Published On Apr 14, 2024
Vlogging these past seven years has made Emma Chamberlain one of the most influential creators of her generation, with more than 12 million subscribers on YouTube and 15 million followers on Instagram. These days, she’s using her relatability—along with her massive following—to scale her startup, Chamberlain Coffee.
“I’m a home barista just like the rest of us,” says Chamberlain. “It’s always been a passion for me since before I started my YouTube.”
Founded in 2019, Chamberlain Coffee has raised $15 million in funding from investors including Blazar Capital and Volition Capital. Products range from coffee grounds to matcha powder and recently launched ready-to-drink canned lattes. From 2022 to 2023, the company’s revenue nearly doubled; Forbes estimates it to have been $20 million last year.
While social media and online marketing are significant growth engines for the company, retail is a new focus. Chamberlain Coffee bags first appeared in Los Angeles’ luxe grocer Erewhon in 2021, followed by Sprouts in 2022. Ready-to-drink lattes launched in Walmart in an exclusive six-month trial in April 2023. Based on shoppers’ feedback, they relaunched wider with an updated latte formula last December. This April, Chamberlain Coffee inked a deal with 800 Target locations to sell ready-to-drink cans in flavors such as vanilla, cinnamon bun, salted caramel and mocha.
This year, Chamberlain Coffee collaborated with Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila on a Coachella pop-up to serve espresso martinis using her signature cold brew.
Even with her meteoric career, Chamberlain says her biggest challenge is not letting mistakes discourage her. “There are going to be ups and downs, there’s going to be shit that hits the fan,” she says. “You know what you have to do? You have to put your big-girl pants on, and you have to keep going.”
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexyork/
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