Fresh Roasted Coffee Along the Trail
Where good people and specialty coffees meet face to muzzle
Matt Bishop, Founder of Café Mulé, serving up an early specialty coffee service in the Boise foothills. Photo by: Shane Davila 2016
Come late springtime in the foothills of Boise, Idaho, you may be lucky enough to stumble upon Richard the mule, his owner Matt, and the free trailside coffee service provided by Café Mulé. What began as an effort by Matt Bishop to support local trail work efforts, soon became somewhat of a social experiment, and ultimately has created an approachable sense of community and gratitude.
It’s a story in human kindness, keeping things fun and lighthearted, and remaining genuine, all the same. Free small batch coffee and nitro cold brew delivered trailside, thanks to a thoughtful and creative entrepreneur wanting to do good in his community. Matt simply wanted to bring a special experience to those who hike and bike on the trails in his hometown, and find a means to give back in the process.
In 2016, one lucky pack mule listed for sale on Craigslist found a home. Matt named him Richard, and he was soon bound for stardom. With a campstove and all the goods to brew a stellar cup of coffee packed meticulously on Richard’s back, he and Matt would hit the trails and find the perfect spot to surprise and delight anyone and everyone who would happen upon them. They served up tastings of their small batch coffee and free samplings from the local Guru Donuts bakery—no charge and no questions asked. And by 2019, an estimated 200 people or more would enjoy their free coffee at any given trail service, courtesy of Café Mulé. On hiatus for obvious reasons in 2020—Richard is ready to hit the trails again in 2021.
The quest to find Richard and the welcoming coffee stop in the foothills by way of hints and trail notes posted on Café Mulé’s social media, encourages people to get outdoors, engage in the mystery, work a bit for their freshly roasted cup, and meet new friends along the way. With apples and carrots stuffed in their pockets, cyclists and hikers find joy in greeting Richard, feeding him his treats, and maybe dropping a dollar or two in the jar to help feed the slightly stubborn mule. Otherwise, it’s the simple gesture of a specialty cup of coffee that spreads gratitude left, right, and center.
Matt’s initial efforts to support local trails continues, with $0.25 of every bag purchased going to support trail maintenance organizations in Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming—in those communities where their coffees are sold. Café Mulé’s three blends vary by roast level and pay honor to Richard including from lightest to darkest, Frosted Muzzle (Matt’s favorite and a bit sweeter), Long Fuzzy Ears (the crowd pleaser), and Midnight Mule (my personal favorite—it’s for the dark coffee lover or goes lovely with cheesecake).
Café Mulé sells their coffees by the bag, and offers a range of subscriptions for fast and easy delivery right to your doorstep—free in the greater Boise and Meridian, Idaho area and by FedEx or USPS anywhere in the USA. To learn more about Matt, Richard, and Café Mulé, or to be in-the-know when they’ll be hitting the trail, please follow along on Instagram @richardthemule
As VéloSkiCaffè continues to reach out to and have conversations with the pioneers, pacesetters, and just some really fun people laying it down and bringing pure awesomeness to our smile-inducing pursuits like cycling, skiing, and coffee; our goal is simple—live, learn, and share in collaboration with like-minded adventurers like you.
