Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Moe.
Hi Alex, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2016, I was medically discharged from the Air Force and was looking for a part-time job that would work with my school schedule. I was studying exercise science. Starbucks offered a flexible schedule so I applied and got the job there. Then I started getting into fitness and working out and realized the coffees that I was drinking had a ton of sugar and excess calories in them. I started making lower calorie, healthier versions of drinks you could order at Starbucks. Then I began posting them to Instagram and it hit home for a lot of people. * Over the last four years, I’ve put out hundreds of recipes and content to help people enjoy delicious tasting coffees without all the added calories.* In doing so built a following of over 1 million throughout all my social media platforms. Recently I launched my own coffee company, KNINE Coffee Co., an ecommerce based coffee company with a mission to give back. We deliver great coffee to dog and coffee lovers and donate a portion of our monthly profits to local shelters and rescues. My goal is to provide people with options for lower-calorie drinks that still taste great.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been and continues to be a learning process as I venture further into my passion and career. Keeping up with the constantly changing social media trends is always a task, but one that excites me as I find new ways to engage with my audience and all coffee/dog lovers out there. As I noted, I was medically discharged from the Air Force due to severe arthritis in my hips that deemed me “undeployable”. So that is a challenge I deal with daily, learning to workout in different ways that don’t aggravate my hips so I can preserve them as long as possible is tricky but absolutely doable. That issue along with the stressor of finding a new life path after the Air Force took a toll on my mental health. So, I am a huge advocate for mental health. It is so so important as we grow and progress as individuals that we learn to be emotionally intelligent and find outlets to make sure we are staying mentally fit as well as physically healthy.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I love coffee and I love my two dogs (german shepherds). I wanted to find a way to connect those two passions and share them with the world. KNINE (pronounce ‘ca-nine’) Coffee Co. is my way to do that. We are focused on providing an approachable and relatable coffee drinking experience while giving back to the ones who give us their all, dogs. Our motto is drink coffee, pet dogs, two simple things to do every day that keep us grounded and energized. We offer a variety of different roasts but really emphasize our cold brew and want to teach people that making cold brew at home is easy and fun! We also pride ourselves in making great coffee accessories like mugs, shirts, and hats. If you ever wanted to let the world know you love coffee just as much as you love your dog, we are the brand for you. You don’t have to be a hipster to make delicious coffee, we want everyone to be able to enjoy making coffee at home in a simple and easy way. Right now, we are currently only available online, but we pop-up at events in Austin and the surrounding area to meet and serve coffee in person. Our goal is to have our storefront open by mid-2022.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The beverage industry is constantly evolving and there are so many different sectors and niches. In the coffee market specifically, automation and convenience are in high demand. Products like at-home, automatic espresso machines and canned coffee drinks are hot ticket items. The RTD (ready-to-drink) market is growing rapidly every year, it’s something we’re very excited to dive into. We look forward to growing alongside the coffee industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: themacrobarista.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/themacrobarista
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themacrobarista
Image Credits:
Carlos Gallegos @fotosgallegos
