About

OUR JOURNEY
The current phase of our journey includes a rockstar team, a supportive community, and a range of game-changing coffee and chocolate products.

But it all began with the effort and vision of one man, whose craftsmanship and innovation is the pulse of everything we do and whose friendly expertise is what brings customers back again and again for fan favorites and his newest creations.

MEET OUR MAN, VINCENT
Vincentisms

“I’m a coffee expert, not a coffee a$$hole.”

“Great coffee doesn’t just happen.”

“I’m not a hipster. I’m just a regular guy who likes cool things.”

"Coffee and Chocolate. They're simple, and also complex."

BIKES AND COFFEE
In 2013, Vincent left almost two decades in a corporate job at Starbucks to open a bike shop where he made handmade bicycles in the back workshop. A year after opening, Vincent bought his coffee roaster and began roasting coffee.

Bikes and coffee — who knew?

Local bike fans sure did, and they spread the word about Maps coffee like wildfire (thanks guys!). Some of our original bike shop blends are still on our shelves, and they are inspired by the passion of the Kansas City bike community.

By 2018, Maps coffee had grown to the point where Vincent was ready to sell the bike shop. The love of bikes continues, however, and we still make room in the workshop for occasional tinkering.

CHOCOLATE
Always one to learn new skills, Vincent began making chocolate 2016. He actually made his first bars on his grandmother’s molcajete, which is a process he still uses sometimes when he makes stone ground chocolate. Once he expanded his chocolate making equipment and honed his craft, he was ready to launch Maps Chocolate in 2017.

From the beginning, Maps Chocolate has been a hybrid of traditional craftsmanship and imaginative inclusions. While many of the bars involve a familiar combination of flavors, innovating tradition has led to the creation of bars like the simple 100% Cacao, the fiery Chili Pepper Passion, and the annual Boozy Chocolate range

BLOC
After the sale of the bike shop, he had even more space to experiment with his craft. That exploration led to micro-grinding coffee as a replacement for cacao in the traditional chocolate bar recipe. This led to  the first version βloc, which officially arrived on the scene in 2019. Since then, Vincent has been expanding βloc into an innovative range of portable indulgences.

WHAT'S NEXT?
While it’s anyone’s wildest guess what Vincent is cooking up in the workshop, he’s not the only one who steers the ship of Maps’ story. Our community is our greatest source of inspiration and plays a key role in the development of great tasting products.

We love hearing how you make your coffee, seeing the many ways you enjoy βloc, and being blown away by your new flavor and product ideas. Journey with us as we explore what’s next for Maps together.