This summer, coffee lovers in downtown Iowa City welcomed a new addition to the scene - Kindred Coffee, which opened its doors on June 19 at 287 N. Linn St. The brainchild of co-owners Molly Kirby and Connor Jenkins, Kindred Coffee has an interesting backstory, having started as a mobile street food operation called Nomadic Foods in 2022. Initially, they offered vegetarian breakfast options at local events, later adding a mobile espresso bar to their repertoire. The duo's hard work paid off when they secured a brick-and-mortar location, formerly occupied by Tru Coffee, and transformed it into a cozy coffee haven. What sets Kindred apart is its "plant-focused" menu, which excludes whole milk and eggs, but still offers customers the option of whole milk with their coffee. The owners are thrilled to have a physical space, which they believe complements their mobile events perfectly. With plans to launch a line of bottled coffee in the near future, Kindred Coffee is poised to become a staple in the Iowa City coffee scene. What I find particularly impressive is the duo's commitment to sustainability and their passion for creating a unique experience for their customers.
Enjoying the read? Subscribe for free to one of the fastest-growing newsletters and get weekly coffee news (TL;DR updates) delivered right to your inbox.