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Lewes businesses brew lip balm for coffee lovers

August 8, 2020

Swell Joe Coffee co-owners Karen Johnson and Sharon Vitella were simply looking for a unique way to thank customers who buy a couple bags of their coffee, either at Surf Bagel or through Swell Joe’s new online store.

“We wanted a few small gifts, locally-made, connected to coffee and one-of-a-kind,” said Vitella.

Recalling a social media posts about the use of coffee as an ingredient in Rehoboth Beach Balm’s natural health and beauty products, Johnson and Vitella reached out to its founders and owners Kate Bonnema and Amy Hughes and the balm was in motion.

“As soon as Kate and I started talking, I knew we were going to collaborate on something fun together,” said Johnson.

All agreed that Swell Joe’s lightest roast, Blue Kai, would be the ideal choice as the flavor profile for an all-natural lip balm which also includes soy wax, coconut oil, olive oil and local honey. 

Johnson said, “Blue Kai was a natural choice because it’s a single-origin roast using coffee beans from Ethiopia, which yields notes of jasmine flower, bergamot and blueberry in its flavor profile. “When the Ethiopian beans come out of the roaster, there’s definitely a hint of berry.”

Once Bonnema got her hands on Swell Joe’s coffee beans, she got to work on what has become a part-time passion and hobby to unplug from her demanding career in the healthcare field. Her homemade, hand-poured lip balms infused with local ingredients have been best sellers on rehobothbeachbalm.com for years, so developing a coffee lip balm was right in her wheelhouse.

As for this recent collaboration with Swell Joe Coffee, Bonnema said, “Our two small businesses have a lot of similarities. We’re both small-batch, made-to-order, artisanal-type brands that celebrate coastal Delaware’s beach vibe.”

Lip balms were just the start. Bonnema and Johnson were eager to create more collaborations between their two local companies. Next up – an all natural exfoliating soap using coffee beans from Swell Joe’s Kenyan roast, Dubee. Johnson said,“This soap is the real deal. Just like its namesake, it’s bold and high impact.”

Bonnema said, “Exfoliation is key to healthy skin because it brings newer, healthier skin cells to the surface. And coffee grounds make an ideal exfoliant; they prevent clogged pores as well as brighten skin.”

Their most recent collaboration features Swell Joe’s Colombian roast, Stoked, in a clean-burning soy wax candle.

“Everyone can relate to the comforting smell of coffee brewing in the morning,” Johnson said. “Now they can recreate that welcoming vibe throughout the day.”

Bonnema said, “We love creating feel-good products that make people smile.”

The newfound connection between the team of women from Swell Joe Coffee and Rehoboth Beach Balm has inspired and ignited even more creative ideas which are in the works for the upcoming fall and holiday seasons.

Johnson said, “We like to think outside the mug.”

All three newly developed products created through the collaboration between Swell Joe Coffee and Rehoboth Beach Balm can be found at both Surf Bagel locations for a limited time, or online at swelljoecoffee.com or rehobothbeachbalm.com.

Swell Joe Coffee, a locally owned and operated small-batch coffee roastery, is located steps away from the original Surf Bagel at 17382 Coastal Highway in Lewes.

For more information on Swell Joe Coffee Company’s retail and wholesale division, call Johnson at 301-980-0390 or go to swelljoecoffee.com.

Rehoboth Beach Balm’s mission is to create natural products with home-grown, locally-sourced ingredients. In response to COVID19, Rehoboth Beach Balm launched a hand washing initiative to provide handmade soap to those in need. To help Rehoboth Beach Balm reach its goal of donating 4,000 bars of soap, go to rehobothbeachbalm.com.

 

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