Strange Brew coffee shop has created a program for customers to buy coffee or pastries for strangers. The program started in February of this year.
Shane Reed, owner of Strange Brew, said since the coffee shop opened, people have been purchasing items for strangers inside and in the drive-thru. Reed said they decided to put a Brew spin on it and gave the program a title: ‘Brew it Forward.’
“It grew from just having quirky requirements for drinks into something really special,” Reed said. “Some were fun like “Free Drink for Wearing Maroon” or “Free Cookie for Someone Talking like a Pirate” – then we started seeing ones that really grabbed us like ‘Free Coffee for a Cancer Survivor’ or ‘Free Smoothie for Someone that’s Homesick’.”
There are dozens of coffee sleeves hanging on a board at the front counter. The sleeves are labeled in sharpie or pen with an item and who it is for. Free coffees and cookies are waiting for “a newly engaged couple,” an “MSU softball player needing a pick me up,” an “architect student,” a “tired nurse” and many more.
Shannon Shepherd, junior art major who works at Strange Brew, said she loves the program. As a huge Game of Thrones fan, Shepherd said her favorite experiences so far have been when people brew it forward for fellow supporters. She said she smiled when she saw “Small latte for someone who hates Cersei as much as I do.”
“It really shows the kindness in Starkville when people buy a coffee for someone they don’t even know,” Shepherd said. “They get something from someone who shares the same interest as them and it’s really beautiful.”
Megan Grimes, another employee and senior biology major, said more people come in and buy one for someone else than they do for themselves. She also said many people pick one up around exam time, and some customers come in strictly to brew it forward.
“I think it’s really good for people having a bad day — a little gesture of kindness goes a long way,” Grimes said. “My favorite one was a ‘small hundred year’s war for someone who hasn’t seen their loved ones in 100 days.’”
Reed said the program has become an important part of the Strange Brew culture and he is glad to say it is here to stay.
