# Founder Feature: Greg Cahn of Tamar Date Coffee

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2025-09-12
- Length: 34m
- Episode: 193
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-09-12-founder-feature-greg-cahn-of-tamar-date-coffee
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/1a1b4463

## Summary

Greg Cahn, co-founder of Tamar Date Coffee, explains how he transformed a personal solution for acid reflux into a new product category by blending coffee with upcycled date seeds and fruit. Cahn details the minimalist branding strategy, the nutritional benefits of the upcycled ingredients, and the company's strategic growth through farmers markets, Expo West, and independent natural grocery retailers in California. He discusses the challenges of educating consumers on a novel product while maintaining a clean-label, two-ingredient formulation.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Greg Cahn and Tamar Date Coffee
2. Product Formulation and Upcycled Ingredients
3. Personal Motivation and Brand Origin Story
4. Minimalist Branding and Design Philosophy
5. Consumer Experience and Health Benefits
6. Market Strategy: Farmers Markets and Expo West
7. Retail Expansion and Future Growth

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Tamar Date Coffee (product)
- Think Jerky (company)
- Erewhon (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Sprouts (company)
- Diablo Foods (company)
- Amazon Prime (company)
- Starbucks (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Numi Organic Tea: Reem Hassani and Ahmed Rahim](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-07-05-numi-organic-tea-reem-hassani-and-ahmed-rahim) (How I Built This)
- [nutpods: Madeline Haydon](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-05-13-nutpods-madeline-haydon) (How I Built This)
- [Health-Ade Kombucha: Daina Trout (2020)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-01-09-health-ade-kombucha-daina-trout-2020) (How I Built This)
- [Advice Line with Eric Ryan of Method](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-06-26-advice-line-with-eric-ryan-of-method) (How I Built This)
- [Dogfish Head Craft Brewery: Sam and Mariah Calagione](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-08-01-dogfish-head-craft-brewery-sam-and-mariah-calagione) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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