A story without passion is like a life without amusement. Josh Millman, founder of Passion House Coffee Chicago, has found both.
Coffee, a brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans, a simple beverage that starts and ends many of our days, is quite literally an experience and a habit that keeps us connecting. Josh roots his business in his love of drawing such connections.
Passion is conjured, derived and pulled from a multitude of things so it’s no wonder that the foundation of Passion House Coffee was pieced through intervals of Josh’s life evolution. As we spoke, Josh explained that his childhood was not always the perfect grounds for creative energy. He shared, “What I was given was what I wanted, but not necessarily what I needed."
Growing up with a devotion for bands such as Phish and The Grateful Dead, Josh followed his love for music by forming his own band. That passion for music was a precursor to the sensory experience Josh would later contribute to Passion House Coffee. A world that celebrated expression and movement were also important elements going into his adulthood. Josh practiced Hatha yoga, holistic remedies, and meditation as tools for balancing energy and anxiety, which helped him make more meaningful connections.
Eight years into the business, the environment of Passion House is eccentric, friendly, comforting, and inviting to all walks of life. Josh has made major strides in the city of Chicago being one of the only coffee brands that is involved with the betterment of mental health. One of the sub-brands of Passion House, the My State of Mind coffee drink, contributes $1 in sales to an initiative to increase awareness of mental health issues and connect those in need of mental health services. SocialWorksChi, a non-for-profit organization (lead by founder Chance the Rapper) that promotes creativity and change in Chicago is another initiative that keeps Passion House a home base for not only coffee, but a catalyst for real change and further connections.
Josh created a world where he is able to continuously give people what they need. Coffee is a connector and with Passion House’s charitable contributions they provide a stream of consciousness that influence an entire community, forming a bonded network. Imagine…coffee, and a welcoming space, leaving you with an individual reassurance of feeling connected, just like Josh’s mission.