“Where do you get inspiration for your books? I tell myself I can’t have another cup of coffee till I thought of an idea.”
― Douglas Adams
A few months ago we received a call from a former student and Coffeebar regular Chris Clardy. He and his business partner Ethan Jamison were gearing up to launch their business, a book and coffee subscription called Bound to Brew. Their goal was to help provide a platform for new authors to publish and share their work, while also giving subscribers access to freshly roasted specialty coffee from roasters across the US.
That mission resonated with us since so many creatives – writers, musicians, artists, designers – find a home in the coffee industry. Coffeebar certainly has many of these folks on our team, both in stores and as part of our leadership team. And as we got to know Chris and Ethan, we grew even more excited about the opportunity to partner with them for Bound to Brew.
Originally the plan was just for Coffeebar to be Bound to Brew’s featured roaster for December, but through ongoing conversations with Chris and Ethan about their business, the idea to also create a year-round ‘old-reliable’ blend started to take shape. They wanted to offer something for subscribers who maybe don’t want to try something new every month, but just want tasty coffee. So we worked with Chris and Ethan to create an exclusive Bound to Brew medium-roast blend that will be offered on their online store in addition to their monthly featured coffee.
We'll be selling the Bound to Brew blend alongside the December book in all our cafes for the month of December. Supplies are limited, so don't miss out!
Here’s our interview with Chris and Ethan, so you can get to know them and their business a little bit better.
Coffeebar: What’s the motivation for Bound to Brew?
Chris & Ethan: Our motivation is simple, building a community for new authors and connecting with our subscribers through amazing coffee.
Writers are constantly jumping through hoops to break into traditional publishing, which is what made self-publishing such a huge success. We are trying to break down those barriers and create a place where authors are free to express themselves. Our box allows us to share new stories with a community of readers and coffee enthusiasts alike.
We wanted to find a way to truly connect with our subscribers. Coffee is so much more than the driving force of our everyday lives. It engages your senses, brings people together, and connects us with people from all over the world through sourcing and roasting. It is too often that people are stuck buying stale coffee from the market, which is why we bring freshly crafted coffee from some of the nation’s best roasters straight to our subscriber’s doors.
Coffeebar: Why Coffeebar for the BTB blend?
C&E: We knew from the beginning that we wanted to partner with Coffeebar. We probably spent more time at Coffeebar then we did in class, and it was only right to develop a Bound to Brew blend with a place that feels like home.
Coffeebar: How does the subscription work?
C&E: Each month we pair together a first edition book from a compelling new voice in literature with a bag of freshly roasted coffee and ship it straight to your door.
Coffeebar: If I want Bound to Brew blend off subscription, how can I get it?
C&E: We will list all of our coffees on our site for purchase outside the subscription at https://boundtobrew.com (starting December)
For more information and to sign up for monthly deliveries of books, coffee, and joy, check out Bound to Brew’s website: https://boundtobrew.com
Want to get the most from your Bound to Brew blend? Take a look at our brewing recipe guides: https://www.coffeebar.com/blogs/guides
By Matt Brown, Coffeebar Wholesale Manager
Photos courtesy of Bound to Brew
