“Welcome to Jasper’s Java! How can we make your day better?”
It’s not the typical drive-thru greeting, but it’s the standard at Jasper’s Java—the newest, hottest coffee provider in town. With the dual goal of brightening every customer’s day and helping pets find their forever home, Jasper’s Java is quickly becoming man’s best friend in Bloomington-Normal.
“There should be more businesses that care about making a difference,” said Dr. Curt Livesay, M.S. ’07, a School of Communication alum and one of four Jasper’s Java co-owners.
Jasper’s gets its coffee from Gobena, a Gridley-based supplier that donates 100% of their profits to Lifesong for Orphans, a ministry helping families with the hefty costs of adoption.
Additionally, with each purchase of The Jasper (the signature sea-salt caramel toffee iced latte with a honey cold foam and chocolate drizzle drink), a portion of the proceeds are donated on a rotating basis to the Humane Society of Central Illinois, Wishbone Canine Rescue, and Pet Central Helps.
Founded and owned by Curt and Melissa Livesay, Bret Williams, M.S. ’20 and Kate Thalken, the coffee shop is fondly named after the loveable Livesay family dog, Jasper—a Bernese Mountain dog rescue from Shelbyville.
“Jasper is just the biggest, dumbest, loving, best dog,” said Livesay. “He brings our family so much joy, and we want to brighten everybody’s day, like Jasper brightens ours.”
The new coffeehouse sensation opened on October 14, 2023, and has since seen tremendous success.
“We’ve had great feedback so far,” added Livesay. “It’s fast. It’s fun. It’s friendly. And it’s the best coffee in town!”
The wild ride
Jasper’s Java wasn’t always the dream—or the plan. Livesay has had a “wild ride” getting to this point. After graduating with a master’s degree from the School of Communication in 2007, Livesay headed to the University of Iowa to pursue a Ph.D. in communication studies.
“I realized during my time in Iowa that I didn’t want to be in the university setting anymore,” said Livesay. “I grew up on a farm, so I thought I’d try my hand at the agriculture industry. Much of my coursework in both my master’s and doctoral program were in persuasion and interpersonal communication, so sales seemed like a natural fit.”
And it was—for a short time.
“I get bored so easily!” admitted Livesay. “After my wife, Mel, completed her D.N.P. at Iowa, we moved out to the state of Washington because I’d received an offer to work in the cannabis industry.”
Livesay quickly discovered that there were predominantly two types of people in the cannabis space—those who had previously grown the plant illicitly and, according to Livesay, “rich old white guys.” He went on to explain, “The only thing they had in common was that they both thought they knew everything and having to play mediator between these groups was exhausting.”
“I started researching silica after moving on from that job,” said Livesay. “Now keep in mind, I hadn’t taken a chemistry class since high school, but I oddly found myself doing garage science!”
Livesay developed a silica-based specialty fertilizer and submitted it to Beck’s for their practical farm research.
“If you get tested for three years and show a positive return on investment, Beck’s will put their stamp of approval on it,” said Livesay. “So, here’s me with my high school chemistry knowledge, but a Ph.D. in communication studies who is reading research unrelated to my field but developing a product that consistently performs well. Let’s just say it turned into our full-time gig for a bit.”
But the Livesay family missed their Midwestern roots.
“It’s called the Seattle Freeze,” joked Livesay. “People are not warm and friendly in Seattle like they are in Illinois. You don’t get the warm fuzzies. I held the door for someone one time and they looked at me like I was the biggest weirdo!”
In April 2022, the Livesay family moved back to Bloomington-Normal—but they took a piece of the Pacific Northwest with them.
“Seattle has coffee stands everywhere,” said Livesay. “Most are just prefab sheds you can buy at Lowe’s. But the climate is so mild, these sheds work well. That got my wheels turning. What if I could follow that model, but add the ‘Midwestern nice’ flare to it?”
Livesay pitched the idea to Mel as they drove down G.E. Rd one morning.
“I distinctly remember pointing at the GE parking lot and saying, ‘That’s our spot!’ She told me I was insane,” added Livesay.
But no more than three weeks later, a ‘For Lease’ sign went up.
“I call it divine intervention,” said Livesay.
Coffee talk
Jasper’s Java was built with Seattle’s efficiency in mind. Operating out of a repurposed shipping container, the unique coffee stand offers a double-sided drive-thru and promises a personalized face-to-face interaction.
Melissa Livesay is the mastermind behind many of the unique blends and recipes offered at Jasper’s. Inspired by her famous holiday cakes and pies, each signature drink is hand-crafted and “Mel approved”.
“The double-sided drive-thru makes us fast and efficient,” said Livesay. “And I think the face-to-face interaction is a good differentiator, too. We’re fast. We’re friendly. We’re a mission-focused business. And of course, Mel’s recipes are killer!”
It has hardly been a month since the grand opening of Jasper’s Java, but the future is brewing—hot and topped with whipped cream.
“We’ve had multiple invitations to put a Jasper’s coffee stand out in front of various local businesses,” said Livesay. “Even a few calls this month have been about investing and opportunities to franchise. It’s been crazy. The concept is obviously something people like.”
But it’s more than the unique concept and signature recipes that make Jasper’s Java a standout in Bloomington-Normal.
“Our mission is to make everyone’s day better. And that includes everyone in town,” added Livesay.
Jasper’s offers a Mysore filter coffee, inspired by the southern region of Mysuru in India.
“Our son, Elijah, goes to Thomas Metcalf School and he has friends in his class from Indian families,” said Livesay. “Because I coach basketball, chess, soccer, and baseball, we’ve become really close friends with these families. Through some of our conversations, we realized the Indian community has been largely ignored and overlooked here in town.”
Named “Nundhini’s South India Filter Coffee”, for their friend who helped them source the coffee, the recipe, and the equipment to make it, Jasper’s offers a brew unavailable anywhere else in town. Seventy percent coffee and thirty percent chickery, the unique filter coffee is served with steamed milk and sweetened to preference.
“It’s similar to a café au lait,” said Livesay. “Honestly, our biggest success so far was the day we sold more filter coffees than drip coffees. Word is spreading and that’s been a major highlight for us.”
Nundhini also helped them find their chai, which many claim is the best in town.
“Fell” in love
In May 2024, Curt and Melissa Livesay will celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary. Partners in more than just marriage, parenting, and a coffee business, their relationship blossomed in the basement of Fell Hall—more specifically, the speech team room.
“In my final semester of graduate school, I found out that I had eligibility to compete on the speech team, so I made an off-the-wall decision to do it,” said Livesay. “Mel was a freshman on the speech team. I talk about divine intervention a lot, but there’s really something to it.”
But it’s more than just finding the love of a lifetime. It’s about the educational experience and growth Livesay experienced in the School of Communication.
“I really do mean this,” said Livesay. “My time at ISU was the highlight of my educational experience. Coming here was my first real introduction into academia and learning how to learn. That has been absolutely invaluable to me, whether it’s reading agronomy research or browsing coffee reports. The environment in the School of Communication is like nothing else I’ve ever felt.”
Livesay attended graduate school from 2005-2007 and studied under legendary communication faculty like Dr. Sandra Metts, Dr. William Cupach, Dr. John Baldwin, and Dr. Joseph Zompetti.
“Zomp was a standout for me,” said Livesay. “Even though we came from polar opposite viewpoints, we could still have this amazing, respectful discourse. It was because of experiences like his classroom that I learned to listen.”
“I remember Curt as a genuinely nice guy,” said Dr. Joseph Zompetti, professor of communication studies. “I have no idea if he can brew a good java, but I would encourage folks to check it out and meet him. He’s always up for an interesting conversation.”
“The School of Communication feels like a family where it was always safe to explore the ‘other,’” added Livesay. “It was just a really positive, awesome experience for me.”
Likewise, Dr. John Baldwin, professor of communication studies, shares a similar sentiment and memory.
“I remember when Curt came to join us for his first semester. Curt and his father parked in the wrong parking lot. He called me trying to find Fell Hall. I put on my best DJ voice and proceeded to give him an audio tour of campus. ‘Now, if you look off to the right, in the distance you will see the Redbird Arena where our fine football team plays. Just to the left, as you leave the bridge…’”
“That was just the beginning of our amazing, beautiful friendship,” added Livesay. “We still keep in contact. Baldwin’s memory is a perfect encapsulation of the entire environment here.”
The School of Communication’s graduate program offers a unique and highly customizable experience for each student. No matter the scholarly interest, there’s a home for everyone with a passion for learning. In 2013, the school was recognized by the National Communication Association with the Outstanding Master’s Program Award.
“In movies and on TV, communication studies is the butt of a lot of jokes,” said Livesay. But I cannot think of any other major that would have prepared me for such a vast variety of experiences. When you study human interaction, you are prepared to interact across all scenarios.”
In Livesay’s case, that means “talking to hippie stoners and old white guys looking to make a buck in cannabis.” But it also means agricultural sales and starting a coffee business from the ground up.
“Across all contexts, it’s the simplicity of human interaction.” And there’s no shortage of it waiting at the drive-thru off GE Road.
Welcome to Jasper’s Java! How can we make your day better?
