Hey, bird!
We're Ben and Karie, founders of CinderBird. Nice to meet you!
Benjamin
My first word was "outside" (though I pronounced it ow-si) and while most of my friends growing up were playing video games, I was out fishing and exploring. Today I still love being outside and can often be found foraging for mushrooms in the PNW.
I'm a serial entrepreneur, first selling candy bars and paintballs to my classmates as a kid and then later becoming a founder and operator in the food & beverage space. Having previously owned a restaurant, a brewery, and a food truck, my experience starting and operating successful businesses in the world of hospitality has given me valuable experience when it comes to executing a customer centric vision.
At CinderBird, I like to put my efforts into crafting a beverage that not only supports a healthy lifestyle but promotes my first love of exploring the outdoors. Combining these two passions has resulted in a unique product that resonates with campers, hikers and foodies alike.
Karie
My childhood activities included catching snakes, climbing trees, and washing my hands with witch's butter. I've always been fascinated by the magic of nature and love nothing more than sipping coffee with an epic view.
I have ALWAYS been a food person. I've baked in professional restaurants, worked on organic farms, made wedding cakes, vended at farmers markets, been a food blogger, got certified as a master food preserver, foraged my way through both urban and wild landscapes, taken photos for food brands, and designed websites for food bloggers.
I spent over a decade working in professional kitchens as a baker and pastry chef, where I mastered the art of recipe development and creating unique flavor profiles. My love of incorporating wild edibles into my baking led me deeper and deeper into the woods, combining my interests in food and outdoor recreation.
The CinderBird Story
When we met, we immediately bonded over our shared interest in mushrooms, foraging, good food, and camping. At the time, Karie was making intricate nutrition-boosted coffee every morning at home, adding things like MCT oil and mushroom powders to her cup each day. However, on camping trips, we would relegate ourselves to gritty cowboy coffee or stale instant coffee, neither of which tasted good or made us feel ready to tackle a day of adventuring.
We started to experiment by combining instant coffee with powdered versions of the healthy fats and adaptogens we were enjoying at home to see if we could make a “just-add-water” version that was easy to take and make anywhere. That’s when CinderBird was born!
We spent over a year tweaking the recipes until we had created the most delicious lattes possible. CinderBird Lattes are designed to support adventurous people with active lifestyles. They’re a convenient way to make healthy coffee and tea, no matter where you are or what adventure you’re on. We hope you love them!
Why we're here
We’ve seen firsthand how abruptly life can be cut short. Tomorrow is not a guarantee for any of us. A few years ago, we decided we wanted to make the most of this uncertain life and enjoy whatever time we have. We want to help people live their best lives - not in 30 years, not one day when you finally retire, but today.
What you can expect from us:
flavor above all else
Taste is our biggest priority. We worked very hard to make mushroom lattes that taste flippin' amazing.
feel-good ingredients
Our lattes are full of high quality ingredients that help you feel your best so you can have a kick-ass day.
convenient a.f.
Make CinderBird Mushroom Lattes on any of life's adventures. All you need is hot water.
