Small business owner. Content Creator. TikTok Legend. Coffee Roaster. Barista. Friend to all. If you know Caitlin Campbell, you likely know her by one of more of these titles. And to be honest, these titles don’t even cover all that this incredible human has done in her 30 years on this planet.
Caitlin Campbell is the face of Street Brew Coffee. And along with her Dad “Papa Street Brew” they’re a beloved duo slinging ‘spro across the Greater Toronto Area at various pop-up events. And when they’re not doing that, they’re roasting incredible coffee for their ever growing customer base and creating incredible social media content across multiple social media platforms.
I had the pleasure of finally meeting Caitlin and Ross this past Spring at SCA EXPO and got to hear their story first-hand. I knew that one day I would have to share this story with you–my readers. And I am thrilled to say that the time has come. So here you go…enjoy the story of Street Brew Coffee as our Coffee Roaster of the Month for August 2024!
Hey Caitlin, so great to get the chance to connect with you! Introduce yourself to our readers.
Hey! I’m the co-founder of Street Brew Coffee a social enterprise specialty coffee company in Toronto, Canada. In addition to that I make content teaching people how to make better coffee!
So perhaps for many people reading this they’ve gotten to know you through your great social media (IG, YouTube) content but how did you get into specialty coffee? Was this alwas your dream?
No, I did not originally have coffee as my dream. I am actually a Pastor and was enrolled in my PHD in Dallas. My original goal was to be a University Professor. However, COVID happened and I couldn’t travel to Dallas for approximately 2 years. My father was already hobby roasting coffee and it seemed like something we could do together until COVID ended.
Speaking of social media, what led you to begin creating content? Can you share a bit of the backstory to how this all began, and what that journey was like in seeing your following skyrocket over the course of the last few years.
As COVID became more serious all our retail shows were cancelled in 2020, 2021, and 2022. I began doing video content in late February 2021. I produced 3 or 4 videos every day for the first 9 months on TikTok. I hoped to reach 20,000 followers. That seemed like a challenge and a great goal to focus on.
My initial videos focussed on brewing coffee with inexpensive brewing gear and showing folks how to brew good coffee at home. I also created a number of coffee recipe drinks that seemed to intrigue my viewers. As my audience grew very rapidly, I was surprised and encouraged to continue.
While social media can be an incredible way to connect and interact with one’s audience, there is also a dark side. How have you handled the inevitable onslaught of trolling and criticism that has come your way? How have you risen above this?
Yes, the trolls and haters are very difficult to handle and there is a very dark side to social media platforms. You must remain positive in who you are, don’t let the trolls win and have a very positive and strong support team.
Let’s shift the focus back to the good that comes from social media. What have been some of the coolest experiences you’ve had in the past few years that have come as a result of your growth on social media?
The opportunity to positively touch the lives of many folks who reach out and thank me for my content will always be my fondest experiences. There is obviously business growth that comes from social media growth. It has also raised my personal brand and has resulted in video content opportunities with a number of brands.I was invited to appear on “Your Mom’s House” podcast with Tom Segura and Christina. That has been a wonderful experience as well.
I see on your website the sale of every bag of your coffee and merchandise provides funds that will directly impact the homeless. Where does this passion to support those who are marginalized and homeless come from?
My family has always reached out to help the homeless and marginalized. This is something I witnessed growing up and want to continue for as long as I can. We are on track to donate 1,000 pounds of fresh roasted coffee to shelters, soup kitchens and street outreach vans in 2024.
So, your home-base is Toronto, ON (Canada). Can you tell us a little bit more about what the specialty coffee community is like there? What do you love?
We have a thriving specialty coffee community in Toronto that took a beating during COVID but is now seeming to bounce back. We do have all the major coffee conglomerates here but I tend to seek the small specialty cafes. I love visiting the small independent cafes and enjoying what they have to offer.
You’ve done such a great job at sharing through your socials about “the life of a 30-year-old small-business owner who makes coffee for a living” …but what have been some of the behind-the-scenes experiences that people might not know or realize go into the day-to-day of doing this full-time?
We operate a very busy website, a seasonal coffee trailer {from May to end of October}, corporate coffee catering for special events, constant demand for new videos and a growing brand portfolio. There are constant demands on my time and always seems like not enough time in the day. I absolutely love it all, but the demands on my time is something most folks would not know about.
There is no question that you are an inspiration to so many people in the specialty coffee/content creator communities. What encouragement/inspiration would you share to others who might want to pursue a future in these spaces?
I would encourage others to be yourself, be confident in who you are and always try to be better every day. Encourage and inspire others with your content and look for an opportunity to connect with your audience. Be honest and steadfast in your content so viewers can get to know you and trust you.
So to wrap things up, what’s on the horizon for Street Brew Coffee? Any big plans for 2024 and beyond?
We plan to be who we always have been and strive to be better every day. I have just signed my first book deal and this should be available late 2025 or early 2026.
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Contact Info:
web: www.streetbrew.ca
instagram: @street.brew
tiktok: @cc.campbell
facebook: facebook.com/KrashKulture
email: cc@streetbrew.ca
Find their beans: If you’re looking to get your hands on some beans then definitely check out their web-store for what they’re currently roasting.
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I just want to say a huge thank you to Caitlin and Papa Street Brew from Street Brew for being such a huge contributor to the coffee culture in Toronto & across Canada! Check out their site, grab yourself some beans, and enjoy!
Stay Caffeinated,
Tyler
commonly coffee 