Fueling bikers with a refreshing cold brew at the DC Bike Ride
On a beautiful fall Saturday morning, Compass had the incredible opportunity to be a sponsor of the DC Bike Ride. Coffee enthusiasts and cycling lovers alike gathered to help us celebrate this special event. As the sun rose over the United States Capitol, Compass baristas were busy setting up our mobile cold brew cart, ready to fuel riders and volunteers throughout the morning. By 8:00AM, the first group of riders were on their way, and everyone was eager for their morning caffeine fix.
A DC Tradition
This annual event stands out as one of DC’s premier cycling celebrations, taking participants on a unique ride through city streets and past famous landmarks and memorials. This amazing 20-mile adventure lets bikers experience DC like never before, with roads closed off to provide access to views you wouldn’t be able to see otherwise.
Our cold brew cart was stationed in the Finish Festival where the crowd grew rapidly as riders crossed the finish line. We proudly served our Nitro Cold Brew accompanied by our seasonal pumpkin spice syrup and classic vanilla syrup. The standout drink order at the event was actually created by a couple of riders. A local DC couple couldn't decide between pumpkin and vanilla, so they requested a pump of each. Our barista suggested adding cream to the mix to enhance the texture of the Nitro Cold Brew, and thus the drink of the event was born... The 'Vanilla Pumpkin Creme Nitro Cold Brew.' Word spread quickly through the line about this custom flavor combination, and soon everyone was enjoying it! We might just have to add this signature combo to our secret menu!
Caffeinating the Country
We had so much fun meeting people not only from DC, but from all around the country at this event. The energy was truly contagious throughout the entire day. Riders were excited that we were there and shared many stories about their favorite memories made at their neighborhood Compass cafes. It was equally exciting to introduce Compass Coffee to those who were unfamiliar with us, whether they were newcomers from the DMV area or visitors from out of state. The most common question we received from these non-locals was, "This is great coffee—how can I get it at home?" Luckily, we were having our biggest e-commerce promotion for our Cold Brew on Tap that we’ve ever had. At our booth we had QR codes that offered $10 off our Cold Brew on Tap online orders. People were so excited that they could get the chocolatey and nutty cold brew they were drinking in their fridges at home.
A highlight of this event was working with local DC creator Lindsay Bishop. Lindsay is a fitness trainer, content creator, community leader, and a lead spin instructor at a local studio in the DMV. We were so excited to be able to sponsor Lindsay to ride this 20-mile adventure with Compass Coffee and see the ride through her eyes!
“7 years in DC and this was by far my favorite way I’ve done sightseeing in the city!” -Bishop
As the roaring crowd diminished and our last cold brew keg was finally tapped, it was time to wrap up the event. We were deeply appreciative of the opportunity to meet so many people and provide them with the cold brew they loved (and the caffeine some desperately needed.) The DC Bike Ride was a wonderful showcase of the DMV community coming together to celebrate our city in a unique way. We can’t wait for more opportunities to connect with such an enthusiastic crowd and share our passion for coffee!
