Our Story
It all started with a walk…
Back in 2018, Lily and I had a morning ritual. She was still little—just a baby—so our walks were slow, easy, the kind where the world felt like it was taking a deep breath before the chaos of the day kicked in. I’d pop in my earbuds, queue up something that fit the mood—sometimes Brian Jonestown Massacre for a little hazy psych-rock swagger, other times a ’77 Dead show, because let’s be honest, that was peak Jerry—and off we’d go, just me, my girl, and the city still shaking off its sleep.
Our destination?
The Starbucks on Robertson and Pico. It was a mission of love—Gihan’s Venti Soy Chai Latte, kids temp, 12 pumps of chai (because apparently, 11 pumps wouldn’t cut it). I’d order, the barista would do their thing, and then, like clockwork, they’d pop that little green plastic stopper into the lid before handing it over. I never gave it much thought. It was just part of the process, like how every live Dead show had a moment where Jerry’s guitar hit that cosmic, interdimensional sweet spot and everything just worked.
But that morning, something shifted.
On the walk back, as “Eyes of the World” played and Lily cooed from her stroller, I started noticing them—those same little green stoppers—scattered across the sidewalk, stuck in storm drains, abandoned in the street like tiny plastic tumbleweeds. It was like once I saw them, I couldn’t unsee them. And the more I walked, the more I spotted, like some kind of dystopian scavenger hunt where the only prize was a sinking feeling in my gut.
By the time I got home
the idea had hit me: we’re throwing away millions of these things every day. Millions. Little pieces of plastic, used for a few minutes, then tossed into the abyss. And for what? To stop a couple of coffee drips? There had to be a better way—something more sustainable, something that didn’t add to the pile of plastic junk we’re already drowning in.
And then…
…like a good Jerry solo, it all came together: what if, instead of trash, that little coffee stopper was food? What if it actually added to the coffee experience instead of just getting tossed the second it did its job?
Boom. Lilypads.
A coffee topper that’s not just functional, but delicious. Edible. Sustainable. No waste, no guilt—just a little something extra to make your morning ritual that much better.
Think of it as a mini biscotti, perfectly crisp and lightly sweet, designed to rest snugly on your coffee cup, sealing in the heat and keeping spills at bay. But unlike those little green plastic stoppers that get tossed without a second thought, Lilypads actually add to the experience.
Lily and I kept taking those walks.
But from that day on, I wasn’t just picking up coffee—I was picking up an idea that wouldn’t let go.
Looking forward to sharing a cup and making a difference together.
Yours in progress,
Phil Williams