Maker Spotlight: BLK & Bold

It’s no secret that pretty much our entire team loves coffee, and it’s clear our community does, too! Our coffee-themed gift sets are always bestsellers and many of our corporate gifts include beans or mugs as well. When it comes to gifting, coffee is a relatively safe bet to please any recipient, whether it be a colleague, in-law, neighbor, or bestie.

While coffee may be a widely-loved commodity, it isn’t all created equally, which is why we put tremendous care into selecting our coffee roasters. We partner with those who share our same meticulous attention for quality, both in their trade operations and roasting processes. When we were looking to add another roaster partner, we knew that BLK & Bold would be an incredible maker to add to our assortment.

BLK and Bold Founders - Minny and Paul Maker

Behind the Brand

BLK & Bold was founded in Des Moines, Iowa in June 2018 by childhood friends Pernell Cezar and Rod Johnson. As avid coffee drinkers, they noticed a lack of representation in the industry and decided it was time to do something about it. After taking a leap away from careers in higher education fundraising and retail merchandising, they fused their passions and skill sets to create a social impact business model. Not only does BLK & Bold help educate its customers on specialty coffee origins and processes, but they also use this daily ritual as means for supporting causes they care deeply about.

5 Percent - BLK and Bold - Minny and Paul Maker.png

The Mission

Growing up on the same block in Gary, Indiana, Pernell and Rod witnessed first-hand how limited community resources can restrict opportunities, particularly for children. They believe that by taking a daily activity, like enjoying a delicious cup of coffee, and tying it to a cause, they can create economic mobility for youth at a large scale. This vision led them to commit 5% of all profits towards youth-related causes, from education to workforce development to eradicating youth homelessness. They believe “great business stems from investing in our communities,” and have been able to support over 14 non-profits so far, including Juxtaposition Arts here in Minneapolis. With such tremendous and well-deserved success in their first two years of operation, we’re excited to watch them continue to grow their business and their social impact.

The Goods

Not only are we excited to add BLK & Bold as a partner for their philanthropic efforts, their coffee also blows us away. They roast in small batches to optimize the flavor of each bean, allowing for a full profile of tastes to shine in every cup. We also love their steeped coffee, which is included in our newly revamped Fuel gift set. These single-serving packets are freshly ground then nitro-filled to maintain maximum freshness and flavor, allowing you to experience premium coffee when time-crunched, traveling, or exploring the great outdoors. The best part is that the packaging is compostable, so you can enjoy convenience while also reducing waste.

We couldn’t be happier to add this inspiring B-Corp to our partner mix! Give them a follow on Instagram and try out their products for yourself with our Fuel gift set.