If you’re a hardcore coffee drinker like us, you’ve probably heard of the story of the Carmelite monks who started a coffee business to fund their monastic community.
No? Well, we can safely say it was the talk of the coffee community!
After all, for years, customers have been drinking Mystic Monks coffee not only for its exceptional taste and quality but to help monks and support Catholic values too—or so they thought.
Because after a series of scandals came to light, it turned out that the accountability and transparency of the Mystic Monks was questionable. Curious yet?
What Is Mystic Monks Coffee?
Let’s get to know our scandalous culprits first:
Mystic Monks Coffee is a small-batch coffee brand established and operated by the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming. They’re a small group of monks who reside, you guessed it, in Mount Carmel, Wyoming.
When the Carmelite Monks needed financial aid to fund their monastery in the Rocky Mountains, they came up with the idea of starting a coffee brand.
And so: in 2007, Father Daniel Mary founded Mystic Monk Coffee.
He did this to support the monks’ life and their ambitious plans to establish a Gothic monastery in the Rocky Mountains. The monastery’s goals were: support the brotherhood and expand their order.
So, what happened next?
The monks started roasting the beans themselves to add a unique touch to their brand. They then sold them online for a profit. They also put a lot of effort into the process—from sourcing the beans to roasting; and crafting personalized mugs!
If you decide to check it out; here’s what you’ll find on the Mystic Monks website:
A wide range of coffee blends, including single-origin, espresso, flavored, decaf, and many more. They also sell coffee and tea accessories, such as coffee vaults, tea infusers, and mugs.
We’ve personally haven’t tried their coffee yet – but it sure looks like it’d be a blast!
The Mystic Monk Scandal: What Is It?
For over 15 years, Mystic Monks Coffee built up a huge loyal customer base. They made sure their customers knew of their coffee’s premium quality and the fact that the profits went to funding the monastery.
But it turns out that the truth behind the scenes wasn’t as heavenly:
In 2013, a huge scandal emerged and ruined the reputation and legitimacy of the Carmelite Monks. The scandal revolved around allegations of misincorporation of funds.
It was alleged that the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming didn’t use the funds to support the monastic community. Instead, they used the raised funds from the coffee business to purchase a £7.5 million sprawling ranch in the Wyoming mountains.
Doesn’t sound quite transparent, does it? And if that wasn’t enough:
In 2022, the monks faced criticism for their potentially misleading advertising practices and questionable ethical sourcing of their beans.
Worse, after further investigations, these allegations were confirmed. This resulted in a huge decline in the brand’s sales and reputation. Yikes!
The Wake-Up Call
At the heart of this mess, the Carmelite Monks didn’t waste time and immediately responded to the allegations—as they should’ve. They promised to do whatever it takes to sort out everything and get back in their customers’ good books.
Here’s how they turned things around:
The Carmelite Monks completely changed how they source their beans and produced their coffee.
They became much more transparent about their inside operations too. The monks teamed up with reputable suppliers, and invested in quality control measures to improve their products.
Final Words
The Mystic Monks scandal served as a wake-up call—not just for the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming but for the whole specialty coffee industry.
This scandal highlighted the importance of transparency, ethical sourcing, and responsible practices in any business. All corporations could take a page from their books!
