My name is Wesley Bryant and this is my journey…

I took over The Blue Strawberry Coffee Co at the end of 2018 as the original owner was retiring. The coffee shop/cafe was an icon for downtown Cedar Rapids, IA businesses established in 2003. For me and many others it was a place of memories and nostalgia. My hope was to keep this treasured establishment going for years to come however... As the pandemic shook the world I, like many others, was suddenly unable to run my new business. I had to do something. I was not going to let The Blue Strawberry fade into nothing and be forgotten.

Since I roasted coffee beans for the coffee shop I realized I could still offer my coffee to customers through the stores website even though the shop was closed. As you can imagine, food service during this time was very challenging. With people still mostly staying and working from home, in 2021, to keep the business alive I fully transitioned to a coffee roaster. No more sandwiches and lunch specials, my soul focus was on roasting beans.

Selling the kitchen and storefront I moved my roaster to a small warehouse in Marion, IA. I continued looking for ways to provide my coffee to the community. Fast forward to today, The Blue Strawberry coffee can be found online, local farmers markets, craft shows and some retailers.

I specialize in small batch custom roasted gourmet coffee beans. In addition, I offer a cornucopia of unique and speciality flavors. I source green coffee from all over the world and roast it to delicious perfection at my humble shop in Marion,Ia.