buds and digestion, particularly important to those who morning fast or are looking for a gentler coffee that still provides ample caffeine.

“Golden Ratio sought to create the ideal balance between flavor, convenience and sustainability,” said Clark Nowlin, Co-Founder and CEO of Golden Ratio. “NuZee was the perfect partner to help us accomplish this with eco-friendly, single-serve coffee pouches. We are excited to continue working together to help our customers start their day the Golden way.”

According to a recent Nielsen survey, 48% of Americans are looking to change their consumption habits to reduce their impact on the environment. Meanwhile, demand for single serve coffee, which tends to come in unnecessary single-use plastic pods, is booming. NuZee, the largest U.S. co-packer of alternative single serve coffee formats serves brands that cater to environmentally-conscious customers who also prioritize convenience.

“Now more than ever we are committed to supporting independent coffee roasters like Golden Ratio in their quest to bring eco-friendly and flavorful brews to coffee lovers,” said Travis Gorney, NuZee Chief Marketing Officer. “Manufactured at our production facility in Vista, California, we grind the beans to our partners’ specifications and offer scalable options for small and large coffee roasters and brands.”

Source: NuZee, Inc.

It is no secret that fruits are at their best when enjoyed at the peak of ripeness. From the fruit puree and real fruit pieces to vibrant, Insta-worthy colors and global flavors, the Fruit Tea Shakers deliver on cold just in time for Summer.

Presenting a unique, hand-shaken experience, the six distinct beverages feature Mighty Leaf Tea®, real fruit pieces, fruit puree, and lemonade. Available in Black Tea, Green Tea and Hibiscus Tea, these cold tea beverages offer an option for every tea lover. Visit a participating Peet’s Coffeebar location or download the Peet’s app and order ahead to try the new Fruit Tea Shakers, starting 6/24/2020:

• Strawberry Lemon Black Tea-Mighty Leaf ® Summer Solstice black tea, hand-shaken with lemonade, sweet strawberry puree, ice, and real strawberry slices.
• Yuzu Citrus Black Tea-Mighty Leaf ® Summer Solstice black tea, hand-shaken with lemonade, refreshing yuzu puree, ice, and a slice of lemon.
• Tropical Berry Green Tea- Mighty Leaf ® Green Tea Tropical hand-shaken with lemonade, sweet strawberry puree, ice, and real strawberry slices.
• Pineapple Citrus Green Tea- Mighty Leaf ® Green Tea Tropical, hand-shaken with lemonade, refreshing yuzu puree, ice, and a slice of lemon.
• Berry Hibiscus Tea (caffeine-free)- Mighty Leaf ® Wildberry Hibiscus tea, hand-shaken with lemonade, sweet strawberry puree, ice, and real strawberry slices.
• Citrus Hibiscus Tea (caffeine-free)- Mighty Leaf ® Wildberry Hibiscus tea, hand-shaken with lemonade, refreshing yuzu puree, ice, and a slice of lemon.

“In celebration of the Summer season and as a representation of our commitment to handcrafted innovation, we are excited to launch a new iced tea platform called Fruit Tea Shakers,” said Patrick Main, Senior R&D Manager, Peet’s Coffee. “Consumers have developed a palate for beverages that combine both flavor and fun. We have showcased a diverse seasonal flavor portfolio of real fruit, including vibrant citrus, and ripe strawberries, to infuse effortlessly into our Mighty Leaf Tea®. This smooth, refreshing blend results in an invigorating hand-shaken tea experience with each sip.”

Smooth and sweet, the limited-edition coffee Cold Brew Beverages are made with Peet’s Baridi Cold Brew, fruit puree, sweetened condensed milk, and splash of half & half for an indulgent, super refreshing experience, available for a limited time from 6/24/2020 to 09/01/20:

• Strawberry Vanilla Cold Brew: Our signature bold, smooth Baridi Cold Brew combined with a hint of sweet strawberry puree, vanilla syrup, condensed milk, and a float of half & half and poured over ice for a flavorful and indulgent treat.
• Citrus Cremesicle Cold Brew: Crafted with vibrant Yuzu citrus puree, layered with condensed milk and our Baridi Cold Brew and vanilla syrup, topped with a creamy float of half & half for a Summer-inspired refreshment.

“At Peet’s, we are always discovering unique ways to introduce fresh flavors into our favorite beverages,” said Main. “We took the distinctive aromas of the Japanese Yuzu citrus and the well-balanced sweetness of strawberry to create an indulgent spin on our cold brew beverages. A picture-perfect pair, the fusion of fruit flavorings and decadent cream makes it an anytime treat for the Summer season.”

Source: Peet’s Coffee

“This Summer, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand wants to offer guests a little respite and transport them to a favorite destination with our new cold beverages with refreshing flavors to help beat the heat,” said Nurit Raich, senior director of product innovation, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand. “Our sweet and tropical new menu items are a perfect way to enjoy the Summer.”

• Tiramisu Ice Blended drink – A sweet and creamy treat with a blend of cream cheese and dark chocolate flavors reminiscent of the traditional Tiramisu Italian dessert. Available with The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand’s premium espresso and Pure, for a caffeine-free treat.
• Hibiscus Mint Cold Brew Tea – A refreshing summertime beverage made with The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand’s signature Scottish Breakfast Cold Brew Tea and Hibiscus Mint syrup.
• Lemonade Cold Brew Tea – An invigorating and light summertime beverage reminiscent of an Arnold Palmer and made with The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf brand’s signature Scottish Breakfast Cold Brew Tea and Lemonade syrup.

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf brand is open and serving local communities safely and following all necessary COVID-19 precautions.

Source: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Laird Superfood’s new coffee blend is infused with the extracts of three of Co-Founder Laird Hamilton’s favorite organic functional mushrooms: Cordyceps, Chaga and Lion’s Mane. Emerging science reports functional mushrooms may help support overall wellness.

Cordyceps: A mushroom that is loved by high-endurance performers of all genres, Cordyceps has been studied for its effects on the body’s production of ATP.

Chaga: Considered the “King of Mushrooms,” Chaga has been referred to as “Chaga Gold ” for its valuable properties. One of Laird’s favorite mushrooms, it wouldn’t be uncommon to find a pot of Chaga simmering on the back burner.

Lion’s Mane: Lion’s Mane is an edible mushroom native to North America, Europe, and Asia. Polysaccharides, specifically the beta-glucans, are what makes this mushroom (and others) special. Science is studying this mushroom for its potential effects on cognition and immune support.

The Peruvian Arabica coffee beans are grown at a high altitude of more than 4,000 feet so that with lower oxygen levels, the beans grow slower and denser. A dense bean provides a dynamic flavor profile.

“The organic coffee beans that we use are from a trusted Peruvian coffee grower in the Andes,” said Laird Hamilton, big-wave surfer and Co-Founder of Laird Superfood. “The opportunity to go to the coffee farm and see how they grow the beans, how they harvest them, and how they dry them was an amazing experience. Each farmer farms by hand in this incredibly fertile environment high in the Andes. It proved to me why they are rated as the best beans in the world. They pair epically with the power of functional mushrooms to create a powerful morning cup. I don’t know how you can grow better beans.”

Laird Superfood’s organic Ground Coffee with Functional Mushrooms delicious flavor takes a five-step process that ensures dynamic taste with lower acidity and more body:

• Hand-picked – Instead of bulk-collecting both ripe and unripe beans using machinery, hand-picked beans ensure appropriate ripeness.
• Wet-processed – Loosens the skins for gentle extraction and less damage to the beans.
• Carefully dried – Beans are carefully spread out and dried to ensure an even drying of every bean.
• Small-Batch Slow Roast – Prevents the beans from burning and aids in producing the best flavor profiles.

Laird-Approved – “Cupping” is the final step. Samples of the beans are tested for varied temperatures and lengths of roast to find the perfect Laird-approved roast.

The Dark and Medium Roast Coffee with Functional Mushrooms is ground to a medium-fine to fine grind size of 906 μm – 860 μm – compatible with pour-overs, drip coffees, and espresso. To maintain the rich aroma and roast profile, Laird Superfood uses a proprietary inert gas packaging system that effectively removes unwanted oxygen from the bag. The system keeps flavor locked-in so each pot of coffee will taste as good as the next. To prepare, simply brew the coffee and add one of the popular Laird Superfood creamers for the perfect cup of joe.

Source: Laird Superfood

Increasing Awareness Related to the Health Benefits is Set to Drive the Global Market

Increasing awareness related to the health benefits of tea and coffee such as green tea, lemon tea, and detox coffee and tea. Coffee and tea are the most enjoyed beverages around the world due to having things that help health. Tea and coffee help the human body fight free radicals with chemicals of their own called antioxidants. Coffee has lots of a certain antioxidant that helps keep blood sugar lower and more stable. Furthermore, the availability of a wide range of options and customization to local tastes is fueling the growth of the global hot beverages market. There is a wide range of teas available in the market such as black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong tea, herbal tea, etc. Moreover, there is tremendous variability encountered in both wild and cultivated coffee plants.

Manufacturers Adopting Expansion, Acquisition & Partnership Strategies

On August 31, 2018, Coca-Cola expands hot beverages selection with Costa Coffee acquisition from parent company Whitbread PLC. This acquisition will give Coca-Cola a strong coffee platform across parts of Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa, with nearly 4,000 retail outlets and the scope for additional expansion. In August 2019, the hostess has launched a Ding Dongs Hot Cocoa which is a full-bodied chocolate cake flavor finished with soft hints of vanilla. Hostess partners up with Trilliant to bring this beverage. In January 2018, Barista in collaboration with RoohAfza introduces two hot beverages. RoohAfza and its partner Barista Coffee Company have launched two new hot beverages that are Rooh Mocha and RoohAfza Badam Milk. These new hot beverages are available in 100 Barista stores by focusing on the RoohAfza markets.

The above figure shows the age group of respondents in the survey conducted for the consumers of hot beverages. People having age more than 60 are the major consumers of hot beverages. Health benefits related to hot beverages increases the demand for it in elder people. The consumption of hot beverages for boosting energy is growing in elderly people. The figure also shows that the consumption of hot beverages increases with the age of the consumer. About 18% consumers are between the age group 16 to 19 while 21.50% of consumers are between age group 20 to 40. Furthermore, 27.50% of consumers are between the age group 40 to 60 and 33% consumers having an age group of more than 60, which is the largest.

According to responses collected from consumers across the globe, we conclude that males consume more hot beverages than females. The majority of consumers prefer hot beverages for health benefits and to increase energy levels. Majority of consumers prefer conventional hot beverages over organic hot beverages. Moreover, good taste and sugar quantity are highly important factors for consumers. Consumers also prefer to drink hot beverages in the morning, at home and at cafes.

Coffee is a Major Revenue – Generating Segment

The report on the global hot beverages market covers segments such as type, nature and distribution channel. Based on types, the market is sub-segmented into coffee, tea, milk, and others. Coffee dominated the hot beverages market owing to the increasing popularity of organic coffee. Organic and natural coffee is free from pesticides and chemicals, and thus it helps to generate the demand among health-conscious people. Based on nature, the market is sub-segmented into organic and conventional. On the basis of the distribution channel, the submarket includes online and offline channels. The offline channel holds a large market share of the hot beverages market.

The Asia Pacific Region is the Most Lucrative Region for the Hot Beverages

Among the regions, Asia Pacific accounted for the largest share of the hot beverages market in 2018. The largest share of this region is attributed to the high consumption of countries such as Japan, China, India, and Indonesia. China and Japan are highly tea consumers in the Asia Pacific region. Coffee chains such as Starbucks and Costa Coffee are encouraging the market for hot beverages market in 2018. The largest share of this region is attributed to the high consumption of countries in the Asia Pacific. New product developments such as K-cups, stick coffee and tea are increasing the market for the single-serve market of hot beverages. Europe is the second-largest market for Hot Beverages. Western Europe is the biggest coffee market in the world and has been experiencing a strong premiumization trend, contributing to an increase in high-quality offerings and higher expectations from consumers.

Source: Infinium Global Research

Organic Instant Mushroom Coffee is an instant dark coffee infused with three kinds of mushroom powders; organic chaga, organic lion’s mane and organic cordyceps. This coffee blend is high in antioxidants, beta-glucans and chlorogenic acid which are commonly associated with many of the health benefits traditionally associated with mushrooms.

“Our goal was to create a highly nutritious instant coffee without sacrificing taste,” reports Jonathan Parker, Director of Nutrition Sciences for Z Natural Foods. “There is no brewing needed, just add water and you’ll instantly enjoy this lightly sweet and creamy beverage that will forever make you rethink your morning coffee.”

The coffee is a blend of Organic Dark Roasted Colombian Coffee, Organic Coconut Milk, Chaga mushroom which may support the immune system, Lion’s Mane mushroom for it’s possible mental calming and concentration effects, and Cordyceps mushroom to support energy and vitality.

“The instant coffee is a fine crystal powder so it dissolves quickly,” Parker said. “You won’t notice you are getting vitamin D, magnesium and other vitamins and minerals from the mushrooms because the taste of the delicious dark roast coffee is so good.”

Z Natural Foods carefully chose farmers to grow the highest quality mushrooms in their natural environments. The harvesting and drying techniques maximize the mushroom’s nutritional potency. “Excellent farming, drying, powdering and packaging ensures each tasty cup of coffee provides more quality mushroom nutrition than any other coffee blend,” says Parker.

Source: Z Natural Foods

Let’s start from the very beginning. How did the whole story of Humblemaker Coffee Co. start?

Bryan and I have known each other since the early 2000s when we worked together on a startup eyewear brand where he served as creative director and I ran global sales and have been great friends ever since. Bryan stumbled into the cold brew business in 2011 and helped to launch the boutique craft coffee brand, Seaworth Coffee, which had some tangible success back when the cold brew category was just starting to take off.

During this same period, I worked in GM and CFO roles in the fashion lifestyle space with several emerging brands, but always had that entrepreneurial itch to build another brand from the ground up. Being that I was such a huge fan of cold brew along with Bryan’s creative instincts, I suggested that we start a new project that reflected our shared passions for coffee, surfing, music and the outdoors – while leaving a positive legacy that our young sons would be proud of one day.

Neither of us had a deep knowledge of the food & beverage space but felt that we could leverage our combined experience to create a successful lifestyle coffee brand. We started concepting the brand in late 2016 and brought it to market in early 2017 with our original two 7-oz. bottled cold brew products: the Little Victory and our hemp-based Bright White under the brand name Humblemaker.

We often get asked how we came up with the name Humblemaker. For us, it has two meanings. The first is very literal in that we are “humble makers” of product, of creative, of coffee shop retail experiences…this stems from both of our parents raising us to be humble in life. The second is we saw it as a positive play off the old term “widowmaker” – a life experience that shakes you to your core. We wanted to ask the question: What’s your Humblemaker? Or what are the things in this life that make you feel humble and grateful.

For us it might be watching a sunrise illuminate the desert for the first time or surfing off the coast of Maine in mind-numbing 34-degree water. It could be the day you get married, the day a child is born, or, in Bryan’s case, it could be the moment you understand that both of your children might be on the autism spectrum. It’s why we donate 10% of our profits to programs with children with ASD through our Ten For Autism non-profit.

As the brand and our resources grew, we wanted to share this concept with people and encourage others to tell their story with the hope of creating a community of like-minded individuals who appreciate great coffee and life’s simple pleasures.

Can you tell us more about your line of functional cold brew shots and how this innovative product offering came to be?

We always had the idea to do a cold brew shot, but did not develop it until the summer of 2018, mainly due to lack of money : ) We always wondered why no one in the cold brew market was doing shots. When we traveled to other countries and cultures, especially in Europe, hot espresso shots were so prevalent in cafes and coffee shops. Funny story actually…when we first launched, we threw the idea of a shot out to a few local distributors and all of them said they were having a hard time selling juice shots and that cold brew shots were a terrible idea! As we all now know, juice shots have done very well since then and the shot category as a whole is a very exciting space to be in, and now the shot serving size is our most sought-after product. A lesson in trusting your gut, I suppose.

The idea to bring function into our shots was totally random. Last year, I attended Founder Made – a trade conference aimed at bringing future-minded, innovative brands and retailers together, with the sole purpose of meeting investors. While I was walking the show the first morning, a total stranger stopped me in the aisle and asked me if I was in the coffee business. He said he could help us add functional ingredients like vitamins and other wellness supplements to our coffee product. Later that afternoon we had a few drinks at the reception discussing how we could work together to incorporate the supplements into our bottled cold brew shots that were in development, and a partnership was born. This felt like the breakthrough differentiator we had been looking for, and I called Bryan right away. We both loved the idea and immediately started developing our new SKU’s to each have a unique functional benefit. After MANY rounds of testing and sampling, we settled on three new functional shot products to launch.

Each of our new functional cold brew shots is infused with various vitamins and minerals for targeted functions that we recently introduced at the New Beverage Showdown at BevNet with incredible support and response from the industry. The Boomtowne is our original, simply-black, triple-strength cold brew shot, with a complex multivitamin to support overall daily health. Inspired by Mexican coffees enjoyed on our surf trips to Baja, the La Fonda is brewed with pure organic cinnamon and cacao that has 20x the Antioxidants of green tea to help boost immunity. We also developed our version of Turkish coffee called the Black Sea brewed with real cardamom and clove packed with L-Theanine and Ginseng for enhanced memory and clarity.

We wanted our shots to serve people who are living an active lifestyle, whether that’s dropping the kids at school before heading to the gym or yoga class or putting in a day in the ocean or on the slopes or maybe even both in the same day, which we sometimes do here in California! They are packaged in a super convenient, wide-mouth, 2-ounce ready-to-drink bottle that’s meant to be consumed full strength, poured over ice or added to your favorite beverage. I love adding a La Fonda to my juice smoothies, too!

The creation of a successful beverage brand is pretty hard. What difficulties did you face during the development process?

Creating a brand is very hard to do and being relatively new to the food and beverage industry we have certainly faced our challenges along the way! It was much harder for us than we’ve been accustomed to due to not having a rolodex of contacts for what we needed, not knowing the right vendors to work with or which partners to choose and trust. It was also difficult to develop products, packaging options and support our retail partners in the early going with limited resources.

Also, for me personally, learning the beverage industry lingo and metrics that retailers and distributors were speaking was definitely a learning curve. In my previous life I had been working with the likes of Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, Barney’s, etc., and while the fundamentals and business objectives are the same, the terminology is much different. This has been a “Humblemaker” for me, but I’m learning the jargon. : )

All of that said, the single biggest challenge for us was not having the initial capital in place to execute our plan perfectly. We were confident that we could create a brand and products that had a great story behind it that people would want to use and share. It was frustrating knowing what we want to do but not being able to put strategies and ideas in motion as fast as we wanted to. Fortunately, we recently found a few visionary investors that believed in our plan, our mission and shared our vision, which has allowed us to start executing on some of those objectives. We’re excited to watch it all come to life now…2020 should be a breakout year for us.

Can you tell us more about #TENFORAUTISM initiative?

As I mentioned earlier, Bryan has a very real, personal connection to the autism community. He has been an inspiration to watch in how he has so successfully juggled being an engaged dad, caretaker, business partner and creative machine. We decided that we wanted to take the opportunity we had to leverage this brand and business to have a really positive impact on those living with autism…especially kids, teenagers and young adults. We even have a few of the original members of the TOMS Shoes team as investors and advisors, and, as most know, they really set the bar for how to use business to make social impact. So we’ve determined that autism is our cause and we can use the success of Humblemaker to make a real difference.

As for Ten for Autism, it is a 501c3 non-profit created by Humblemaker to encourage for-profit businesses to donate up to 10% of their annual net profits to enable children with autism the opportunity to experience surfing, music, and the great outdoors. We structured it similar to Patagonia’s 1% for the Planet so that other businesses can join and donate up to 10% of their profits or create training and job opportunities for teenagers and young adults that are on the spectrum.

The organization is designed to raise funds that are distributed directly to a network of autism-based nonprofits and to Humblemaker-sponsored events developed for children on the autism spectrum. These specially tailored events are therapy-based, giving children living with autism the ability to experience a new world: discover the ocean & nature, enjoy music, and interact with peers of “typical” development. These unique peer interactions not only foster positive role modeling for children with autism, but simultaneously build self-confidence and encourage leadership skills with the “typical” children that participate.

So far with very limited resources we’ve been able to support other events hosted by A Walk On Water and plan to get involved with The A.skate Foundation. We’ve also been able to work with a student program through Los Alamitos High, a local high school near our shop in Seal Beach, where students come in a few days a week to learn how the shop operates. We show them everything ranging from folding boxes to making lattes on the espresso bar. It’s beautiful to be able to see their confidence grow from week to week and know that they are part of the Humblemaker crew.

Every milestone is very important. What would you say is Humblemaker Coffee Co.’s biggest achievement so far?

We’ve had good fortune the last 12 months starting with finding and opening our first brick & mortar shop on Main Street in Seal Beach, being selected to the Kroger Innovation Summit, being picked up by great retailers like Erewhon, Rainbow Acres and Co-Opportunity locally here in LA as well as being selected as a semifinalist in the New Beverage Showdown at BevNet. Most recently, we just closed our Pre-Seed round and have a handshake deal on our second location coming soon to the LA area, but I’d have to say our biggest achievement so far has been the opportunity to work with Sprouts on a national level so early in our lifecycle. Thank you for believing in us, Sprouts!

What is the biggest goal set for 2020?

Now that we have the proper resources in place, it will be to grow our wholesale business and support our retailers with marketing initiatives, launch our coffee subscription program through our new website (launching soon), and open that second cafe location in LA this summer. I know that’s more than one, but they are all as equally important to us and the plans we have to grow this year. I guess you could sum them all up as a goal to greatly expand awareness and influence this year.

What advice would you have given yourself before you started out in the beverage business?

We knew this was a different space from our background in the lifestyle-fashion world and knew it was going to present challenges just like any other business we’ve been involved with, but I didn’t fully grasp how much capital is needed to truly compete in the beverage industry. I would have told myself that we’re going to need a bigger boat and to fill it all with working capital. I’m half kidding, but I think the advice would be to surround myself with some industry vets earlier in the process to accelerate building the network, partners and relationships. We have that in place now, and we’re starting to cook. It’s exciting to watch it evolve.

For more information visit Humblemaker’s website.