The Catholic Coffee Boom
Coffee and Catholics have gone hand in hand for centuries now; however, it’s undeniable to ignore the rise of independent, Catholic coffee companies. Before sharing what’s happening today, let’s give a quick look at the history of how this beloved beverage is intertwined with the Catholic faith.
Coffee was sus, back in the day, some even calling it “the devil’s drink” when it was first introduced to Europe in the 1600s. No surprise, because coffee’s side effects include jittery-ness and addiction and bursts of energy, right? Some leaders even outlawed and banned the drink. Pope Clement VIII’s advisors went so far as to called coffee “the bitter invention of Satan.” But Pope Clement took a sip and, well, loved it. Legend states he shared, “This Satan’s drink is so delicious that it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it.” And because the Pope endorsed it, other world leaders eased up a bit too.
Today, Catholics have their fair share of options when it comes to skipping good old Folgers and Starbucks to support companies that align with moral standards.
1) Catholic Coffee
Be inspired by the lives of the saints and energized by Catholic Coffee’s coffee. Each of their coffees pairs with a Catholic saint, making every roast a special treat for any Catholic who loves quality coffee. Our favorite is the Joan of Arc French Vanilla (get it?!). Their mission statement reads, “We at Catholic Coffee™ believe in truth, goodness, beauty, and great coffee. Our faith informs everything we do. We endeavor, like Our Lord Jesus Christ, to ‘do all things well.’ That’s why our experienced roasters take great care to roast our beans to the highest standards possible…We hope that each cup of Catholic Coffee™ will lift your spirits and bring a bit of the divine into your home.”
2) Guadalupe Roastery
Guadalupe Roastery has been supporting their farmers since 2019. Mission Driven, Sustainably Farmed, Directly Sourced, and Distributors of the Top 3% of Global Coffee. They have purchased and sold more than 87,000lbs of directly sourced coffee (82-88) putting each years profits back into the hands of farmers in Nicaragua & Colombia - most recently with the purchase of this year's harvest! We wrote about them in a previous article that you can check out here!
3) Abbey Roast
Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery is located in the mountains bordering the Gila National Forest in southwest New Mexico. The Benedictine Monks of Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery are happy to offer you 100% Gourmet Arabica Coffee carefully roasted in small batches in order to bring out the unique qualities of some of the best selected coffee and deliver it to you fresh. All proceeds contribute to the expansion of their Monastery in order to receive the many vocations knocking on their doors.
4) Saint Frank
Saint Frank was named after their city, San Francisco, but more specifically, the beloved Saint Francis who showed all things seemingly mundane and ordinary to be special. Their website reads, “His life warranted the denomination of a saint while he would prefer a simple name like Frank. Saint Francis had a passion for life and connection with people and the world around him in a way that shapes our direction in coffee and service. He approached everything with a humble wide-eyed view of simplicity and courtesy. Everyone mattered to Francis. Everything was important and special, worthy of attention and service. We approach our craft with simple and restrained elegance that amplifies our values in coffee, people, and connection.” Plus, their merchandise is killer.
5) Seven Weeks Coffee
A pro-life coffee company? Sign us up! At seven weeks of development a baby is the size of a coffee bean—and for the first time, a heartbeat is clearly detectable. Their mission is simple: “To promote Godly values, provide excellent coffee, and protect every beating heart.” A portion of each sale goes towards pregnancy centers, too!
6) Mystic Monk
Founded in 2007 and roasted by real monks, Mystic Monk Coffee has fast become the brew of choice for aficionados and everyday coffee drinkers alike. From subtle blends such as the Paradiso Blend, to the limited flavor Jingle Bell Java, you are sure to find—and enjoy—the perfect coffee for you and your family.
7) Religious Roast
And here again we have another solid mission statement: “Our mission is to help everyone ‘pray without ceasing’ within the simple tasks of their day, one cup of coffee at a time.” We couldn’t help but smile at what was on their homepage front and center: “Starting each day with prayer has never been easier.”
8) Verso l’Alto Coffee
Coffee named for Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati? Yes please! Their website states, “Verso L'alto- ‘To the heights.’ We adopted this motto for our roastery because it dares us to embrace the simple life and to unearth the beatific within the everyday. We believe that it is good for the soul to find joy in the methodical and that profound satisfaction comes from performing small tasks with great care. When we see the world this way, we can transform something as simple as brewing a cup of coffee into an extraordinary moment...and we invite you to do so.”
9) Brother Andre’s Cafe
Saint André Bessette, patron saint of family caregivers, provided the inspiration for Brother André’s Café. Their mission is to share the many talents of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) with the world.
10) Lady Blue Coffee
Founder Joe Henkels shares, “I've been asked by many people this question. However, when they hear the mission behind Lady Blue Coffee they see the need for this brand and its mission, to fuel nonprofits, have transparency on all levels, and source the best coffee for our customers!”
11) Zelie Beans Coffee
We think St. Zelie Martin would be pretty happy if she logged onto Zelie Beans Coffee’s website and read what first pops up: "Families helping families through speciality coffee." Followed by, “People are at the heart of everything we do. This is what drives us and every decision we make every day.”
