Brewed in the “Cloffice”: When Creativity and Community Converged

During the spring of 2020, I joined a call from my “cloffice” — a repurposed corner of my closet where a dresser once stood. My husband was serving as substitute principal, PE coach, tech support, and Dad while our kids navigated remote learning from the dining room table.

On the other end of the call were our store managers in New York City – partners navigating an entirely different reality. While I was home balancing chaos within four walls, they were stepping into stores everyday to serve their communities- brewing coffee, offering comfort, and showing up for their neighborhoods. That moment made something very clear: our experiences of the same storm were vastly different.

When the call ended, my teams first reaction was simple: “How can we help from here?”

The Why: Celebrating New York’s Creativity

We knew our strengths — storytelling and product creation. So we got to work. The idea was to design a collection that celebrated everything we loved about New York: it’s creativity, diversity, and authentic connection. The timeline? Six months. In the middle of a pandemic. Buckle Up.

The idea centered around an icon — the Chemex pour-over, invented in NYC in the 1940s. We wanted to pair this classic piece of coffee culture with contemporary New York artistry. We scoured Etsy, artist collectives, and partner recommendations until we found five incredible creators whose styles reflected the city’s pulse. Each reimagined the Chemex through their own lens — a celebration of color, community, and craft.

The Work: Fast, Focused, and Full of Heart

What followed was a whirlwind: contracts, design sessions, photo shoots, marketing plans, and even the creation of a custom coffee table book documenting the collaboration. Against all odds, we met our timeline and all 50 custom Chemex’s arrived at the Roastery by October 2020.

The Pause: Timing is Everything

But launching isn’t always just a date- it’s also about context. With the pandemic continuing to shift, we deliberately paused the launch. We wanted the release to feel right, not just for our partners, but for the artists and the city itself.

Finally, in December 2021, we celebrated — not just the artists or the finished products, but the collaboration itself.

The Impact: Coffee as Connection

These one-of-a-kind Chemex pieces became more than art or coffee; they were symbols of resilience, shared creativity, and connection during a time of deep disconnection.

Rolling with the punches and staying nimble made it possible. But what I’ll remember most is the joy of calling each artist to say, “We launched — your work is here, and it’s beautiful.”

What I learned: Creativity Finds a Way

This project reminded me that creativity doesn’t stop in uncertainty – it adapts. Listening deeply, acting thoughtfully, and collaborating openly can create something that connects people, even when the world feels far apart.