A Pandemic Baby

Thrd Coffee started in 2020 when Raoul Adwan took a leap of faith and decided to start a mobile coffee innovation. During the shutdown he invested in a business plan, designed a mobile bar, and created the brand - thrd coffee. It was inspired by culture, art, and music in cities such as LA, New York, and Florida. Raoul also took inspiration from musicians like Chance The Rapper, Common and Vic Mensa. During a time when the world was shut down, and people were desperate for color, and connection, thrd knew that they could bring in a creative and unique experience to the world of specialty coffee.

Meet Raoul,

Founder of Thrd Coffee. 

In 2020 when the world was shut down and all we had was the four walls of our apartments, and each other. Raoul decided to use his stimulus checks to start what is now known as thrd coffee (pronounced third coffee - in honor of third wave).  Growing up - coffee in the morning with his grandparents was a staple of his childhood. Gathering around the kitchen table to share conversation with coffee and bread - this started his love for community and culture. He knew he wanted to infuse it all into the atmosphere of the shop today. 

Fast forward to his junior year of college, Raoul studied abroad in South America. He went back to Bolivia where he discovered more of his roots on his dad’s side of the family. There, he was introduced to specialty coffee through two other students in his cohort group. Their love for craft coffee sparked Raoul’s interest. He took what he learned, and when he returned to the states he worked as a local barista in Holland, Michigan.

Little by little, Raoul fell in love with the coffee industry. After college he went into the corporate world soon to discover it wasn’t for him. He left to become a consultant at a coffee company, where his love for specialty coffee grew. 

Now, five years later he has come full circle as the owner of Thrd Coffee.

2020- NOW

In 2020 thrd coffee had their first pop up at a local retail shop, Humboldt House -located Humboldt Park, Chicago. Demand grew, and soon thrd coffee was jumping from neighborhood to neighborhood. They shared their journey on social media, and this launched them into their first private event.

Three months later in the early spring of 2021, the second wave of covid hit, and they were no longer able to do public events, so for the time being they began serving residential buildings for the next 2 years. This began a new innovative step. Due to the lack of public retail, thrd coffee was called in to be a filler. This began long-lasting relationships and partnerships that helped start their amenity service program.

Finally, in 2023 thrd was able to obtain their first storefront. Fast forward to today, they now have a team of 10 people, host monthly events, frequently traveling around the city and servicing events, offices and more in Chicago.

All of this was made possible by the choice to follow a passion without fully knowing where it would lead. Today Raoul and his team continue to serve and grow. They are currently located in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago.