Text & Photo by Rie Sawada

「自転車とコーヒーが好き。」
I like Coffee and Bicycles.

This simple idea resonates not only with me, but with many other bicycle lovers as well.

At SimWorks, we don’t just make products; we create them with meaning and stories behind each one. The “Good Vibes Coffee Kit” that we are introducing comes from my personal experiences and feelings as @charriescafe. This collection is not merely about promoting and selling coffee accessories.

There’s something truly unique and special about those moments when you’re out on your bike, and you take some time to brew a cup of coffee outdoors. Carrying your gear and enjoying a cup in nature, in a place of your choice, is an irreplaceable experience.

SimWorks USA x PDX Coffee Outside Ride

I connect with the people I meet, engage in conversations, and feel the joy of community through these shared moments. Inspired by my experiences, I curated this coffee kit as a resource to connect the community of people who love bicycles, coffee, and the outdoors.

The reason I wanted to assemble this coffee set lies in my journey across the world by bicycle. While traveling as CharRie’s Café, brewing coffee in the outdoors, I met countless people. Even when we didn’t speak the same language, we could communicate through coffee. In those moments, I realized that coffee wasn’t just a drink; it was a tool to bring people together.

Today is International Coffee Outside Day!

Today, October 12th, 2024 is International Coffee Outside Day, and this set is a chance for us to acknowledge and celebrate this observed day of days. In recent years, the term “Coffee Outside” has spread internationally, and enjoying coffee outside while cycling has been widely embraced. Whether in small or large groups, people gather, brew coffee, and enjoy their time together. That’s the essence of this collection.

What’s in the ‘Good Vibes Coffee Outside Kit

Barista Bag by Jack Supply
A perfect handlebar bag for a day ride. It also doubles as a shoulder pouch, making it easy to head out to a café, on a stroll, or even an evening on the town. After multiple trials with Cody from Jack Supply, we finally settled on the ideal shape and size! There’s a slim pocket to isolate your keys and wallet inside, and the bag can comfortably fit a SimWorks x KINTO Tumbler or a lightweight rain jacket. All products from the ‘Good Vibes Coffee Kit’ fit snugly inside.

Offered in 150g and 12oz bags

Good Vibes Coffee Blend by Elevator Coffee
Roasted by Elevator Coffee in Portland, this is one of my favorite beans, even among all the ones I’ve tasted around the world. Elevator Coffee is my favorite coffee roaster in the world. The beans are crafted meticulously in small batches and offer a smooth and rich flavor. In 2023, head roaster Andrew from Elevator won the U.S. Roasting Championship and placed 3rd at the world competition in Taipei, just reinforcing that I had made the right choice!! It was a dream of mine to collaborate with Elevator Coffee and finally my dream has come true!

SOTO Helix Coffee Maker
There are several ways to make coffee (Pour Over, Aero Press, Espresso), but my favorite method is Pour Over. This Japanese-made coffee maker by SOTO is foldable, lightweight, and easy to carry.

I especially like this cone-shaped coffee dripper because, compared to the trapezoid-shaped ones, the larger hole at the bottom allows for a smoother water flow. As the water drips through, it highlights the coffee’s unique characteristics and results in a full-bodied flavor. The larger hole also lets you adjust the taste by controlling the pour, letting you brew coffee to your taste. I chose SOTO for their high-quality Japanese craftsmanship, which aligns with the spirit of SimWorks.

KINTO Travel Tumbler
I care a lot about the temperature of my coffee. Some people enjoy it when hot coffee cools down, but I prefer it to stay hot. After my own rigorous tests, I found that KINTO’s Travel Tumbler does an excellent job at keeping your drinks warm for an extended time. It keeps both cold and hot drinks at the right temperature for up to six hours. After comparing it with several other brands, I discovered that KINTO has the longest heat retention, so I selected this model to share that benefit with others. The 12oz Tumbler is a great size that packs light, fits well in your hand, and has what feels like a sufficient capacity. The SOTO Helix Coffee Maker fits confidently on top, and the design is SO CUTE!

Made of durable 18-8 stainless steel, the tumbler’s material and texture support long-term use. I drop my belongings (frequently!), and I accidentally dropped my new favorite KINTO Tumbler but it didn’t result in a sizable dent. Also, I’m feeling this tumbler does not rust, or spot easily.

Cotton Filter
Handmade in Shizuoka Prefecture, this cotton filter is reusable and eco-friendly. Just wash it with water and use it again. When camping, you can easily rinse it with water from your bottle, fold it neatly, and dry it on the SOTO Helix Coffee Maker, keeping it wrinkle-free. It’s also perfect for home use, and by reusing it, you can help to reduce the waste created by disposable coffee filters. It’s a great way to lower your environmental impact, while also supporting a traditional textile maker from Japan.

About CharRie’s Café
Behind the “Good Vibes Coffee Outside Kit” is the story of CharRie’s Café, the bicycle café I started in 2010. Back then, I wasn’t a part of SimWorks yet, and I used to brew coffee on Sundays at Circles, a bike shop in Nagoya. That experience deepened my passion for coffee, and even though I had no prior bicycle touring experience, I eventually embarked on a journey across Europe, brewing coffee at several CMWCs (Cycle Messenger World Championships) as I traveled by my coffee bike.

Since returning from that tour and working at SimWorks for over 10 years, I’ve always dreamed of creating coffee gear and sharing it with the SimWorks community. That dream has finally come true!

We are also releasing the SimWorks Heart & Arrow Bottle with the same logo!

To coincide with the release of the SimWorks ‘Good Vibes Coffee Kit’ we’re also now selling a couple new water bottles with our updated Heart and Arrow Logo from our friends at Variety Shop, as well as a really handsome embroidered patch from the kind folks at Falls Creek Outfitters featuring the same graphic.

We are also releasing the SimWorks Heart & Arrow Bottle with the same logo!

We are also releasing the SimWorks Heart & Arrow Bottle with the same logo!

SimWorks Heart and Arrow Bottle – Variety Shop

Capacity : 22oz (624ml)
Base : Specialized “Purist” BPA Free Bottle
Origin : Made in USA

SimWorks Heart & Arrow Patch by Variety Shop

Approx.  67mm diameter

Made by Falls Creek Outfitters