Jittery Joe’s and BikeAthens Team Up to Provide “Alternative Fuel”

Athens has two great loves: football and live music. But when the fans go home and the clubs close their doors, it’s biking and coffee that rule the Classic City.

Now, the two have teamed up to create Alternative Fuel, a Jittery Joe’s coffee blend concocted to support the nonprofit BikeAthens.

“We had already had a partnership in that they already do a lot of things that are cycling related,” said Brent Bulce, co-chair of BikeAthens. The local coffeehouse chain sponsors a professional cycling team and makes some of its bulk coffee deliveries by bike.

A percentage of the profits from the Alternative Fuel blend will go to BikeAthens. The organization conducts programs such as bike safety education and a bike recycling program, which distributes bicycles to individuals with transportation needs via the Athens Area Homeless Shelter.

Charlie Mustard, Jittery Joe’s coffee roaster, designed the blend of Brazilian and Columbian coffees. Alternative Fuel is a medium roast, so it contains more caffeine than darker coffees.

“You don’t need a car,” Mustard said. “You just drink this, get some caffeine and hop on your bike. It’s alternative fuel.”

The special blend can be purchased for $9 a can at Jittery Joe’s locations; at the BikeAthens facility, unit 6C5 of the Chase Street Warehouse; or on either of the companies’ websites. However, BikeAthens receives a higher percentage of the profits from the cans sold at Chase Street and www.BikeAthens.com. Curious customers can sample a cup at the Jittery Joe’s roaster at 780 E. Broad St.

Sales of the coffee may eventually lead to a paid position at the currently all-volunteer nonprofit.

“You’re living in a community,” says Mustard. “So, if you have a conscience, why not give back?”