Our Story

In 2015, a group of Northwestern freshmen felt it was too hard to get great coffee on campus. The problem was, as the coffee got better, the lines got longer. So they started Northwestern's first fully student-run coffee business, a cold-brew bike parked right outside of University Hall. The coffee was a hit and the student-run model and energy took the campus by storm.

Since then, Brewbike has grown to a number of campuses across the country and we still serve delicious coffee, pastries, and more through a student-run model. We believe college students can manage real responsibilities and drive real results. By giving students the keys to their own business, we’re empowering the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs.

Values

Our values are our North Start at Brewbike. As a mission-driven company, we hold our values extra close and use them to guide our work every day.

Students today, leaders tomorrow
We exist to empower young people through entrepreneurial experience. We believe driven, engaged college students can manage real-world responsibilities and deliver real results. We communicate, cooperate, co-create and succeed together.

Hide nothing, hold nothing back
We believe in sharing ideas, sentiments, and criticism. We embody transparency, respect, and grace even when it’s uncomfortable.

Up for the task, down for the ride
Whether brewing coffee, communicating with customers, or working with our team, we execute at the highest level. Being a part of this team means enjoying the process and learning lessons along the way while maintaining a commitment to excellence.

Think big
We get to whatever’s next first. We’re always thinking about coffee concepts that surprise and delight. We’re cultivating a space where we think big, take risks and take action. We commit ourselves fully to ambition.

Student-Run Tastes Better

At every Brewbike campus, we partner with students and work closely with them to launch, grow, and manage a coffee business at their school. Our campus teams are made up of a number of different positions including a management team – a Campus Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Chief People Officer, and Chief Marketing Officer, a brew team – that makes our cold brew locally in small batches, and a barista team – that serves our customers every day.

HARD SKILLS
Through the variety of positions we employ, Brewbike offers significant opportunities for students to develop hard skills with resume relevance Every day, students build their understanding of oral and written communications, business strategy, financial management, startup management, operational efficiency, human capital management, marketing and more.

Our student-run businesses are an entrepreneurial and pre-professional sandbox where our team members can gain hands-on experience with what it means to run a business.

SOFT SKILLS
We are strong believers in the importance and efficacy of soft skills in the world. That’s why we’re proud to offer college students an experience that will develop these skills no matter the leadership level of their position.

Students that work for Brewbike on campus develop and demonstrate soft skills like leadership, emotional intelligence, collaboration and team management, growth mindsets, grit and perseverance, strategic risk tolerance, confidence and assertiveness, adaptability, and more.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

Brewbike stands for the empowerment of all students, everywhere acknowledging, appreciating, and respecting the diverse cultures, demographics, and experiences that contribute to the world and to our business. We boldly welcome all people, greeting them with the foundation of equality, justice, and fairness as we recognize that our role in this global community is to fuel moments of truth and spark movements of change.

ACCOUNTABILITY
We commit to holding all employees to the DEI approach of justice and fairness. We will create environments for each other and our customers to authentically show up, openly learn, and allow conversation and ideas to co-exist.

IMPACT
We commit to uplifting, investing in, and empowering our students and surrounding communities by forming partnerships with local organizations to address immediate and long-standing needs.

TALENT
We commit to a hiring process that is inclusive of all identities, experiences, and talents. We commit to the well-being, growth, and development of employees.

EDUCATION
We commit to consistent, comprehensive, and active learning around race, class, gender, disability, socio-economics, and more through training that increases our cultural awareness and furthers our empathy and understanding of others.

We're actively working on internal and external action items that fall under each of these DEI pillars. If you have ideas, thoughts, concerns, we'd love to hear from you.