Coffee means way more to Caitlyn Joseph ‘23 and Lauren Schlosser ‘24 than just something to sip.

It’s about a rich brew - people, community, and making lives better.

The Captains for Life recently started a mobile coffee shop in Hampton Roads out of a renovated vintage camper. The duo put their heart and soul into creating Poured Coffee Company, as they designed it to foster happiness one cup at a time.

Their story began when they met at CNU as sorority sisters in Alpha Sigma Alpha. They have been best friends ever since. They share a passion for exploring local coffee shops together. Lauren adores coffee. And Caitlyn is a huge fan of matcha.

They dreamed of one day swirling all the attributes of their favorite coffee places into their own java business. And then it happened: A chance to be entrepreneurs and make their coffee dreams a reality.

“So when the opportunity to turn that shared interest into something of our own came up, it felt like a natural fit,” Joseph and Schlosser said.

“When we started talking about what it could look like, we realized we didn’t just want to open a coffee business - we wanted to create something that reflected what we value most: community, kindness, connection, and giving back,” Joseph and Schlosser said. “We wanted to cultivate a space where little pockets of joy and moments of connection could exist in everyday interactions with friends, family, neighbors, and even strangers.”

Schlosser, who majored in marketing, and Joseph, who majored in social work and leadership, took everything they learned at CNU and added it to their recipe for coffee business success.

“CNU played a huge role in preparing both of us for what we are doing now, in very different but complementary ways,” the pair said.

Schlosser brought the business research, marketing strategy and leadership to the table (or camper). Joseph added the elements of understanding people, building relationships and connecting with communities.

“Looking back, so many of the skills we developed at CNU show up in Poured every day. We may not have known it at the time, but CNU gave us a lot of the tools we need to eventually build something together,” Joseph and Schlosser said.

The business formula is working.

The camper travels to different locations in South Hampton Roads every weekend, lighting up social media with both their efforts to give back and their creative coffee creations, teas, dirty sodas, pastries, and seasonal offerings.

“Poured has become an extension of something we already loved doing together, but with the opportunity to create our own take on it and build community around it,” the women said.

Their loyal customers follow the camper and post rave reviews.

“One of the most delicious coffees I have had here in the 757,” one Instagram poster wrote.

To create the perfect atmosphere, Joseph and Schlosser endeavored to convert the camper into their own coffee paradise.

“We wanted the physical design of Poured to feel like an extension of the experience we wanted to create: warm, welcoming, simple and timeless. We were drawn to a clean, minimal aesthetic with simple cottage-inspired and vintage elements, while still letting the character of the vintage camper itself be a star,” Joseph and Schlosser said.

Then, they concocted an innovative menu that matched the vibe of the camper and set out on a journey that wove together coffee culture and community. Knowing they had a lot of mobile coffee competition, they worked hard to craft a successful business plan and sought out ways to differentiate themselves, asking for honest feedback from friends and family.

“That process helped us refine the concept and make sure we were entering the market thoughtfully and prepared,” the duo said.

The women, who both have full-time jobs, committed to doing the coffee endeavor on the weekends, bringing the camper to various parking lots in south Hampton Roads and hoping customers would come.

And they have. In force.

Poured Coffee Co. has become a sensation. The extensive coffee offerings bring joy and make people smile. Poured regularly holds collaborative events such as “Pours, Petals, and Pages,” which benefited a local book shop and a flower farm. The idea is to pair coffee with area businesses and charitable causes to offer exposure and pay it forward.

“Poured is more than drinks. Our brand centers around community and the idea that filled cups fill cups- when we feel supported, cared for and poured into, we’re better able to pour the same kindness into the people around us,” Joseph and Schlosser said.

The coffee truck features an impact menu, which is a monthly rotating menu showcasing drinks that support local organizations making a difference. A portion of each drink’s sale is donated to that month’s featured cause.

“We wanted giving back to be something that was built into the everyday experience of Poured rather than something we only did occasionally,” Joseph and Schlosser said.

Poured also offers matcha-inspired drinks for dogs, which have become one of the truck’s most popular items. For human coffee connoisseurs, Poured’s most sought-after drink is Monkey Business, a banana pancakes inspired specialty. Each cup of coffee leaves the truck with an uplifting handwritten note on it.

“We’re intentional about making people feel seen and cared for,” Joseph and Schlosser said. “At the end of the day, Poured is about people. We hope that every drink, conversation, and interaction leaves someone feeling a little more poured into than they did when they arrived.”