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Coffee People Zine continued to be a source of connec-
tion, holding zine release parties on Instagram LIVE, posting
art prompts, hosting raffles and giveaways, sharing behind-
the-scenes stories of coffee people contributors and their
artwork, and more. Though it was founded to be an in-person
experience, Coffee People Zine became a virtual stage for
contributors to share their artistic talents beyond the pages.
“I have come to For me, the publication became a lifeline to maintain a sense
of connection, to open a space when people were otherwise
understand that, isolated, and show artists that their work matters to someone.
I heard from many artists, contributors, and readers
above all, a sense that they felt the same way. One poet told me he was about
of community is to give up writing entirely until his piece was published in
Coffee People Zine. This gave him confidence to continue
essential to peple’s expressing himself through this art form he loved. Another
artist told me that, upon learning that her work was accept-
wellbeing.” ed into the zine, she felt emboldened to submit to other
publications and has since been published elsewhere as well.
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printing has risen dramatically. Sales have slowed as people
and coffee shops are (understandably) more cautious with
their discretionary purchases.
Return to In-Person Celebration and The
Future
Though it has been anything but easy, Coffee People Zine
celebrated another year of publication in 2023, and a revival
of in-person zine release parties. The effects and waves of
COVID-19 are ongoing, yet it finally feels possible (and ap-
propriate) to invite people to celebrate together again.The first
event celebrated the release of Issue 20 (March 2023) with
live music and an artist/craft fair in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The belated Issue 21 party (September 2023) was a collabo-
rative 2-day event in Seattle, Washington, which included an
art show, live music, a coffee tasting, and a draw-along event.
These release parties weren’t just events; they were reunions.
They brought me back to the foundation of Coffee People
Zine, the reason I created this publication in the first place - to
celebrate the creativity of the coffee community.
In all honesty I am uncertain about the future of Coffee
People Zine. I am proud of this publication and the commu-
nity that has gathered around its pages. However, the realities
of running a print publication are harsh. Cost of production
continues to rise, digital platforms are becoming more com-
mon than print/physical, and sponsorships and sales haven’t
recovered from the COVID dip.
As I write this piece, I have just celebrated the newest
release - Issue 22 (released November 2023). This is my
favorite moment of the publication process, when I gather
together all of the submissions and marvel at the talent,
skill, brilliance, diversity, passion, multidimensionality,
and creativity of coffee people worldwide. It’s a special
A reader told me that they felt a sense of community every thing - to hold the artwork in its physical form, to flip
time a new issue came in the mail. Through the artwork on through the pages of all the submissions sent in, and to
the pages, they felt like they were connecting with people send it out into the world.
over shared identities (being coffee people), which made Publishing Coffee People Zine fills me with a deep
them feel less alone. I kept hearing that people who had sense of gratitude for artists, that they trust me with their
previously felt isolated working within the coffee industry work, and to readers, that they want to be part of this com-
now felt welcomed on the pages of Coffee People Zine. The munity gathered at the crossroads of coffee and creativity.
publication became a hub where they could express their I have come to understand that, above all, a sense of com-
love for coffee and creativity, free from the constraints of munity is essential to people’s wellbeing. Everyone wants
traditional coffee culture. This feedback bolstered my ded- to feel included, recognized, and valued for who they are
ication to the zine, and I continued to release new issues and what they bring to the table - whether as a latte artist,
a poet, or anything in between.
every 3 months throughout 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Many things have changed since that first issue in
I wish I could say it was easy once I realized how
meaningful Coffee People Zine is not only to me, but to March of 2018, and though I am uncertain about the future
contributors, readers, and the community, but it has not of Coffee People Zine, there is no doubt in my mind that
this publication has celebrated the creativity of the coffee
been a smooth road. Funding that once was plentiful has
significantly decreased due to reduced budgets. Global sup- community with every issue. It will continue to do so as
long as it is in print.
ply chain issues created a paper shortage, and the cost of
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