Kuksa Coffee Roasters: Giving Back by Generating a Buzz

worklifeinfocus_2guys
worklifeinfocus_2guys

As Kevin Larson and David Kahn enjoyed a cup of coffee with one another a few years ago, they discussed possible shared interests to venture into. Larson, a firefighter with the Novato Fire Department, desired a passion project aside from extinguishing flames. Kahn, a retired Petaluma firefighter, was looking for something to do in retirement. As the two sipped coffee, it hit them like espresso: coffee.

After attending an entry-level roasting class at a Berkeley co-op, the duo realized the possibility of turning a shared interest into a small business. After placing their first order for a minimum of 10,000 coffee bags, Larson and Kahn knew they were committed, brewing up the company Kuksa Coffee Roasters.

The Kuksa is a traditional wooden cup originally made by the Sámi, the indigenous people of Lapland, known today as the northernmost region of Finland, Norway and Sweden. It holds a special place in coffee history, linking the landscape of which it is crafted to the coffee. The name also serves as a nod to Larson’s Swedish background.

The “Kuksa” coffee cup. [Photo: Michael Avina]
With limited exposure for their product during the early days of the pandemic, Kuksa relied on family and friends as its focus group for the coffee. This communal experience shared over a cup of coffee is the driving force for Larson and Kahn’s brand. “We use the hashtag ‘enjoythemoment’ as an aspect of what we want the coffee to provide for our customers,” Larson says. Kuksa hopes to identify with consumers who relish the outdoors, live an active lifestyle and appreciate quality coffee. Each bag of Kuksa’s coffee features a serene backdrop of mountains and trees.

The company also incorporates the background of its founders, applauding the efforts of first responders. Kuksa’s First Responder Dark Blend was initially created for consumers to send a bag to first responders during wildfire season. The effort grew to include donating a portion of the proceeds to Operation Freedom Paws, a nonprofit based in San Martin that empowers veterans and first responders to restore their own independence and help treat PTSD by training clients to train a service dog for their specific needs. Giving back and local support are virtues that inform much of Kuksa’s operations.

“Coffee is such a ‘co-op-atition’,” Kahn says, speaking to the duo’s experience thus far of encountering support from fellow local purveyors and small businesses navigating the challenges of COVID-19. Kuksa currently handles fulfillment, shipping and storage out of a shared space in Petaluma with local kombucha and cacao small businesses.

During the 2020 holiday season, Kuksa paired with four other local vendors and assembled gift baskets to help each other’s products reach people. “The only way we’re surviving is the local ethos the North Bay has with local community support,” Larson says.

Community support and camaraderie among fellow small businesses have been crucial for Kuksa in its early stages. Larson and Kahn hoped to show proof of concept within the first two years of operations; a goal they feel is achieved. The duo’s next goal is moving into regional space, and ultimately a cafe. Before they can hang an “open” sign in a brick-and-mortar doorway, they will continue to grow and develop relationships with local consumers, producers and retailers. And they’ll continue to learn about the complexities of shipping. “I didn’t know international shipping was going to be part of my retirement job,” Kahn says.

Kuksa Coffee is available for purchase online and at certain local establishments, the full list of which can be found at www.kuksacoffee.com

Related Posts

Loading...

Sections