Did someone say party? According to this timeline from Blue Bottle Coffee, it all goes down August 20th at the Mateo St. coffee bar, which remains an excellent place to throw a shindig. But let’s not mince words here, people: this infographic marks not just the beginning of the end, but the quickly approaching end of the end for Handsome Coffee Roasters. The plumage don’t enter into it; a complete brand transition is afoot, including moving over Handsome Coffee’s 20k+ Twitter followers and 36k+ Instagram friends into new networks. Welcome to that most 21st century of feelings: social media nostalgia.
And so today we take our own look back at the history of Sprudge covering Handsome Coffee Roasters. The scoops, the chats, the barely-disguised homoeroticism: Handsome taught us much about ourselves over the last three years. Join us as we make our way down Handsome memory lane for one last time.
Our Very Personal Sprudge.com Timeline (Best Read Listening to “Memory” from the 1983 Tony Award Winning Musical Cats)
On April 11th, 2011 we broke the news about Mike Phillips, Tyler Wells, and Chris Owens departing from Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea.
SHOCK: World Barista Champion, Top Staff Resign From Intelligentsia
On April 19, 2011, we ran a feature about the announcement of HCR that imagined Tyler, Mike, and Chris as the cast from Beavis and Butthead.
Tyler, Chris and Mike Phillips Do Handsome Coffee Roasters
On June 27, 2011, we drank some of their coffee, and presented the threesome in cartoon form inspired by Tom of Finland.
Now Drinking: Handsome Coffee Roasters
On October 11th, 2011, Handsome launched their webstore, which we pronounced “so butch”.
Hello, Handsome: Tyler, Chris, and Mike Open Shop
On December 18, 2011, we reported on a company in tiny Albany, Georgia, doing something rather similar.
Say Hello To The OTHER Handsome Coffee
On February 15, 2012, we compiled all of the nice stuff other folks in the media had to say about HCR.
Handsome Coffee Roasters Media Round-Up
On May 26th, 2012, we staged an enormous public cupping at Handsome Coffee Roasters, featuring roasters from all around the world. It was a really great party.
International Delight: A Worldwide Whirlwind
On August 30th, 2012, we chatted with Mike Phillips during a swing through New York City.
Pillow Talk: Handsome’s Mike Phillips Grinds In NYC
On October 18, 2013, our LA desk writer Julie Wolfson reported on the filming of Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee at HCR:
That Time Jerry Seinfeld And Patton Oswalt Went To Handsome Coffee Roasters
On January 10, 2014, we ran the episode Seinfeld filmed:
Jerry Seinfeld And Patton Oswalt Go To Handsome Coffee Roasters
On February 14th, 2014 we promoted a gigantic party event for Handsome’s second anniversary. That party happened on February 20th, and included an hour’s worth of probably our all-time favorite DJ set.
A Giant Party For Handsome Coffee’s Anniversary
On April 7, 2014, Sprudge Assistant Editor Alex Bernson broke the story of Blue Bottle’s acquisitions.
Blue Bottle Coffee Buys Handsome and Tonx
On June 18, 2014, we followed up.
Let’s Check Back In On That Tonx & Handsome Acquisition By Blue Bottle Coffee
And now here we are. Will this be the last story Sprudge.com ever writes about Handsome Coffee Roasters? Only time will tell, but probably. Where do little brands go when they no longer exist? If a brand transitions in the forest, and there’s no one around to Tweet it, does it still make a worthwhile Instagram?
Bon chance, little company, our friends, our partners. May your days be full of Arch Deluxe and OK Soda, and may your nights forever be glittering, packed with friends, lines out the door, sharing laughs and bottles and memories with nary an LA vice squad cop in sight.
