Startup Perks

A little under a month ago, Molly Young wrote an article for the New York Times titled "The Calorie-Packed Perk," addressing employee benefits and perks. This article was especially relevant to me. First of all, as an intern, it has been incredibly helpful to be working at a startup, especially one that is in the midst of such rapid growth. Although I am a Social Media and Advertising Intern, I still get to see other aspects including sales, business development, and even the manual aspects, such as equipment and warehouse management. More specific to this particular internship, I get to learn about the ever-growing industry that is coffee.

I think it's a really important experience to work at a startup for anybody who wants to see an incarnation of "started from the bottom now we here." (I'm probably about to be slain for writing that.)

In terms of tangible perks at a company, I get bags and bags of some of the best coffee beans (Stumptown, Intelligentsia, Blue Bottle, Joe...), stickers and temporary tattoos from the companies we deliver to, as much coffee as I want in a day, and carbonated water!

Joyride Coffee, Start-ups

Although, as an intern, my perks are a little less significant than, say, healthcare, benefits however small are important. They keep employees happy and motivated. They make people want to stay in the office longer, because they're comfortable and having fun. In terms of recruiting, it seems that the weirder or more unique the perks are, the more people will want to apply for jobs at the respective company.

For example, one of our accounts, Warby Parker provides warm cookies, barbecue, and even Pinkberry frozen yogurt. Artsy does a weekly happy hour. At Squarespace, another one of our accounts, midday meals are prepared for employees four days a week, and on the fifth, they order out. In other words, happiness.

As mentioned in the NYTimes article, one of Bitly's perks is our office coffee, as it is for many of these tech companies in NYC.

Ultimately, perks seem to promote a happier and more productive working environment, and if that means an extra naptime or cold brew kegerator, so bean it.

Classic Coffee Joke Tuesday: Hold the sugar please, you're sweet enough for the both of us.

-Kristen Lee, aka Kristen Cavill

Noah Belanich – Staff Bio

Noah Belanich, Joyride Coffee

Hometown?

Great Neck, NY.

Alma Mater/Degree:

Pomona College. PPE,  an interdisciplinary major combining philosophy, politics, and economics, with a concentration in economics.

How did you get into coffee?

Through Joyride. Before starting at Joyride, I just saw coffee as an energy drink rather than the delicious nectar of the gods I know it to be now.

What is your first coffee memory?

It would have to be my father drinking coffee when I was really young, but I don't know if that really counts. My first memory of coffee where I actually consumed it was when I ate chocolate-covered coffee beans in the San Jose airport when I was fourteen years old. My flight had been delayed, and I was there alone when I discovered a little gift shop selling local products with free samples. I must have had a half-pound of those things. They also had some coffee liqueur, which I most definitely didn't try – definitely not.

How is it working with your brothers?

Complicated, but the best part is that we can be honest with each other without worrying about hurting anyone’s feelings.

What are your thoughts on tea vs. coffee?

I like a good tea now and again, but I have never been blown away by any tea the way I have been with some great coffees. I am a fan of homemade unsweetened iced tea with just a little vanilla extract in it, particularly on a hot day when I have already drunk too much cold brew.

Pet Peeves?

Mornings. Organized people.

Bad Habits?

Netflix. Canceling plans last minute.

Favorite Color?

Aubergine.

Favorite Music?

Sheet Music.

Favorite Cup of Coffee?

2012 Natural wash Yirgacheffe from Blue Bottle.

Favorite Alcoholic Beverage?

Bourbon, any kind really, right now I pretty much get Bulleit 10.

Favorite Non-Alcoholic Beverage?

Coffee, of course, and I don't really have a particular preparation I love above all. It really depends on my mood.

Team Profile: David Belanich

David Belanich - Portrait on Food Truck

A Francophile and the oldest of three brothers, David takes on the world of haute café, sans problème.

Hometown?

Great Neck, NY, but my soul is from Paris, France.

Alma Mater/Degree:

Middlebury College, BA in Political Science.

Yale University, MA in Political Science.

What is your earliest coffee memory?

During one summer in high school, I lived with a French family in Paris while studying the language.  My host-mother used to make me these large, strong pour-over coffees every morning, which kept me wired all day.  I think my love of Paris and love of coffee coalesced that summer.

How and why did you get into the coffee business?

After launching the Joyride Truck, which served frozen yogurt and Stumptown coffee on the streets of Manhattan, we came up with the idea of bringing the same awesome coffee to the workplace.  Office coffee generally sucks, but there's no reason why it has to. Since then, we've developed relationships with other great roasters, and the rest is history.

How is working with your brothers?

We've always been a close-knit family, so working with my brothers came naturally to me. Our father and uncle were business partners, so we had always known about a successful brother-business model in our minds.  Plus, it's a real privilege to be able to see your brothers almost every day.  Sure, we fight, but having that bond makes for a much less stressful work environment.

Do you work uniquely with tech start-ups? If so, why?

The short answer is no; we have customers in advertising, publishing, production, finance, in addition to tech.

Our customers do, however, have much in common: they tend to be firms at the cutting edge of what they do with a real emphasis on employee satisfaction.

Where do you see the coffee industry being in a few years?

The coffee's only getting better, and the number of talented people who are dedicating themselves to artisanal direct-trade coffee is only increasing.  So you can expect better and more.

What are some goals for your company, short-term and long-term?

That's a tough question to answer.  In the short-term, I want to continue to solidify our position as the premium office coffee service in New York City.

Pet Peeves?

Careless errors, mistakes that are made out of laziness.

Interests?

Intellectually, everything.  Physically, great food and drink (coffee included of course), skiing, traveling, and all things French.

Best Feature?

My wife Tesalia and my boxer dogs, Otto & Lola.

Bad Habits?

I steal other peoples' pens in the office.  Then fly into a rage whenever anyone takes one of mine.

Favorite Movie?

The Rock.  "Carla was the prom queen."

Favorite Musicians?

Johnny Cash and Mozart.

Favorite Cup of Coffee?

Ethiopia Yirgacheffes.  They're in season right now, and I'm in heaven.

Favorite Alcoholic Beverage?

Depending on my mood and the situation, either Bourbon on the rocks or an extra dry Tanquaray Martini straight-up with a twist in a rock-glass. (I hate Martini glasses.)

Favorite Non-Alcoholic Beverage?

Other than coffee?  Orange juice or Grapefruit juice.

Cafe Review- Stumptown Coffee

Stumptown Coffee is one of the top quality roasters that NYC has to offer. In fact, we at Joyride distribute Stumptown blends to our clients. This roasting company owns their own cafés throughout NYC, and I visited the one in the lobby of the Ace Hotel.

Stumptown Coffee, Joyride Coffee

The entrance is embellished with a beautiful font, spelling out the name of the café "Stumptown Coffee." As soon as you walk in, it's like walking into a rainforest. There are very tall plants and wooden decorations everywhere. It's brightly lit with quirky trinkets lining the shelves that add to the Adventureland feel.

I got there around eleven in the morning, which apparently is either one of the peak hours, or it's always that busy, because the line snaked around the counter out the door into the Ace Lobby. But it moved relatively quickly, and people were served their drinks in very simple paper and plastic cups, depending on whether they had ordered cold brew or a hot drink.

I ordered a cold brew, which was the perfect drink for the scorching weather. It wasn't too watery or acidic, and the woodiness of the coffee still came through. If you want a little souvenir or don't want to drink the cold brew immediately, you can ask them for the original bottle, as seen below.

Stumptown Coffee, Joyride Coffee

I sat in the lobby which was barely lit, except for a few antique lamps. There were leather couches and loveseats scattered everywhere, with large tables that worked as community seating for anybody with a laptop or work to do. It was very much like an old, musty library.

It's a little too clustered and not quite intimate enough for a meeting with a friend, but I would definitely stop by here either to grab a really good cup of coffee to go, or stay a while to do work.

One thing I have to comment on, though, are the baristas' outfits. Every single one of them was wearing a fedora, and they were all dressed in the most eclectic mix of outfits. This must have been coordinated. Other than that, they were very friendly and accommodating and matched the down-to-earth yet slightly posh vibe of the place – posh only because of the quality of their coffee.

Stumptown Coffee in the Lobby of the Ace Hotel

18 W. 29th St.

Stumptown Coffee

30 W. 8th St.

Café Review – OST Café

This summer, Joyride will be assembling an interactive map that functions as a café guide. I'm Kristen Lee, the Social Media Intern, and I'll be visiting cafes throughout NYC and getting a taste of the wonderful beans the Big Apple has to offer. For my first stop, I went to OST Café in the East Village. I walked in and found myself in a modest, naturally-lit, unassuming setting. To the left is the coffee bar and directly in front is a full wet bar. There are a few large, leather booths, a few scattered tables and stools along the bars. It's not a setting for a huge gathering, but it's mellow enough for a nice hangout with a friend or two.

OST Cafe, Joyride Coffee

OST Cafe, Joyride Coffee

I ordered a latte. It was exactly what anybody would ever want out of a latte - just smooth, creamy, and milky enough that I still taste the comforting, clean coffee. They also use some great beans, including some from our very own Intelligentsia.

OST Cafe, Joyride Coffee

They have a relatively simple menu, with classic café drinks, but they also have a heartier menu with cheeses and charcuterie.  Between the menu and the Parisian paintings on the walls, the cafe has a distinctly European feel.  OST is right on the corner of 12th and A, so it would be perfect for people watching through the window if it gets too cold or too hot to be sitting outside. I feel like it would be a nice place to go around late afternoon or evening, more so than the morning, perhaps to grab a coffee and maybe a drink or two as twilight hits.

OST Café 441 E. 12th St. (Between Ave A and 1st St.)

Coffee by: Intelligentsia