About Indie Coffee Shop Day

I wanted to create Indie Coffee Shop Day because I love independent coffee shops. Actually I love all coffee shops, including the big corporate ones. I love the smell of coffee, the whir of the coffee grinder.

And I love having meetings in those coffee houses. I have introduced so many new people to my favorite one, Hubbard & Cravens, that many of them have made it their regular place as well.

Latte art by Ashley, formerly of Hubbard & Cravens in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis.

I decided there needs to be a day for independent coffee shops, to encourage people to visit them. I’m already a big believer in Record Store Day, the day in April where people around the world are encouraged to visit a local record store. It was launched in response to the loss of record stores thanks to iPods and MP3s.

So I thought, “why not have Indie Coffee Shop Day the day before Record Store Day?” If nothing else, it will be easy to remember. But more importantly, the record store philosophy and the indie coffee shop philosophy closely align: support local business, find new experiences, and learn something new. So whenever you have Record Store Day on a Saturday, just do Indie Coffee Shop Day the day before. (And even on RSD. Don’t want to put limits on anyone!)

All you have to do to participate in Indie Coffee Shop Day is visit a local, non-chain coffee shop (i.e. not Starbucks, Caribou Coffee, or Dunkin’ Donuts — don’t get me wrong, they’re nice people and they love their mothers! But this is about supporting the local economy) and buy your favorite beverage. Coffee, tea, lattes, hot chocolate, or even a shot of espresso in a little tiny cup.