Ways to Wander (Q&A): Gale Straub of She Explores
In the summer of 2014, Gale Straub quit her accounting job and set off on a yearlong trip across North America in a Dodge Sprinter van, which she built with her partner Jon. While on the road, Straub launched She Explores, an empowering community for women to connect with fellow outdoor enthusiasts both online and on the trail.
On Being 1% Better for the Planet
Be 1% Better. That’s the tagline for 1% for the Planet’s most recent campaign to challenge the world to do more for our planet. It’s a simple idea, and when put into practice, can create real change one company, organization and person at a time.
Since the inception of Kuju Coffee, we have actively chosen to be a 1% for the Planet member. What does this mean? It means we donate 1% of sales (not just profits) to support causes that help support our planet. For us, we’ve chosen the National Park Foundation because we love our National Parks and want to do all that we can to ensure that they are preserved for future generations to come. After all, who wouldn’t love a quick jaunt up Angel’s Landing in Zion?
In addition to our donation, our decision to be a 1% for the Planet member has been part of a broader effort to build the Kuju brand in a better way. We do better by sourcing coffee from a family farm in Thailand that employs former victims of sex-trafficking. Most recently, we’ve decided to manufacture all of our Pocket PourOver products in facilities run 100% on Wind Power. We do these things so that we can do our part in making an impact. We call it Source-to-Soul™...more on that another time.
Even better, we're in good company with some of our favorite brands like Kammok, Peak Design, Sunski, Regrained, Patagonia and more.
So I want to challenge you. What will you do to be 1% better?
Let us know in the comments below or visit https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/better.
To journeys near and far,
Justin Wiguna
Co-founder
How To Make Your RV Feel Like Home
Have you been wanting to try out #vanlife or explore our National Parks in a decked out RV? You're in luck. We've partnered with Tracks & Trails – creators of amazing RV adventure vacations – to bring you some of their best tips to make your RV feel like home, ultimately making your road trip both adventurous and comfortable. See the original post here.
--
Vacations are about getting away, exploring new territories, being with the ones you love, and discovering different experiences. But to get out of your comfort zone on vacation, it helps to have a comfortable place to decompress after your day’s adventure. And RVs are the perfect escape. Your RV can feel like your home away from home with just a few simple steps. 
Enjoy your coffee just like you would at home – don’t sacrifice that perfect cup
If there is one thing we don’t do while we’re on the road, it’s drink a bad cup of coffee. Most #vanlifers or full-time RVers have figured that out too, and typically opt for a French Press to make a tasty cup of coffee. While very convenient, this tends to get quite messy. One of our go-tos is Kuju Coffee, a high-quality, delicious cup of coffee without the mess! Just place the bag in your mug and pour in hot water. Enjoy your coffee just like you would at home and get your day started, no clean up necessary.
Unpack your stuff and give everything a home
One of the things we hear most from folks after their RV trip is how nice it was to only need to unpack once! No jumping from hotel to hotel, unpacking and repacking repeatedly. With an RV, you have the storage space to unpack your suitcase – and we highly suggest you do so. You’re more likely to put things away, keeping your RV tidy and organized. If you are going on the road for a long trip, we suggest bringing ways to create more space – basic organizing tools can make your storage space even more efficient.
Bring games!
Sitting around a campfire or relaxing after a day of adventure allows for downtime that we don’t always allow ourselves to have in our normal lives – we always need to be doing something (have you ever been out to dinner and realized everyone in your group is on their phones? Yeah, us too). These times are the perfect excuse to enjoy the people you are with. With an RV, you have plenty of space to bring along some of your favorite games, like the National Park themed Monopoly or the Parks Project National Park playing cards. So put down your phone and engage with your friends or your family. Raining outside? No problem. Hop in your RV and sit around your table. The weather can’t stop you.
Make your favorite meals
An RV gives you tons of options when it comes to cooking meals. If you like cooking over an open fire, you can bring all the tools you need. If the idea of that makes you cringe a little, you can opt for cooking inside instead. Most RVs will have a stovetop and a wide range of cooking utensils so you can cook most, if not all, of your favorite meals. Don’t want to cook at all? No problem! Your RV should also come equipped with a refrigerator and a microwave – which also make leftovers easy peasy!
5 National Parks and Their Perfect Coffee Pairings
It’s National Park Week and we’re celebrating by sharing five of our favorite National Parks along with the point (best hikes), the pour (our recommended coffee for the park) and the pro-tip (tips from friends and ambassadors to help enhance your experience next time you’re at one of these parks). Why do we care to do this? As part of our membership with 1% for the Planet, we donate to the National Park Foundation, so naturally we love our parks and want you to too!
Let’s get to it!
The Park: Yosemite National Park
The Point: Hike Upper Yosemite Falls for a challenging hike, leading up to one of the best views of Half Dome in the entire park.
The Pour: Basecamp Blend – Our most approachable (and popular) blend is a perfect fit for an adventure through Yosemite.
The Pro-Tip: Get there before the weekend to set up base camp and avoid fighting the crowds for a campsite or parking. Bicycles are great for exploring the valley, so bring one if you have it. Otherwise, you can also rent one inside the park.
The Park: Zion National Park
The Point: The most popular hikes are Angel’s Landing and the Narrows. Both offer incredible views, but one climbs upward while the other brings you through the waters of Zion’s slot canyons.
The Pour: Angels Landing – We named this light roast after the Angel’s Landing hike in Zion. What more can we say?
The Pro-Tip: Enter from the east side (Highway 9 from Bryce Canyon or Grand Canyon) for an unbelievable descending drive in the valley that is reminiscent of Jurassic Park. Also, watch out for flash flooding in the slot canyons, especially right after or during the rainy season.
The Park: Grand Canyon National Park
The Point: The Bright Angel Trail is a classic 9.2-mile roundtrip hike offering incredible views of the canyon. Just be ready for a 3000-foot climb on the way back up!
The Pour: Bold Awakening – Bold and filled with dynamic flavors just like the ever-changing sky of Grand Canyon. Our darkest roast is fitting for the epicness of this park.
The Pro-Tip: While more difficult to get to, explore the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to avoid the crowds and experience a more serene atmosphere. The North Rim also has more greenery and flora, so if you’re looking for something a little different, check it out.
The Park: Glacier National Park
The Point: The Highline Loop is the way to go if you can only do one hike during your stay and offers amazing views of the park, abundant wildlife and wildflowers.
The Pour: Ethiopia Single Origin – The fresh blueberry flavors of our Ethiopian Single Origin pairs well with the cool, crisp air of Glacier National Park.
The Pro-Tip: While not an absolute requirement, you’ll want to plan your visit for at least 5 days to get a full park experience. Covering over a million acres, there’s a ton to see in Glacier National Park, and you’ll want the extra time to explore both the West and East Glaciers.
The Park: Joshua Tree National Park
The Point: As a desert, there aren’t as many long hikes like the other national parks. Instead, spend your time exploring areas like Hidden Valley, Barker Dam or Lost Horse Mine.
The Pour: Papua New Guinea Single Origin – Joshua Tree’s vast desert needs a coffee that can taste great in the extreme hot and cold weather conditions. Papua New Guinea fits the bill, as its red oak and dark chocolate flavors only improve in flavor as the coffee cools.
The Pro-Tip: There are over 4500 climbing routes for all different skill levels inside Joshua Tree. If you’re into climbing, bring a crash pad and some friends to experience the park in a different way.
Did we miss your favorite National Park? Let us know in the comments below!
How to Enjoy the Outdoors...With Plants!
As an avid outdoor enthusiast and trained botanist, I always look forward to the spring season every year, it’s the time of new beginnings for both flora and fauna. Growing up in the southeastern region of the United States, spring season always seemed to show itself early with a promising window of sensory overload. As spring arrives, people seem to follow the patterns of plants and come out from their warm humble abode and start to explore their environmental surroundings. I encourage this, as spring is my favorite time to hit the trail and talk about plants in various ways!
The Best New Glamping Getaways Opening This Spring in North America
Nature is our happy place. But as much as we all love to camp, now and then it’s nice not to have to plan an entire trip, pack up heavy gear, pitch the tent, worry about running out of water (or running into bears). This season, let someone else sweat the small stuff so there’s nothing for you to do but explore, unwind and surrender to a s’mores state of mind. Glamping doesn’t make you less of an adventurer—just maybe a more relaxed one. With resort-like amenities and private, edge-of-the-world backdrops, these six new outposts have perfected the art of glamping.
5 Things to Do With the Extra Sun From Daylight Savings Time
Daylight savings time happened this past Sunday. Sure, it’s a tradition that was started over 100 years ago, and yes, it does mean we all lose an hour of sleep (lucky for us, we have plenty of coffee to help with that). But this age-old tradition also gives us what seems to feel like a few hours of extra daylight. More time for our favorite outdoor adventures and activities. However, it doesn’t last forever, so with the help of our Kuju Ambassadors, we put together a list of some of our favorite activities to do with the extra sun from daylight savings.
Made with Wind Power
Since the beginning of Kuju Coffee, we’ve stayed close to our manufacturing processes. In fact, the very first Pocket PourOvers that were made to fulfill our Kickstarter campaign were individually hand-packed by yours truly and my co-founder (and brother), Jeff. We would measure out the exact amount of coffee to the gram, fill the filter, seal the filter, and nitrogen-flush every single pouch. It helped us ensure quality in every Pocket PourOver, but quite frankly we didn’t have the means to do it any other way.
However, we’ve come a long way. From Kickstarter to going nationwide with retail chains like REI and Academy Sports + Outdoors or our 2018 partnership with Subaru, the company has evolved, and so have our capabilities in producing Pocket PourOvers. We’ve made numerous investments into our packing and production lines, but just in the past few months, we made one of the most exciting changes.
...all Kuju Pocket PourOvers are now produced in facilities run 100% on Wind Power
As part of our commitment to sustainability and the environment, I am excited to share that all Kuju Pocket PourOvers are now produced in facilities run 100% on Wind Power. This new investment means all of our packing equipment, lights in our facility and anything else that requires electricity is run on renewable energy resources, and brings us one step closer to full sustainability.
We call it “Made with Wind Power”. Look for the icon on our packaging!
This initiative comes in addition to our membership with 1% for the Planet and our commitment to donate 1% of all sales to the National Park Foundation, as we will always strive to do right by our planet.
So next time you brew a Pocket PourOver, look for the “Made with Wind Power” icon and know that your cup of coffee not only tastes delicious, but is sustainable too.
To journeys near and far,
Justin Wiguna
Co-founder
Behind our “Send A Cup” Campaign - Why We Do It
Every year, Kuju launches our annual Send A Cup campaign - when we invite our fans and customers to choose someone to send a Pocket PourOver to, along with a special note they write (or type!) - all compliments of Kuju Coffee. Last year all 100 sends were claimed within the first few minutes of launch, so we’re stoked to do it again this year! Check it out here.
The most touching part of this are the notes people write. It’s frankly touching to see that Kuju could facilitate and be a part of some of these special relationships, so we thank you for letting us be part of that. Below are just a few to peruse and maybe act as some inspiration:
- Thank you for all your hard work and long hours to support our family. You are amazing, and I love you forever!
- Thanks for always being there for me and being such a great adventure companion 💙
- Surprise! Sending you a special treat because you deserve it: today and everyday!! You are my sunshine.
- You always have a smile on your face in the morning and tell me you love me, here’s something to brighten your day. I love you.
At the heart of Send A Cup is our mission - to inspire moments of rest & rejuvenation. We love the Pocket PourOver not only because it lets us experience fantastic coffee wherever we wander, but because the process of brewing it inherently asks us to take a moment to rest and be a bit more present.
The sequenced act of opening the filter, anchoring to your mug of choice, and then pouring hot water over the fresh bed of coffee grounds inside reminds us that all good things take time. It creates space for us to have a moment with ourselves or perhaps another and remember what truly matters to us.
Sharing this experience of rest & rejuvenation is what’s at the heart of Send A Cup and we are very glad to make it happen again. So think of someone who matters to you and send them a cup of Kuju - this week!
It’s on us. :)
How to Have Quality Coffee While Traveling During the Holidays
Traveling during the holidays can be stressful. You’re rushing to pack, there’s traffic on the way to the airport, your flight gets delayed, and by the time you get to your destination, you realize you forgot your toothbrush! With all that said, there’s one thing we often forget about until that first morning you wake up at your parents house, walk into the kitchen and realize...there’s no coffee!
Send a Cup for National Coffee Day
UPDATE: Thank you for your interest in our Send a Cup program! We've hit our 100 submission limit. To get in early next time and for exclusive discounts and promotions, sign up for our mailing list below!
9.29.2018 - Today is National Coffee Day and to celebrate, we’re here to help you surprise a deserving friend, family member or colleague with a cup of Kuju Coffee. We’re on a mission to make Quality coffee simple and accessible - wherever you wander. And to help make sure your loved ones have a Quality morning ritual - this round’s on us! Fill out the form below, we’ll package up your note with a Pocket PourOver and send the cheers along.
**Limited to the first 100 submissions!
How to (Cold) Brew with the Pocket PourOver
Pour Over Coffee: What’s the Big Deal?
These days there is no shortage of ways to make your morning coffee. Espresso. AeroPress. French Press and perhaps the most buzzworthy - pour over. But what is pour over? Why is it better? How do you do it? We’ve pulled together the ultimate guide to pour over coffee. Let’s dig in!
Announcing: New Single Origin Pocket PourOvers by Kuju Coffee
The same ease and convenience of the Pocket PourOver with single origin beans artfully sourced from three of the world’s most celebrated coffee locales.
Why is it that our coffee routine at home is one of our most cherished, protected morning rituals but when we’re away from home, we quickly lower our standards as we accept lower quality, “I guess this will do” options? Whether it’s in a hotel room, an airport or a campsite, we’ve all been there.
