INDEPENDENT STORYTELLING PLATFORM DOCUMENTING GRASSROOTS RACE CULTURE AND THE COMMUNITIES BEHIND IT
Social media is both freeing and haunting. It’s freeing in the sense that it is fun, playful, and of course … social. You get to share what’s going on in your life with friends, family, and strangers alike. We also get to keep tabs on people from afar. That family member you haven’t seen in a while or that friend who moved overseas whom you now see in person once every few years. Social media opens the door to share our lives with others.
But it haunts us.
2019 was a big step forward as to living deeper into our vision, mission, and values. Also, it was a year leaning more into our brand and identity … who we are, who we’re here for, and where we’re going. As oddly as it sounds, we’re finding our voice and growing comfortable in our own skin as a company.
I’ve come to see mountain biking as the bridge between urban and rural … city and wilderness. Due to sheer population density most mountain bikers live in a city whether large or small. What that then means is the continual travel from the city to the backside of nowhere to ride. We leave the comforts of city life … access to amenities, services, and the pulsating rhythms of constant activity … to replace with the quiet remoteness of a trail.
I’m all about simplicity. That comes out in a lot of ways in the worlds of mountain biking, the way I drink coffee, and even how I run Loam Coffee. For a 10 year stretch the only mountain bike I had was a single speed. I didn’t have to fret over broken derailleurs or erratic shifting. I drink my coffee straight black. This simplicity is at the forefront in Loam Coffee from our logo, bags, branding, and more. I love simple. Clean.
We all have our origin stories. Each business has one too. I do know this: if it wasn’t for the countless hours spent out on the trail in the Sonoran Desert there would be no Loam Coffee.
Coffee is a lot of fun. It's more than "hot bean juice" too. We drink coffee because we love it ... the tasting notes, how it feels when we take a sip, and of course the other benefits like caffeine. But it's more like a lifestyle accessory. However, that doesn't mean it should be inaccessible without insider knowledge.
So what is one affordable essential needed for the next time you go camping or want to brew coffee at the trailhead?
