I'm the CEO of Blue Bottle Coffee. I'm obsessed with Facebook Marketplace and do 100 pushups in my PJs every morning.
NEWS | 08 October 2026
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Karl Strovink, the 52-year-old CEO of Blue Bottle Coffee, who lives between Boston and San Francisco. It's been edited for length and clarity. I started working at Blue Bottle in 2019 as President and COO after more than 11 years at Converse, where my last title was Vice President and General Manager. I've now been CEO of Blue Bottle for more than six years. Here's a day in my life as a bicoastal CEO. As I've gotten older, I've started waking up around 6 a.m. I even wake up early on weekends. I wish I could sleep in, but once an idea pops into my head, I can't stop thinking about it. I wake up excited for the day. Business Insider's Power Hours series gives readers an inside look at how powerful people structure their workday. Reach out to editor Lauryn Haas to share your daily routine. To counterbalance my active mind, I'll do 100 push-ups as soon as I wake up. I don't even get out of my pajamas before getting my blood flowing and checking that off the list. I'll also catch up on the news or put on music to get motivated. If I'm abroad, I listen to American news to stay in touch. If I'm in the US, I usually go with music instead. I've fallen in love with our craft instant espresso, so I usually make myself a latte with that. Sometimes I mix it up based on what's on the menu to recreate that café feeling at home. I travel all the time Last year, I went to Asia and Europe three or four times, and regularly moved between the East Coast, the West Coast, and Chicago. I'd say I'm on the road about half the year. Blue Bottle takes me to some of the most beautiful and culturally interesting places in the world. I tend to dodge carbs because they slow me down For breakfast, I often eat Greek yogurt with berries and a nut-based granola. I'm a bit like my dog, Finn, eating the same thing every day, but once you find something that tastes good and makes you feel good, you stick with it. I usually don't take my first call before 8 a.m., which gives me a little buffer Sometimes I'll talk to a family member before jumping into calls. If I'm on the West Coast, I can catch my son, who's in college on the East Coast. If I'm on the East Coast, it's harder to reach my daughter on the West Coast. I'm almost always working from home and on calls most of the day. We went fully remote during the pandemic A few years ago, we closed our Oakland headquarters. We'll see what the future holds, but for the last couple of years, remote work has helped us find a good rhythm. I feel like I'm getting to know more Blue Bottlers around the world because remote work creates a kind of visual intimacy I might not have in an office. I meet every new hire when they start, and we spend 30 minutes to an hour together. I don't think I'd have that same experience in an office. I spend a lot of time with my leadership team With a management team spread around the company and around the world, I need to stay close to what's happening in each market. Sometimes we bring the entire company together for regular dial-ins to discuss what's happening and amplify key themes. I also spend time connecting with business partners and others outside the company. I try to set aside breaks and moments to think Blue Bottle is a brand of intentionality, so I choose to be as intentional with my time as possible. I often reflect on a conversation, jot down notes, and cross-reference them with other themes I've developed over time. Sometimes I'll take Finn for a walk during my intentional break. Other times, if I can, I'll lie down for a few minutes just to close my eyes and reset. My calls usually run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. I'm my father's son when it comes to food: I run by the clock. I hate getting to the point of being hangry, so lunch is part of my ritual. I'll make myself a salad, sandwich, or something I can prepare in a few minutes, and I'll often have my second cup of coffee then, usually a pour-over. I keep things pretty simple at home. I clean, cook, grocery shop, and walk my dog myself. Those routines give me a sense of normality and help balance everything else. Until recently, I was heavily involved in raising two kids, but now I'm an empty nester — they're 21 and 19. Cooking is a little less exciting when it's for one, but I still like the routine and practice of making food. I'll have friends over for dinner or occasionally go out on my own I don't mind dining alone or striking up conversations with people. Most of the time, though, I'm cooking from scratch. If there's still light out after work, especially in the spring, I'll spend time outside. I'm a landscape architect at heart and love gardening and interior design, so I'm often on my feet, thinking about how I can improve things or planning weekend projects. I might call friends, read, or catch up on the news. I love planning vacations, too. I've become a bit obsessed with Facebook Marketplace I'll browse for pieces and imagine how they could fit into my space. One of my cacti came from an older woman who had raised it from a little pot for 15 years. She cried when she sold it, so I promised I'd take care of it. That's part of what I love about Facebook Marketplace. It's not just about buying things; it's about meeting people and feeling connected to a broader community. We exchanged numbers, she loved my dog, and I told her I'd come back and visit. Even Finn came from Facebook Marketplace. His face popped up during the pandemic, though you're not supposed to sell dogs there. I reached out immediately, showed up within 10 minutes, and found a group of women hoping I wouldn't come because I was first in line. I try to stay active rather than sit in front of the TV to unwind When I'm on the East Coast, I'm fortunate to stay somewhere where the sky fills with stars. On a beautiful night, I'll go outside and look up. With so much light pollution in the world, taking a moment to wonder and stare feels meaningful. Before bed, I spend time with Finn and make sure he gets a little extra attention. He's 11 pounds and sleeps between my knees. He travels with me domestically so much that I joke he probably has JetBlue status. Lights out is around 10 or 10:30 p.m. I don't stay up particularly late; I need about seven hours of sleep. I've gotten good at adjusting when I travel, and time zones don't affect me much anymore. Then I'm back up at 6 a.m.
Author: As Told To. Kaila Yu.
Source