Our story

As two brothers in college, we were fueled by caffeine—but frustrated by the lack of a portable, affordable, high-quality espresso solution. Expensive café trips weren’t sustainable, and bulky home machines didn’t fit our student lifestyle.

BRU is powered by two brothers with complementary skills and a shared passion for innovation and great coffee. Alden Kruse is a Business and Economics major with three years of experience across finance, marketing, and coding. As a collegiate cross-country runner logging 130 miles a week, Alden brings relentless discipline, strategic thinking, and creative energy to the business side of BRU. His focus is on building a brand that connects, numbers that make sense, and a product that delivers.

Shepherd Kruse, a current Astronautical Engineering student with the U.S. Air Force and a Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, is the technical backbone of BRU. As the founder of Blue Horizon Rocketry, Shepherd brings expertise in pressure systems, mechanical design, and durable, high-performance engineering. Together, their unique blend of business acumen and technical precision drives BREW forward — crafting a product that redefines what’s possible in portable espresso.

Now, we’re on a mission to bring BRU to coffee lovers everywhere. With funding, we’ll refine production, expand reach, and innovate new features—so you can enjoy exceptional espresso, anytime, anywhere.