About

Do you remember your first cup of coffee?

I do. I was 13 years old in Bloomington, Indiana. My mother and I had finished a morning run before school, and while the Today Show played in the background on our tiny TV in the kitchen, we shared a cup of hazelnut roasted coffee. 

Little did I know, that moment would spur a lifelong love affair with coffee and storytelling. To this day, I can think of no better alternative to get to know someone than through a meaningful conversation over a cup of coffee or pot of tea.

The idea for The Connected Cup grew out of the realization that my fondest memories with friends, family, peers, and strangers all stemmed from a cup of coffee. While I was working in the Osa Peninsula with a team of wildlife researchers and volunteers, I became aware of the connecting outlet both coffee and tea played in our remote and small community. 

In the fall 2016 I left the Osa Peninsula for Monteverde, Costa Rica to begin to uncover how we are all connected. This story developed out of the deepest depths of my heart. The people, the communities, and the cultures highlighted in the documentary captured my soul. They encompass a view of humanity that I believe we can be. 

May your coffee be strong, your tea be nourishing, and your dreams come true. 

Cheers!

-Brooke Bierhaus