by Lorie Lewis Ham
We at KRL are always on the lookout for businesses that are unique, and Coffein Coffee Co. in Clovis fits that bill perfectly. Interviewing them during Halloween month also felt like a perfect fit—from their coffin shaped coffee bags (which can be packaged in a tiny little coffin), to their interest in bat rescue—what could be better! This coffee company is also a perfect fit for KRL—I love Halloween, coffee, and animal rescue! And if that wasn’t enough of a reason to check out Coffein Coffee Co., according to their Facebook they are also a woman and LGBTQ+ owned business! Recently, we had the chance to sit down and chat with their owner and founder, Jennifer “Kat” Bechkoff, to learn more! I also asked her a couple of questions about Halloween!
KRL: I know you are based in Clovis. Did you grow up there? If not, how did you end up in the Valley?
Kat: I was born and raised in Fresno. After living several places around the world, I moved back when I had children so they could grow up near family.
KRL: What is your background in coffee?
Kat: Fresno’s Tower District cafes (like Java Café, Beats Me, Café Intermezzo, and The Revue) are where I spent the majority of my youth alongside other goths, punks, and misfits. It’s where we found our solidarity. Ever since, I’ve been a huge coffee drinker. It took two or three pots a day to get me through my MBA and PhD programs!
KRL: How and when did you come up with the idea for Coffein Coffee Co.? (It’s so much fun) Why coffins?
Kat: In 2022, while wandering Salem’s cemeteries and gothic shops, I felt impelled to start a company. My partner joked that I should start a coffee company named Coffein (a portmanteau of coffee, caffeine, and coffin) because of my love of coffee and my gothic lifestyle, and it was too perfect to pass up. From there, I created coffin shaped bags, satin-lined coffin boxes, and the company mascot, Bela (named after Bela Lugosi, the actor who first portrayed Count Dracula in the 1931 movie). As I sat at my desk writing the business plan for Coffein, I looked up and saw a framed photo of Lil Drac, my adopted bat from Bat World Sanctuary. In that moment, I realized Coffein could be more than just a brand; it could be a platform to support and advocate for bat conservation. That sealed it.
KRL: How fun! Please tell us about your coffee? What makes it unique other than the packaging?
Kat: Coffein is specialty grade coffee, meaning it is the highest tier of quality. Its superior quality comes from minimal defects, complex flavor profiles, and careful roasting. Coffein’s roaster is one of the best in the business. He knows the exact point in the “crack” to extract the best flavor from each bean origin, never over-roasting the beans. Hence, our slogan is “Always casketed, never cremated.”
KRL: Where do you get your coffee from?
Kat: We feature beans from Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Mexico, and Columbia. For Pride month, our “Pride or Die” roast hailed from Costa Rica.
KRL: Do you have a brick and mortar location? If not, where all do you sell your coffee?
Kat: Not yet. We sell online, at oddities and goth markets, and at horror conventions. You can also find us at The Horror Boodega in Burbank.
KRL: What else do you sell?
Kat: In addition to coffee, we offer mugs (including our famous Bela Mugosi), coffin-shaped Bat Mats and coffee trays, slate coasters, bumper stickers, and t-shirts. If you catch us in person, you’ll also find fun items like plush bats, coffee spoons, bat hats, bat jewelry, and other spooky surprises – all part of our mission to spread bat awareness.
KRL: Can you tell us about your monthly bat adoption and why you feel it is important? What is the connection between bats and coffee?
Kat: Bats are a keystone species that play an important role in coffee plantation ecology. Bats pollinate fruit trees, spread shade tree seeds (that enhance coffee flavor by slowing its ripening), and eat thousands of pests a night which reduces the need for harmful chemical pesticides. Yet millions are dying from White Nose Syndrome, a devastating fungal disease. Since bats only have one pup a year, the stakes are high. Coffein supports research and bat sanctuaries to help protect them.
KRL: Please tell us about your mission statement.
Kat: Coffein’s mission is to be the coffee of choice for goths, punks, metalheads, horror fans, and bat lovers. With coffee packaged in coffin-shaped bags and red, satin-lined coffin boxes, it is not for everyone. I grew up in the goth/punk scene (which revolves around music and fashion); my product definitely reflects that.
KRL: Where can people purchase your coffee? And please tell us about your subscription service. Where can people find you online?
Kat: Coffein is available for purchase at CoffeinCoffeeCo.com or in person at one of our vending events; check Instagram (@CoffienCoffeeCo) for our full vending schedule. We have a monthly subscription service that will save you 10%-20% depending on your selected delivery schedule. This is a popular choice for those who are addicted to our phenomenal Salem White Witchazelnut (a uniquely crafted vanilla-hazelnut flavored coffee that is medium-roasted using a Nicaraguan bean.)
KRL: I am going to assume you are a fan of Halloween. What do you like best about it?
Kat: We share a similar aesthetic. The darkness, mystery, and macabre of Halloween align perfectly with the music, fashion, and art of the goth community. Halloween is a day when the rest of society steps briefly into our world.
Kat at an event
KRL: Do you dress up? If so, what is your favorite costume?
Kat: My favorite costume is a bat, of course! It is cozy, hooded, and perfect for emerging into the night to take my kids trick-or-treating.
KRL: Anything else you would like to share?
Kat: I’m a single mom of two children and a full-time professor, so Coffein is my passion project. While I designed the first ever coffin-shaped coffee bag, Coffein is much more than just a cool aesthetic. It is delicious, perfectly roasted, specialty coffee, and a vehicle to help protect the world’s beloved “sky puppies.” You’ll find us this October at Haunted Happenings in Salem, MA. Come taste our hallowed grounds.
0 Comments