All across the United States, coffee lovers are looking at their phones and laughing, but also thinking about real issues that affect the specialty coffee world. All of this comes courtesy of new Instagram coffee meme account CM Puck, an account which takes a deep and unflinching look into the challenges faced at all levels of the supply chain through the eyes of loveable straight-edge pro-wrestler turned UFC fighter CM Punk.
Although the creator remains anonymous, they agreed to talk to me about the very real work they’re doing in the specialty coffee industry under their well-known and much beloved pseudonym, CMP.
RJ: Tell me about how you came up with the idea for CM Puck.
CMP: I wanted to find a way to talk about real issues in the coffee industry but also make it super hardcore and relatable. I love CM Punk because he’s a straight-edge icon and isn’t afraid of what people think about him, so I named it after him but also changed the last name to Puck like an espresso puck.
RJ: That’s pretty inspiring. What types of issues did you want to address?
CMP: I wanted to talk about all of it—the issues baristas face in customer service and behind the bar, how hard it is for farmers to make a decent living producing great coffee, even issues of discrimination.
RJ: What has the public response been like?
CMP: It seems like people are really stoked about it! I feel like it’s really starting some important conversations.
RJ: Why do you want to remain anonymous?
CMP: I’m just a person, but CM Puck is a symbol for all that we could be as an industry. He’s bigger than I could ever be.
RJ: What do you want to do with the account going forward?
CMP: For now just keeping making great memes, but maybe in the future we can start a CM Puck nonprofit to help marginalized baristas access educational opportunities.
RJ: That’s wonderful. Thank you so much for your time.
CMP: Peace.
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