As We Head Into 2026
Why We’re Letting Some Things Go
If you’ve been with Moonflower for a while, you know we’re always tweaking, adjusting, and learning as we go. This year taught us a lot about what works well in our little cozy corner of Sharonville– and where we can do better. As we move into 2026, a few menu and merch items are leaving our shelves. Not because we don’t love them, but because we want Moonflower to feel as intentional as possible: in what we serve, who we support, and how we spend our own resources behind the scenes.
Saying Goodbye (For Now) to Soy & Coconut Milk
By the end of December, we’ll run out of soy and coconut milk– and we won’t be reordering them for the time being. Here’s what led us there:
–What We Saw
When we looked back at our year, soy and coconut orders were consistently the lowest of our milk options. Cartons were going half-used, expiring before we could finish them, or sitting in the fridge waiting for their time to shine under our steam wand. For a small business, that kind of waste really matters– both financially and environmentally.
What We’ll Do–
Instead of stretching ourselves across lots of options, we’d rather pour our time and budget into fewer milks and more intention. We’re researching and focusing on higher-quality, barista-grade versions of oat and almond milks– ones that froth beautifully, taste great on their own, and don’t fight with our espresso.
We want to be clear: this isn’t a “never again” decision. We know coconut has its hardcore fans (we see you!) and soy can be an important option for some dietary needs. For now, though, we’re choosing to:
Reduce waste & excess inventory
Keep our milk lineup simpler & consistent
Invest in higher-quality versions of what’s most in demand
As our menu and customer base continue to grow, we’ll keep revisiting our options. If you’re someone who really misses soy or coconut, tell us– your feedback genuinely shapes what we include in the future.
Merch & Moral Alignment
The other big change: some of our merchandise is also leaving. This one is less about sales numbers and more about values.
Recently, we learned that one of the companies behind a small portion of our merch also produces other products that don’t sit right with us. We’re a business, yes– but we’re also humans, and knowing the humans in our community, it didn’t feel right. So even though some of those items sold well, we’re choosing to:
Let those products sell through and then retire them
Stop reordering from that particular company
Pause, reflect, and rebuild our retail section in a way that aligns more clearly with who we are and what we believe in.
We’re looking for alternative suppliers to create something similar, so anyone who didn’t get a chance to purchase those items can still find a piece that feels close to what they loved.
If you already own one of those items: please know we’re not asking you to feel weird about it. You bought something you liked from a small, local coffee shop– that’s still a great thing! Our hope is to offer similar pieces going forward so nothing feels noticeably different, which is why we’re not naming specific items. Our decision now is simply about where we choose to put our money and energy from here on out.
Making Space for Better Fits
You’ll notice our café retail area slowly shifting over the next few weeks. Some shelves will look a little emptier for a bit– and that’s intentional. We’re clearing room to bring in new items that:
Are made or designed by people whose values align with ours and our customer base
Are produced as ethically as possible within our small-business reality
Feel like they belong at Moonflower: cozy, thoughtful, and community-centered
There might be a short period where it looks like we’re “in between” things, but we’d rather have a slightly sparse shelf than one full of items we don’t feel good about.
What We’re Looking For in 2026
This is the fun part. As we make these changes, we’re actively looking for:
Ohio-based artists, makers, vendors, creators, & suppliers
Think:
Small-batch ceramics & mugs
Prints, postcards, or stationery
Ethically made apparel & accessories
Zines, books, or paper goods
Candles, home goods, & other cozy café-adjacent delights
We truly want to practice what we preach: shopping small, supporting local, and doing business in good faith. As we learn more, we want our company to grow with that knowledge– not ignore it. We deeply believe that where you spend your time and money is where you spend your energy. We want the energy around Moonflower– on both sides of the counter– to feel as clear and intentional as possible.
If you’re a maker or vendor who might be a good fit, or you know someone who is, we’d love to hear from you. You can learn more and reach out through our email:
moonflowercoffeecollective@gmail.com
Thank You for Growing With Us
These kinds of changes aren’t always flashy, but they matter. They’re the behind-the-scenes decisions that shape who we are as a café and as members of this community. Thank you for asking questions, sharing feedback, and trusting us with your morning coffee and your cozy afternoons on our cozy couches.
Here’s to walking into 2026 with clearer intentions, better partners, fewer wasted cartons, and a whole lot of heart. We’re really glad you’re here for it.
