Kombucha, organics, whole grains, kale – there’s a lot happening in the underground food movement that relates directly to living a healthier lifestyle – except for maybe cupcakes. Foodies have long understood the value of living a balanced lifestyle, and having an appreciation for good food is often teamed with being more conscious about everyday lifestyle choices. Which might be why there’s been an influx of bike influence when it comes to food. Think about it: opting for food that’s delivered by two wheels instead of four certainly makes a statement, and it’s one that plenty urbanite foodies are happy to make.
But every foodie has a weak spot, and a lot of us are well versed in the realm of caffeine addiction. Which means that no matter how many kale chips and sweet potato fries we may commit to, we’re always going to make room for that morning double americano. So what’s a conscious coffee-lover to do? Take advantage of the sustainable lifestyle trend that’s taken a hold of the food movement and get your beans delivered by bike.
Who’s doling out coffee beans a la velo? Lots of people.
If you’re already familiar with coffee bike-delivery, chances are you’ve heard mention of Peace Coffee. They’ve been delivering their beans by bike (wherever appropriate) in the Minneapolis area since 1999, well ahead of the trend. But this isn’t the only Midwest region that gets to enjoy the benefits of bike-delivered caffeine; Madison is home to Just Coffee Cooperative, who employs bikes for most of their local deliveries.
In San Francisco you can take advantage of Bicycle Coffee Company who provides organic, fair trade beans roasted in the San Francisco area to a variety of vendors including one of my favorite foodie destinations, Bi-Rite.
Coffee capital Portland is home to Courier Coffee Roasters, who deliver their home-roasted beans to plenty of cafes around and even offer home bean delivery, all by super cool looking cargo bikes. And the home delivered beans are served up in mason jars. This operation is so popular that they’re soon going to open a coffee bar in downtown Portland, where I am sure we can expect ample bike parking. Not to be outdone, fellow Pacific Northwest java central, Seattle, has Small Cog Coffee.
And don’t think that bike-delivered coffee is something that’s solely taking place in bike-centric metropolises. In Flagstaff be sure to check out The Coffee Pedaler, who not only delivers coffee by bike, but also has an espresso bar and full service bicycle shop all under one roof. What more could you ask for?
Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of Anna Brones’s column at EcoSalon, Foodie Underground. Each week, Anna will be taking a look at something new and different that’s taking place in the underground food movement, from supper clubs to mini markets to culinary avant garde.
Image: Anna Brones