Guardian · 15 days ago

The Coffee Shop That Gave Away Its Recipe

A small-town Minnesota coffee shop created a raspberry danish latte that went viral—then did something unexpected. Instead of protecting their bestselling drink, Little Joy Coffee invited every coffee shop in the world to steal the recipe. Hundreds signed up, from Dublin to distant continents. Owner Cody Larson saw it clearly: "It doesn't hurt us any if a coffee shop in California has the same drink as us." The move came from their "DIY or buy" series, breaking down the real cost of an $8 latte—$2.46 in ingredients, the rest in labor and keeping the lights on. In an age of fierce competition and protective branding, this tiny shop in Northfield (population 20,000, slogan: "cows, colleges, community") chose collaboration over control. Now baristas taste their invention on vacation abroad, and strangers drive two hours just to try it at the source. The raspberry danish latte won't stay on the menu past spring, but the gesture of open hands lingers.