Her family describes her as eclectic, unique, yet mellow. And that's exactly the type of roast she helped design during her stay at Caribou Coffee.
Beth Woldt, Sioux City Caribou Coffee Store Manager, says, "The 'Amy's Blend' coffee is a light roast coffee, but it's got a very bold flavor."
"Amy's Blend" has been sold in Caribou Coffee shops for the past 15 years all across the nation. But it's her story that hits close to home.
Lisa McInerney from Elk Point, SD, explains, "Right between the two of us, she was the middle sister and when she was in the 5th grade was when we moved to Elk Point."
Amy attended college in the cities and began working at Caribou in Minneapolis. But it was after she lost her battle to breast cancer that an entire movement would soon be begin.
A coffee, garden, cupping laboratory and race, were all named after her.
Kari Mau, also from Elk Point, says, "Whenever I was in Minneapolis, I'd always go to Caribou and get coffee and when this started, I started out like–'that was my sister!' And everybody was like, what?!"
While it's exciting for this Siouxland family to have such close ties to a national inspiration, it's also very therapeutic.
McInerney says, "The fact that somebody can still be alive in so many people's hearts and minds just makes it easier for us to cope with it."
With a legacy that almost everyone feels connected to...
Woldt says, "Coffee houses, for centuries have brought people together."
Mau adds, "Whether you're a coffee drinker or not, someone you know is."
And a story that almost everyone is connected to.
McInerney says. "It wasn't just about Amy had breast cancer or Amy died of breast cancer – it was about that person's mother or that person's aunt, or sister or grandmother."
Starting October 1st, "Amy's Blend" coffee and memorabilia will be available at your local Caribou Coffee shop, with 10% of the proceeds going to Susan G. Komen.
Also on October 1st, Caribou Coffee will be presenting Amy's family with a very special surprise. Tune in next week to find out what it is.
