Meet the Minds Behind the Brew: Jared and Chris
The story of Cat & Cloud begins with Jared Truby and Chris Baca, two individuals with distinct backgrounds who found common ground in their love for coffee. Jared’s coffee journey started with his father’s cafe, giving him a foundational understanding of the business. Chris, on the other hand, stumbled into coffee after a back injury led him away from the skate shop and into a local coffee shop. This unexpected career shift ignited a passion that would define his path.
Together, Jared and Chris started blogging about coffee around 2010, sharing their ideas and perspectives. This online collaboration evolved into a real-world partnership, driven by their desire to create a coffee experience that stood out. Their shared vision was simple yet powerful: to make truly good coffee and foster a happy environment around it.
Jared and Chris, the co-founders of Cat & Cloud Coffee
The Happy Cafe Philosophy: More Than Just Coffee
Cat & Cloud’s cafe in Santa Cruz is designed to be a “happy place.” This isn’t just a slogan; it’s the core of their business philosophy. They emphasize creating a welcoming and open environment where everyone feels comfortable. With multiple doors and large windows, the cafe is bathed in sunlight, contributing to its bright and inviting atmosphere. This design choice reflects their commitment to openness and approachability.
For Jared and Chris, success is measured by whether a customer leaves happier than when they arrived. This extends beyond just serving excellent coffee. It includes offering tea, providing water to anyone who walks in, and even offering directions to those lost in Santa Cruz. This commitment to hospitality and genuine kindness sets Cat & Cloud apart. They believe in creating a space where even a simple interaction can brighten someone’s day.
Cat & Cloud cafe pin representing their brand and philosophy
Beyond customer happiness, Cat & Cloud also prioritizes the well-being and motivation of their team. In a unique move towards transparency, they share the company’s financials with their staff, fostering a sense of ownership and shared understanding. This open approach to management reflects their belief in building a strong and informed team.
The Sweet Spot: Cat & Cloud’s Coffee Flavor Profile
Cat & Cloud doesn’t offer an extensive coffee menu, but they are highly focused on the flavor profiles they select. They prioritize sweetness, a great finish, and complexity in their coffees. This often translates to beans with fruity and juicy notes. While taste is subjective, Jared and Chris have honed their palates over years of working together, resulting in a consistent and recognizable Cat & Cloud flavor profile.
Their dedication to quality means they are meticulous in their coffee selection. When asked about the grade of their Kenyan coffee, Chris jokingly replied “Fucking A+,” emphasizing their commitment to sourcing top-tier beans. This playful yet serious approach to quality is characteristic of their brand. They aim for the “right grade” – the one that delivers the sweet, complex, and satisfying cup of coffee they envision.
Cat & Cloud Kenya coffee beans, highlighting their focus on quality sourcing
Branding and Beyond: The Cat & Cloud Experience
Even Cat & Cloud’s packaging reflects their playful and distinctive brand identity. Their coffee bags feature simple yet eye-catching designs with playful typography and contrasting colors. This approach demonstrates that effective branding doesn’t require elaborate or expensive packaging. The use of color, illustration, and typography creates a unique and memorable look that stands out.
Ray from Unpacking Coffee noted the “playful typography and the contrasting colors” as particularly appealing in their bag design. Kandace highlighted how they achieve a “really unique look and feel” with a simple bag and label, proving that creativity and thoughtful design can be just as impactful as extravagance.
Cat & Cloud coffee bags showcasing their simple yet distinctive branding
Beyond the cafe and coffee beans, Cat & Cloud extends its reach through a podcast, further building community and sharing their coffee philosophy. This multifaceted approach, encompassing cafe experience, coffee quality, thoughtful branding, and engaging content, solidifies Cat & Cloud’s position as a unique and influential voice in the specialty coffee scene.
In conclusion, Cat & Cloud Coffee offers more than just a caffeine fix; it provides an experience rooted in happiness, quality, and community. From their welcoming cafe atmosphere to their carefully selected coffee beans and distinctive branding, every aspect of Cat & Cloud is designed to bring a little more joy to the world, one cup at a time. Explore Cat & Cloud to discover a truly unique and delightful coffee experience.
