Caffeination and Connection

For many college students, a cup of coffee is simply a source of caffeine to get through a busy day; but it’s much more than that for Matt Ramsay, owner and founder of Denim Coffee (located in downtown Chambersburg and Carlisle).  For Matt, coffee is a common factor in the lives of nearly every demographic that provides a middle ground for discussion and foundation for friendships.

Matt believes that, “Coffee is beautiful on its own, but it’s also common ground for connection,” which provided the core of Denim’s mission.  With a background in ministry and work experience in his university’s café, Matt saw the loneliness that many people experience in all stages of life and sought to bring people together by changing the way people look at a simple part of their daily routine: a cup of coffee.  This is achieved in several ways: an inviting atmosphere, thoroughly trained staff members, and high-quality coffee.

Their coffee is selected after a detailed vetting process, from suppliers recognized as the top 1% in the world.  It is grown on farms that have often been passed down for several generations at high altitudes in rocky soil, but much like in life, the result is worth the struggle.  In fact, these farms are part of the inspiration of Denim’s name.  Much like the way cloth is woven together to create strong fabric, the stories of everyone involved in the making and consumption of coffee are connected.

The vision for Denim Coffee was to turn the owner’s passion for building relationships into a space for people to meet and a product that would bring people joy (as exemplified in their mission statement, ‘Make Better Coffee’).   In a world full of division, it is important to remember small things that bring humanity together regardless of gender, race, age, religion, and more, and to take the opportunity to get to know someone.