What if the mood boost you get from starting the day off with a warm cup of coffee has more to do with your overall coffee experience than the coffee itself? If you stop by Be Kind Coffee Co. on your way into the office, your morning slump will disappear as soon as you set foot through the front doors. You will be greeted by a bright, friendly staff, and smell the aroma of lattes, tea, and house-baked pastries in a charming Clemmons coffee shop. To top it all off (extra whip, please!), giving back is just as much a part of Be Kind Coffee’s culture as creating high-quality coffee and tea beverages for customers. Staying true to its name, Be Kind Coffee Co. specializes in serving kindness in a cup.
What makes Be Kind Coffee Co. stand apart from other coffee shops and cafes in the Triad is its emphasis on philanthropy and helping those in need. In fact, even the shop’s coffee beans are rooted in a good cause. Mother-daughter duo and co-owners Amanda and Natalie Gogolak ensure that customers’ cups runneth over with coffee beans from Charlotte-based roaster Haerfest Coffee Roasting Co. Founded by Toby Foreman in 1998, Haerfest Coffee is dedicated to employing individuals with all types of intellectual and developmental disabilities, as it allows employees to gain new skills, capabilities, and confidence.
Year-round in Be Kind Coffee Co., customers are able to donate to the shop’s Giving Tree, which showcases nonprofit organizations in need of donations and volunteers. On Saturdays, nonprofit organizations regularly set up shop inside Be Kind Coffee in order to provide curious customers with information about their causes. Be Kind Coffee has worked with nonprofit organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Interfaith Alliance of Clemmons and Lewisville to find mentors for local elementary school students in need of companionship and role modeling. In July, Be Kind Coffee will be showcasing Thrive Community NC on its Giving Tree in order to support the construction of a community for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This month, customers have the opportunity to support the NC Transplant Recipient Athletes Association, along with the organization Donate Life, in order to raise money to help send organ recipients and donors money to participate in the organizations’ olympic games.
Sweet-toothed customers can benefit from Amanda and Natalie’s Italian and Czech family influences, as the coffee shop is often notorious for its decadent and unique selection of house-made baked goods. This spring, keep an eye out for seasonal menu items such as cardamom teacake, hummingbird bread, and plenty of lavender and rose-infused beverages.
Those with a taste for art will appreciate Be Kind Coffee’s support of local artists, with paintings, pottery, mixed media art, soaps, and more for sale inside the shop. Earlier this year, customers flocked to Be Kind’s vendors’ market to shop local artwork, and were even able to meet the local artists in person. In the near future, Amanda and Natalie hope to incorporate monthly pop-up markets outside on Saturdays to allow customers the opportunity to peruse local paintings, pottery, and more.
In just over a year, Be Kind Coffee Co. has become a Clemmons staple for coffee and community – and it’s just the beginning for this family-owned business. As Be Kind expands its shop’s seating and event space this spring, it’s also making room for hiring additional help. If you love people and are interested in applying for a part-time position at Be Kind Coffee Co. (no barista or coffee shop experience required), email your resume to info@bekindcoffeeco.com.
Visit Be Kind Coffee Co. in Clemmons on Tuesdays through Saturdays at 3560 Clemmons Rd. Keep up with community events and Giving Tree opportunities on Facebook, and follow @bekindcoffeeco on Instagram to stay up-to-date on the latest news from Be Kind Coffee Co.
