Today we’d like to introduce you to Summer Stewart
Hi Summer, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
For most of my 20’s, I lived in big cities and worked in high stress startup environments. I was completely wrapped up in the hustle culture and caffeine fueled me. In 2022 I had a life-changing experience and left my high stress life in NYC in search of greater purpose, personally and professionally. I traveled the world on an “Eat, Pray. Love” journey, slowing down, healing and reconnecting to my body.
On my journey, I realized that caffeine had a horrible impact on me. It was causing a lot of the anxiety, gut issues, hormone imbalances, and poor sleep I had been struggling with for years. A holistic health doctor recommended I cut out caffeine, and I was devastated. I tried everything from matcha to mushroom coffee and tea, but nothing matched the flavor and ritual I loved about coffee. So, I settled on decaf, not knowing at the time that it’s often full of chemicals and not completely caffeine free.
Then one day, at a Cafe in Cape Town, South Africa, I accidentally discovered mesquite. I ordered a decaf coffee that tasted so good I declared it to Instagram as my “favorite coffee in the world”. Dozens of cups later, I learned from the barista I wasn’t drinking decaf. I was drinking mesquite, a superfood coffee alternative they sold as a “healthier decaf coffee.”
I was obsessed with the product, and began researching the idea of bringing this better-for-you alternative that actually tastes and makes like coffee to the US where the coffee alternative and decaf markets were booming. But in my search for more meaning, I was looking for a triple-bottom-line business opportunity — a for-profit business that could make a positive impact on people and planet. After more research on mesquite, I learned about it’s incredible potential for social and environmental change, Kamana was immediately born.
But I knew I couldn’t bring Kamana to life alone. I needed the yin to my yang, someone with a similar mission who could help me turn the vision into a reality. I knew it had to be Kristen, so she joined the team and the rest is history (in the making!)
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Certainly not, but entrepreneurship is never easy, and that’s what makes it so rewarding! Bringing a new product to market is challenging, but its even more challenging when you’re first to market and trying to create an entirely new category.
While mesquite coffee is a staple in South African coffee shops, Kamana is first to market here in the US, and our goal is to create a new category for mesquite like matcha and mushroom coffee. Beyond building brand awareness, there is so much consumer education that we have to do around mesquite — imagine being the first matcha or mushroom coffee brand in the US — it took years of driving awareness and education in order to convince consumers to drink these things over coffee! So having launched just 8 months ago, we are in the very early stages of this, and are still testing and learning the best education and acquisition strategies.
In addition to taking time, consumer education also requires a lot of money, which has been another struggle in building Kamana. Given the changing CPG industry and fundraising landscape, its made raising capital much more challenging than it was even 2-3 years ago. On top of this, rising competition has lead to increased customer acquisition costs. While all of these things making building a CPG business significantly more challenging, we are so grateful to be building Kamana during this time. Even though it requires us to grow more slowly, its forcing us to get creative and scrappy and focus on profitability early, which will serve as a much stronger foundation for sustainable brand and business that will stand the test of time.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Kamana is a coffee alternative made with 100% roasted mesquite pods. Mesquite is the only coffee alternative on the market that actually brews and tastes like coffee, is caffeine and acid free, packed with superfood health benefits and gives you natural energy. Kamana gives you all the flavors and rituals you love about coffee, without the jitters, gut issues or poor sleep.
Mesquite is a staple in South African coffee shops where Co-Founder and CEO Summer Stewart first discovered it sold as a “healthier decaf coffee,” but Kamana is first to bring mesquite coffee to the US in a big way.
Pods of the mesquite tree which are a superfood packed with fiber, minerals, adaptogens and amino acids, are slow roasted and ground to be brewed and prepared just like coffee – think espresso machine, moka pot, french press, chemex etc. Kamana tastes like a subtly sweet, smooth coffee with notes of cacao, cinnamon and nutmeg, and can be enjoyed black or paired with milk.
And Kamana is more than just a coffee alternative company — there’s a real sustainability and social impact opportunity.
The mesquite tree is an incredible plant has the potential to positively impact people and the planet, so we’re on a mission to make mesquite the “next big thing” in the coffee industry.
Today, you can find Kamana online at www.kamana.co, and on the “secret menu” at Boulevard Coffee in Venice. But we have plans to expand into more coffee shops and retailers in the near future, and one day our goals is that you can find mesquite wherever you get coffee.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The Covid-19 crisis sparked a larger consumer health movement that encouraged people to take a deeper look at their well-being. This fueled many of the current health trends like gut health, hormone health, stress & anxiety management, and sleep.
As people become more aware of how their habits affect these things, similar to the rise of non-alcoholic, we’re seeing the early stages of a “caffeine-conscious movement.” While caffeine can be a very powerful tool to enhance energy, mental cognition and mood, it’s one of the most widely used addictive substances that can cause stress/anxiety, gut issues, hormonal imbalances and sleep disruption. More consumers are becoming mindful of their relationship to caffeine, how it affects their mind/body and how much/when they’re consuming it. This has led to a growing demand for healthier, caffeine-free alternatives that support long-term well-being.
At Kamana, we’re excited to be part of this “caffeine conscious” shift. Mesquite offers a coffee-like experience without the jitters, gut issues, or sleep disruptions caused by caffeine. But our mission isn’t just to provide a delicious and functional coffee alternative. We want to support this greater consumer awakening and help people find balance in their health and well-being.
Pricing:
- $34
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kamana.co
- Instagram: @drinkkamana
- Other: TikTok: @drinkkamana
