Last updated 12/17/2024
$100,000 by Jan 25, 2025
current:
CONTRIBUTE
CONTRIBUTORS:
DAYS LEFT IN CAMPAIGN:
$29,630.00
034
038
the goal
CONTRIBUTE
the perks
CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT
WHAT YOU GET
$5
Americano
$1
$10
Cold Brew / Cortado
$5
FUNDED AMOUNT
CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT
WHAT YOU GET
FUNDED AMOUNT
$25
$15 gift card
$10
CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT
WHAT YOU GET
FUNDED AMOUNT
CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT:
WHAT YOU GET:
FUNDED AMOUNT:
the amount you donate
our thanks to you for contributing*
the amount that goes towards our growth, after the cost of our gift to you
* must be redeemed before March 31, 2025.
* except gift cards, which must be used before December 31st 2025.
$50
$25 gift card + air freshener
$20
CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT
WHAT YOU GET
FUNDED AMOUNT
$100
$25 gift card + tote bag
$25
CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT
WHAT YOU GET
FUNDED AMOUNT
$200
$200
CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT
WHAT YOU GET
FUNDED AMOUNT
$300
$50 gift card + tote + air fresh
$70
CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT
WHAT YOU GET
FUNDED AMOUNT
Private lesson for 2 ppl
$400
$500
CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT
WHAT YOU GET
FUNDED AMOUNT
20% off for 6 mo.
$800
$1000
CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT
WHAT YOU GET
FUNDED AMOUNT
20% off for a year
CONTRIBUTE
CONTRIBUTE
anyone + everyone who contributes will be invited to celebrate with us before our new bus hits the road, regardless of contribution amount. big ol' banger in the works!
help considered turn every curb into the coolest coffee shop in town
by funding considered coffee's growth, you're supporting a local, small, values-first business.
Oh, and it's cool. so there's that.
CONTRIBUTE
CONTRIBUTE
woman owned
we're woman-owned and operated.
local ingred-ients
we source as many ingredients as we can locally, with a focus on quality
socially bitchin'
we pay our staff a living wage, donate all our used coffee grounds to compost, and partner with local nonprofits
house syrups
we make our syrups — including our unexpectedly delicious seasonal flavors — in house.
no charge alt milks
we don't upcharge for alt. milk
wait,
what's happening?
PIA HERE, MAYBE I CAN HELP...
The truth is: I never really know what's happening these days. I didn't think of the idea for this business — it was an accident. Oops? But here we are: slinging espresso shots on the side of the road, and hoping to keep doing it.
OCT. 2024
SEPT. 2024
JAN. 2024
JAN. 2023
SEPT. 2022
I sat on my couch, legs tucked, with my laptop perched on my knees, reading a Craiglist Ad for a 1965 VW Bus, loved for many years, and looking for a new home.
I was fresh off a few months of rejection, and decidedly fired up. I'd poured every ounce of entrepreneurial energy I had into building a business plan, proforma, and opening cost estimator for my second business: Considered. I'd interviewed industry veterans, secured funding, engaged a broker, and toured every empty commercial space in Santa Barbara.
I'd put in three offers at/above asking price, agreed to NNN terms and personal guarantees. And I couldn't get anyone to take me seriously.
Why? While I can't prove it, I'm pretty sure it was because I was a woman just shy of 30, who pulled up on a scooter, wearing sneakers and bearing tattooed arms. I wore no bra, no makeup, and had no male business partner backing me. I didn't know the right people and I didn't have money to lose.
Back to that Craigslist Ad: that old bus with plenty of patina, peeling upholstery, priced right, and located just up the road was looking pretty good right about now...
I bought the bus in cash on the spot.
And decided that I would show the patriarchy some love by building this business backwards: with profit as an outcome, and people as the driving force. I figured I may as well do it my way: with generosity, community, quality, candor, and some fine ass systems to boot.
I asked questions, voiced opinions, and made counter offers when they expected me to sit down, shut up, and look pretty. When I asked for feedback, the only response I got was: you're not the tenant the owner wants in the space.
The truth is, I started this business because I had something to prove: I'm going to do this — with or without you.
I don't fit into your box? Fine, I'll make my own. You just saved me $16k/mo in rent. Thanks!
SEPT. 2022
In just 4 short months, I'd managed to turn a 60 year old vehicle into a coffee shop — thanks in large part to the kind guys at Cory Motors and Campo Vans — who either pitied my naive optimism, or who I managed to charm into submission — it's still unclear.
We did an engine and break overhaul, replaced upholstery, read all 212 pages of Santa Barbara County Health Code, built a fully self-sufficient coffee shop (plumbing and electric included), replaced coroded window seals, and gave the bus a fresh paint job.
No one had done something exactly like this before, and we weren't totally sure it was going to work.
When I pulled the first espresso shot off the machine in the bus, I almost collapsed with relief.
JAN. 2023
Getting Considered off the ground was the hardest thing I've ever done. While everyone else was focused on how I got a health permit, I was dealing with staff turnover, generator oil changes, tight cashflow, wet weather, failing brakes, backlash from B/M business owners and everything in between.
It was chaos behind the scenes, but on the curb, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. You kept telling us how cool it was, that the coffee was some of the best you'd had, that you'd been seeing us everywhere, that our staff's service was incredible.
By the end of year 1, we'd had our first profitable month, were getting 3-5 inquiries per week. And YOU all had become our reason to stay open. Knowing your names, your orders, how to make your kids smile, your dog's favorite rubs became the things we looked forward to most.
JAN. 2024
Two years after I bought the VW Bus, it was clear: we needed less operational unpredictability, more geographical range, and a more reliable foothold to keep growing.
I set my sights on a short school bus, and came home from Temecula with one a few weeks later.
SEPT. 2024
So, here we are. We're ready to build the second installation of Considered Coffee — a 1998 Ford Type A school bus.
And we need your help.
As it turns out, 2024 is a tough year for small businesses. There's a lot we don't know. But one thing we do know for sure: we've spent the last two years building a business that considers people.
People like you, who were craving familiarity and a sense of belonging. Who seek cool experiences in our laid back little town. Who appreciate quality food + drink... sans stuffy-ness. Who, because of Considered, have been reminded of the power of our humanness.
If you’ve...
+ enjoyed a really good cup of coffee from us
+ felt Considered by any or all of our staff members
+ admired the creativity of our business concept
+ seen us work hard + fast during a rush
+ watched us grow into a known name in town
+ appreciated our no-BS insights and updates
+ liked getting a friendly morning text
+ applauded our persistence and pushback on the status quo
OCT. 2024
We invite you to contribute, and help us continue to make every person feel considered — no matter who they are, where they come from, what they believe, who they love, how they identify.
a coupla cool things
+56%
In our first year, we saw $147,000 in gross revenue. in our second year [to date], we've seen $172,000 in gross revenue. We're on track to grow 56% YOY.
20+
OUR DAILY OPERATIONS SUPPORT +20 LOCAL, SMALL, AND/OR WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESSES AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
$26
On average, our baristas make ~$26/hr — that's a whole $10 above minimum wage — due to the fact that 15% graTuity is included in our menu prices.
335
We donate 335 pounds of used coffee grounds to compost per month. That's over 4,000 lbs per year!
coffee, for causes we care about
we stand for business done better
01 / 06
We all know the cost of living in Santa Barbara can make enjoying life here a hurdle. Our staff is paid more than minimum wage, and all our prices include 15% gratuity. We also offer benefits that rival some of the biggest companies in the world, and dedicate resources to developing our people.
we pay a
living wage
profit is donated
02 / 06
We pledge a portion of our quarterly profit to addressing our biggest concerns: systemic racism, the patriarchy's effect on women's reproductive rights, the safety of people of all gender identities and sexual orientations, the housing and homelessness crisis, climate change, and access to mental and physical healthcare.
the plan
Short school bus turned curbside cafe — complete with seating inside the cozy space.
While the OG Volkswagen Bus will be parked semi-permanently at a destination in town, plugged in (no generator!), with outdoor seating, wifi, bubble water on tap, and rad community vibes...
The School Bus will travel to events, pop ups, and your favorite service locations.
VIEW THE PLAN
VIEW THE PLAN
want to contribute without a gift from us? want to make a donation of any amount not listed? thank you. you can do this at checkout by clicking 'contribute' on this page.
want to invest in considered? email us about investing in considered.
custom donations + investing
we love to hear it
"relaxed and hospitable. perfectly prepared, talented, friendly, and great communication"
"EVERY STEP OF THE PROCESS FROM OUR INITIAL INQUIRY TO THE ACTUAL DELIVERY OF SERVICE WAS SPECTACULAR"
"EASY, QUICK, PROFESSIONAL, AND THOROUGH."
"DEFINITELTY A SMALL BUSINESS THAT IS WORTH SUPPORTING!"
"WE ENJOYED THE ADAPTABILITY OF THE TEAM, AND THE QUALITY OF THE COFFEE!"
"we got great feedback from our attendees and would love to work with you again!"
"THE COMMUNICATION DURING BOOKING AND LEADING UP TO THE EVENT WAS EXCELLENT!"
"THE BARISTA DID A GREAT JOB. SHE WAS WORKING REALLY HARD TO KEEP UP WITH CONSTANT DEMAND, WITHOUT SACRIFICING QUALITY OR PROCESS."
"THE SERVICE HERE WAS AMAZING! IT WAS THE BEST COFFEE I'VE HAD IN A WHILE. THE VIBES WERE GREAT!"
"the cappuccino was made to perfection, with that desirable "structured" consistency. The baristas were friendly [and] the atmosphere fantastic."
"Fabulous coffee, great concept and really engaging baristas to talk to! We follow them around town!"
"Every employee is an absolute gem as they are warm, inviting and make the whole experience unique. The care and craft that goes into the products they offer keeps us coming back."
"Whether you’re from out of town or a Santa Barbara local, FIND THE BUS!"
"Awesome concept, amazing coffee, fantastic people."
"I recently used them for a large corporate event & could not be more happy with the service I received. Easy to work with, amazing coffee, wonderful set up!"
"nothing makes my wfh day more than a neighborhood friend texting me, 'it’s coffee bus day, let’s gooo'."
"It was so much more than expected and sooo worth it!"
"Very friendly and fast with their service. Willing and communicative."
"I don't typically drink two cappuccinos in an hour, but the coffee they made at this place was SO good I couldn't help but have a second!"
"To say they were a great partner is an understatement. They arrived right on time, the set up is perfection and the coffee tastes GREAT! The team was so easy to work with and their attention to detail was super."
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