Black Drip releases canned cold brew as KC coffee maker leans into creative blends

A new cold brew version from Charon Thompson’s popular Kansas City coffee brand drips with strength, the co-founder said, teasing its arrival on the market just as the metro begins to heat up for the spring.

“I can’t sell hot coffee when it’s like 92 degrees,” said Thompson, recalling an experience during a Black Drip Coffee event in August when he realized the potential of adding a cold brew to Black Drip’s lineup.

“It’s pretty strong, it’ll wake you up,” he added. “It’s just the coffee so you can add to it or add it to your own coffee to make it stronger.”

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Black Drip’s Cold Brew Renegade is made with the brand’s popular Renegade coffee blend — offering a smooth, rich flavor for people who prefer their coffee cold, Thompson said.

“I wanted to bring something new, refreshing and cold to the community.”

Black Drip Coffee; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

The cold brew is available for purchase online and in-stores at the Black Pantry, District Biscuit, The Spot, The Merc Co+op, and Ruby Jean’s. 

Thompson — who co-founded the coffee company with Dan Smith — likes that he can experiment with flavors and other elements within the brewing process to expand Black Drip’s product line.

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“I’m going to put some different flavors in there and mix it up, because you can do a lot with the cold brew,” he said.

From designing the packaging to finding the right size for the cans (eventually deciding on an 8 ounce offering), Thompson navigated the production process for the new cold brew with determination and support from the team at Messenger Coffee. 

“It was pretty smooth. It’s always good to have somebody to help you out when it comes to the process of your business,” he said.

Daniel Smith and Charon Thompson, Black Drip Coffee, The Porter House KC; photo by Channa Steinmetz, Startland News

New blends coming up

Thompson and Smith plan to introduce new blends and possibly even a coffee trailer to reach more customers. But amid those business goals comes a personal touch to a potential new launch: a special blend dedicated to Smith’s late grandfather.

“Dan was very close to his grandfather. So I wanted to do a special blend for him because we’re really tight. He’s actually my LB, my frat brother,” said Thompson.

The duo connected in college at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and now own and operate Black Drip Coffee, along with founding The Porter House KC together. The latter nonprofit entrepreneur support organization provides space, expertise, and education for underserved business owners. 

The idea came about when the pair started their cleaning gig back in college with little support, Thompson said.

“We wanted to do The Porter House KC because we couldn’t find resources during that time to help us out with our business,” said Thompson.

Topping more shelves

Even though Black Drip Coffee’s OctoberFest in September was a success with more than 60 food vendors, live music with local musicians, and a large turnout, Thompson is putting it on hold along with other major events this year because safety concerns. 

“I’m not sure if we’re going to do it this year due to the fact of the parade issue,” he said. “We have to be careful about having such a huge event.”

Thompson’s focus instead has shifted to expanding Black Drip’s presence in more stores, recently securing a partnership with Merc Co+Op in Lawrence, Kansas, and Kansas City, Kansas. 

“We wanted to bring something that anybody could drink,” Thompson said, detailing how quality and approachability fuel Black Drip’s momentum. “A specialty blend that’s affordable.”