In recent years, coffee drinkers have witnessed the growth of Dutch Bros, a coffee chain known for its friendly baristas, colorful branding, and exceptional customer service. However, amidst their success, rumors, and speculation have circulated regarding the company's religious affiliation. Many have wondered: Is Dutch Bros a Christian company? In this blog post, we will delve into the roots of Dutch Bros Coffee and explore its connection to Christianity.
Dutch Bros has no official religious affiliation, but they do champion and prioritize Christian values in the way they treat their customers and staff. Some Christian values that Dutch Bros emphasizes are in their company culture are love, kindness, relational connection, and caring for others.
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Is Dutch Bros Christian?
So is Dutch Bros a Christian company? In the literal sense, no. Dutch Bros does not have an official religious affiliation. However, there are rumors that Dutch Bros founders, brothers Travis, and the late Dane Boersma, are Christian. From the company's beginning the two have sought to differentiate their coffee shop through not only the quality and speed of their drinks but also genuine relational connection with their customers.
Dutch Bros Christian Values
The company's website highlights three fundamental principles: “Speed, Quality, and Service.” The first two are what makes their coffee great, but the last one is really what sets Dutch Bros apart.
On a visit to one of their coffee shops, it’s very common for “Bro-istas” (what the company calls their baristas) to inquire about your day, how you're doing, and to seem genuinely interested in you as a person. While it may sound like a small act, the interactions with Dutch Bros employees are noticeably different from those of other chains like Starbucks or Dunkin.
Dutch Bros knows that people crave connection with other humans, and by providing it they're separating their coffee shop from the dozens of others available.
Some of the christian values that may drive the way Dutch Bros organizes their business include love, kindness, relational connection, service, generosity, and selflessness. Some Christian Bible verses that support these values are listed below.
Acts 2:47 The church builds itself up in love when its members cooperate peacefully, as we should. It draws people to the message of Christ, adding them to the divine family
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Colossians 3:12-13 “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
It’s possible that the company doesn’t pursue these Christian values from a religious desire or duty, but rather simply as a way to make money, because they know that promoting these values makes their coffee shop an attractive place to visit.
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Dutch Bros Employees Pray for Grieving Widow in Drive Through
(Read the original article here: https://www.oregonlive.com/faith/2016/03/dutch_bros_prayer.html)
One instance that describes Dutch Bros' Christian-like culture well is a news article that came out in 2016 about baristas praying over woman in the drive-through. Basically the baristas saw a woman was upset and asked how they could help. She then opened up that her husband had recently died and wanted prayer, so the two prayed over her, and another woman in line took a picture.
This is another example of how the company may not be officially religious, but it encourages and fosters a culture where employees act in Christian ways.
The owner of the franchise where this picture was taken said the following:
“Of course, I was proud of them and of our company and our culture, but I really was not surprised,” she said. “We do these kinds of things every day, and rarely is it caught on camera.”
Dutch Bros Foundation
Another part of Dutch Bros company that has Christian tones is their charitable giving. While almost every large company gives and are at the same time not officially religious, generosity is an effort that is very encouraged in the Christian church.
For example the Bible says:
Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce.
Proverbs 19: 17 “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”
1 John 3:17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?
Deuteronomy 15:10 You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.
Dutch Bros has their own charity: The Dutch Bros Foundation. The foundation has three main efforts:
1. Dutch Luv Day
2. Drink One for Dane Day
3. Buck for Kids Day
Dutch Luv Day
During Dutch Luv Day, which last year took place on Friday February 17th, $1 from every drink sold is donated to a local charity that helps feed the community. The actual charity donated to will depend on that Dutch Bros shop's location. Dutch Luv Day started in 2007 as a canned food drive at Dutch Bros shops throughout the country. Since its inception more than $900,000 has been generated and donated from Dutch Luv Day.
Drink One for Dane Day
This one-day event is an annual fundraiser that was started in memory of the late Dutch Bros co-founder Dane Boersma who passed away from ALS in 2007. During the selected day in May, a portion of shop drink proceeds are donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The company also sells a mug and sticker package online to raise money for the MDA. Since 2007, Dutch Bros has raised more than $10 million for this cause.
Buck for Kids Day
During this fundraiser that takes place on a selected day in September, $1 from every drink sold is donated to local youth organizations in Dutch Bros Communities.
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What Policital Party is Dutch Bros?
While the founders, Dane and Travis Boersma, may have their individual political beliefs, the company itself remains neutral and does not actively engage in political activities. Dutch Bros as a company has not officially disclosed its political affiliation or endorsed any specific political candidates or ideologies.
What are Dutch Bros Ethics?
Dutch Bros supports the ethical principles of treating others with dignity and respect, being generous, making an effort to connect relationally with others, and other judeo-christian based ethical principles, although the company does not have an official religious or ethical stance.
