Looking for the Perfect Holiday Gift?

Stress-free Holiday Shopping
Order a gift bag from Overflow Coffee Bar.  Save yourself time, energy and stress.  They offer FREE delivery in the South Loop!  Your purchase also helps this new South Loop business and makes a positive difference in the lives of farmers and for the environment. 

Gift Bags Make it Easy

These bags are CREATE YOUR OWN!  Select your own unique variety of coffee, tea, hot cocoa, chocolate and Overflow branded items.  You check off what you want in the bag and they put it together for you.  You can select one item, five of the items, or all the items, it's up to you.

More information is available at the Overflow Coffee Bar Web site.

Help Change the World
Overflow Coffee Bar’s mission is to give South Loop residents, ,and workers the opportunity to change the world.  They are coming to 1550 S. State in 2011 but they are already offering items (including the holiday gift bags) for purchase on their website.  Every purchase helps them open sooner and with a better chance of success.

To learn more about Overflow Coffee Bar check out the cool video below.

OVERFLOW Hits the Streets of the South Loop of Chicago from Brandon Neely on Vimeo.

Buy some coffee and change the world

One cup at a time

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a young couple (Amanda and Brandon Neely) who are working hard to open a coffee bar in the South Loop, Overflow Coffee Bar.

Part of their mission is to serve direct and fair trade coffees. By buying and serving only direct and fair trade coffees, coffee farmers are ensured a fair price for their crop. This enables them to support their families and local economies.

My favorite new brew
As part of my research, I discovered a direct trade Guatemalan whole bean coffee that I think is the perfect roast to start off the day. It's a smooth blend that has hints of chocolate and nutty flavors. It's my new favorite brew.

To find out more about direct and fair trade coffees, check out the Overflow Coffee Bar Web site. Please consider buying some coffee from Overflow. If you do, you will not only be supporting coffee growers around the world, but helping the Neely's open Overflow Coffee Bar here in the South Loop.

Free delivery is available within a certain radius of the South Loop.

OVERFLOW Hits the Streets of the South Loop of Chicago from Brandon Neely on Vimeo.

Think Global, Drink Local: A Recap

On October 29, Overflow Coffee Bar had it's first educational event at the South Loop Wine Cellar.  The event was better than could have been expected!  Here's the night in review:

• 30 people attended.
• There were lots of cupcakes, cookies, fruit, and chocolate covered expresso beans.  One of the students there said the cupcakes were the best he's ever had. 
• Coffee Ambassadors brought some great coffee from Guatemala and Honduras.  A woman said this was the best coffee she's ever had.
• Tim Taylor spoke about direct trade coffee.  He shared that direct trade is about relationship, excellence and transparency.
• Amanda Neely, Executive Director, spoke about Overflow Coffee Bar's mission and vision for the South Loop: uniting all South Loopers - residents, students and workers - to change the world.
• There was a great Q & A time and people had some wonderful questions about direct trade coffee and Overflow. 

More photos can be viewed at www.facebook.com/overflowcoffeebar.