If you’re anything like me, one of the highlights of your day is that first cup of coffee. On a good day, it’s a French press at home or something from a favorite cafe. But more often than not, it’s whatever budget bean remains in the office airpot by the time you roll into work. Lucky for us, Kindly Coffee is turning that common sludge into a high quality cup of joe, and it's all the buzz in Minneapolis tech-based offices.
After witnessing coffee production first-hand in Latin America, founder Dan Linstroth started Kindly as a thoughtfully sourced, carefully roasted organic coffee supply for the workplace. Before they arrive at Beta.MN 2.0, we spoke to Kindly to get the rundown on how their business has grown, along with their plans for future growth.
Tell us the story of how and why you started your company.
Kindly Coffee founder Dan Linstroth spent three years living and working in Latin America. During this time he saw coffee cultivation and production at it's origin. More specifically, he witnessed the incredible impact that coffee has on local communities in coffee-producing countries and gained an appreciation for the craft of coffee cultivation.
Upon returning to his hometown of Minneapolis, working in technology and marketing, Dan fueled his growing coffee passion by starting Kindly Coffee as a subscription model, e-commerce side project. After striking a partnership with a small group of veteran coffee professionals, and being totally unsatisfied with the coffee service in Minneapolis tech and creative agencies, Kindly Coffee pivoted from an e-commerce-only model to a better, smarter office coffee service for creative businesses.
Now in a select group of Minneapolis offices, Kindly Coffee is refining its office coffee approach and preparing to open its service to more customers in 2015.
What's your most recent success or milestone hit?
Kindly Coffee recently signed a partnership with a team of coffee industry veterans who specialize in sourcing and roasting high-quality organic coffee from the world's best small-plot farms. This partnership secures our long-term commitment of being able to provide our customers, clients and partners with some of the best coffee on the planet.
Where do you see your startup in one year?
Kindly Coffee will have a full-service office kitchen offering of craft coffee, cold brew coffee, healthy snacks, and kitchen supplies all managed with an iPad installed for free in your office. Your dedicated on-call kitchen barista will make sure that your office is always caffeinated and full of healthy energy.
