Talk about a latte of nutrients.
Coffee is probably the last thing you’d give your growing kids — but what if it was a clever way to sneak them some extra vitamins, and they could enjoy it next to you and your cup of joe?
That’s exactly what David Sanborn and his 8-year-old son, Ethan, set out to create with Kiid Coffee, a sugar-free, decaf blend packed with nutrients that sold out just hours after their appearance on ABC’s “Shark Tank” earlier this year.
Kiid Coffee is a powdered drink mix made to be stirred into milk or water. Every serving has 4 grams of prebiotic fiber and a mineral blend that includes calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and vitamins E, C, D3, A, B12 and B6.
It uses organic, water-decaffeinated coffee — meaning it still packs in some major antioxidants but is 99.9% caffeine-free.
“The amount of caffeine in regular coffee is too much for kids below, say, 14 years old — and that’s if you even know how much caffeine is in a cup of coffee,” David told The Post, noting that too much can affect heart rate and blood pressure, while also causing sleep issues.
By comparison, Kiid Coffee — in the original and caramel flavors — has a little less than 1 mg of caffeine.
“There’s about 1 mg of caffeine in a single milk chocolate Hershey’s Kiss,” he added. The chocolate flavor of Kiid Coffee 4.2 mg of caffeine per serving, mostly from cocoa.
“That’s still less than a single serving of hot chocolate,” David said, adding the drink “basically tastes like a chocolate milk, but without the sugar” because it’s sweetened with organic monk fruit extract.
Little sips, big ideas: How an 8-year-old lit the spark for Kiid Coffee
David drinks coffee daily, so when Ethan asked to try it a few years ago, he cautiously poured a splash into some milk.
“I gave it to him first thinking he wouldn’t like it, and then, funny enough, he did,” David recalled.
Around the same time, Ethan was recovering from his second broken leg in two years. When a doctor pointed out that most kids don’t get enough vitamin D — essential for calcium absorption and strong bones — David did some research.
He discovered 30% of kids ages 2 to 8 — and 60% of those 9 to 18 — aren’t getting the minimum recommended amount of calcium daily. Magnesium and fiber, also key to nutrient absorption, were “big concerns” as well.
Ethan’s gummy multivitamins had zero calcium or magnesium and not enough vitamin D. Milk could help, but he wasn’t a fan, so David started serving him decaf coffee with a dash of magnesium and calcium stirred in.
Around that time, David had been tossing around business ideas with Ethan, who came in with a stroke of genius and asked his dad, “What if we make coffee for kids?”
Brewing up business
When the father-son duo set out to create Kiid Coffee, they had three non-negotiables.
“First, taste is king,” David said. “If kids don’t like the taste of something, they won’t keep having it.”
Two and three were nutrition and experience. The kids’ nutrition market was flooded with gummy vitamins, which felt to David like teaching kids candy is healthy.
“It seemed obvious we were reinforcing a bad habit every morning,” he said.
A brew-tiful blend — and a morning ritual with family
After testing more than 100 recipes, David and Ethan landed on the perfect fit and three tasty flavors.
“I really love the taste, and I feel good when I drink it,” Ethan said. Caramel is his top pick, but he goes for original “when I want more coffee taste.”
Ethan and his younger brother, Logan, start each morning by whipping up their own glass of Kiid Coffee and sipping it over breakfast with their parents.
“It forces us to take that time,” David said. “I think it’s important to slow down.”
Shark tested, classroom approved
David and Ethan took Kiid Coffee to “Shark Tank” in March and walked away with a five-figure deal from Daniel Lubetzky. Since then, the Atlanta-based brand has hit more than 150 retail stores and brewed up thousands of fans across the country.
Ethan’s classmates are among the converts.
“After ‘Shark Tank,’ lots of kids in my school have tried it,” he said. “They say they like it, and their parents buy it, so I guess they really do.”
They’re also cooking up seasonal flavors — Ethan says there’s a mint-mocha and s’mores that is “sooo good.” They hope to have them in stores by October and are also exploring new drink ideas like teas and fruit-flavored beverages.
Still wondering why your kid needs their own cup of joe?
“Kiid Coffee is not just about coffee, it’s about getting kids nutrition and teaching them about foods as well,” David said. “So sure, your kids might not need ‘coffee,’ but they do need specific nutrients we know many are not getting.”
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