Hello
My name is Katie.
I'm originally from the east coast, United States and moved to Belgium in 2017 for love, but finding a job at a research laboratory with UGent/VIB is what helped get me here.
I instantly fell in love with Gent and the coffee scene as soon as I moved here, and easily found the best places in the city! A few became my regular spots, and I even occasionally work a flexi job at Take Five Espresso bar. You can often find me walking my dog, doing weightlifting, or sitting at one of the cafe's with a cappuccino in hand.
I felt an idea brewing (pun intended) and Coffee & Clove was born out of a little idea that took hold quickly. Using the spent coffee grinds that would normally get tossed in the compost container each day, artfully mixed with orgainic clove (or kruidnagel in Dutch), in sustainable clean-burning soy wax, I make the most ideal candle and a healthy, cozy home!
My Approach
Working with a few local cafe's in Gent, I take some of their spent grinds at the end of a day, and dry them out at home. I make a mixture of only the coffee, the spice (clove) and soy wax into candle. The jar is glass with a bamboo lid, and also contains 2 full cloves, as my signature.
Not only am I completely proud of my concept, I use it daily in my own home and love to promote the healthy benefits of natural scents vs. synthetic fragrances and endocrine disrupting perfumes.
I also have the ability to combine (one of) my favorite hobbies- cappuccino's and coffee shops- and connecting that cultural community vibe with cozy healthy vibes in your own space.
As an added benefit, most bugs and insects hate the smell of buring coffee and cloves.
The New Standard
Each candle is hand poured in small batches making them all slightly unique, and may vary with their own characteristics, but always made with a personal touch of heart and soul.
Most candles, perfumes, and sprays contain synthetic 'fragrances' which are compounds that disrupt your endocrine system, negatively effecting hormones, can cause headaches, dizziness and respiratory issues. Also burning paraffin wax (a petroleum by-product) releases phthalates, and volatile organic compounds into your indoor air releasing more pollutants when burned. Any ingredient listed as a 'fragrance' or 'parfume' is an umbrella term for up to hundreds of chemicals.
With Coffee & Clove candles you quite literally get what you see. The coffee grinds and real organic clove are visiable decorating the creamy 100% ecological soy wax. Soy wax comes from hydrogenated soy bean oil, pressed from the soy beans that are completely renewable, biodegradable, and clean-burning! Its naturally soft mild scent mixes perfectly with real coffee, and spicy clove. Both will improve your mood, enhance your focus, and naturally freshen your air with a plesant, non-toxic scent to create a cozy clean atmosphere! The concept of finding simple, pure ingredent items can be easily woven into your every day life, creating a standard of transparency, and less exposures to harmful ingredients.
Contact
candles for your coffee shop.
candles for favors
Gifts/gift boxes
health/yoga/meditation retreats
local products
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.