A simple passion can open a door to new possibilities.
Noah McLain took that saying to heart at 18 years old.
He knew the ins and outs of the craft coffee industry by working at multiple coffee shops in Louisiana and decided that roasting beans and creating unique coffee flavors was what he loved most. However, he knew something was missing.
“I started traveling and realizing … there’s lots of flavor profiles and flavor combos that haven’t made it to Louisiana at all,” McLain said.
Suddenly, he realized that he could be the one to bring these new flavors to Louisiana and “fill” the gap in the local coffee industry.
One year later, McLain built his first coffee cart. Although it was a small start, it represented much more. It was the beginning of what would eventually become Cherrybomb Coffee.
After graduating from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2022, McLain would transition his business on wheels to its first official shop in Mandeville, Louisiana, providing specialty drink items such as the honey lavender latte and its iconic “cherrybomb” coffee, attracting customers to taste custom flavors they have never tasted before.
“It was a great step for us (him and his team),” McLain said. “I could finally host my customers in a space that was bigger than 200 square foot. That really pushed the needle for Cherrybomb.”
With Cherrybomb Coffee’s third location opening up in spring of 2025 in Baton Rouge, McLain continues to expand his passion and his team while continuing to get creative with the menu.
Cherrybomb’s retro-vibe theme seems to describe what McLain is all about: relaxed while serving one-of-a-kind menu items for customers.
“We exist to serve up excitement,” McLain said. “Every decision we make, every item that we serve … if it’s not exciting, we say no to it.”
Not only has McLain’s creativity of crafting the perfect drink attracted numerous customers, but also employees who want that “excitement” when making coffee.
Tori Egan, a Cherrybomb Coffee employee at the Baton Rouge location, heard about McLain’s story over the years and wanted to be a part of his crew. With McLain only being in his early 20s starting up a small business, Egan expressed McLain’s impact on her and other employees.
“It is inspiring because I’ve always wanted to maybe open my own coffee shop,” Egan said. “It’s really chill having him (McLain) as a boss. It just feels like I am working with my friends and for my friends.”
Since its start in 2019, Cherrybomb Coffee has proven to McLain how a passion can lead to new opportunities and with a little creativity, it can help form a lifelong impact in a community.
