Robert Downey Jr. Credits Coffee for Maintaining Sanity and Launches HAPPY Coffee Company
Renowned actor Robert Downey Jr. reveals that his daily dose of coffee is the secret to preserving his sanity. The ‘Oppenheimer’ star, aged 58, considers his morning ritual of black coffee essential for starting the day on the right note. According to People magazine, Downey Jr.’s wife, Susan Downey, has learned not to engage in important discussions until he has enjoyed his morning cup.
Describing his routine, the actor shared, “[Every morning] I roll out of bed, I hit my knees. I have one of several prayers, usually of gratitude or just being like, ‘Please let me stay out of my way.’ And then I roll downstairs for coffee. I credit coffee, in part, for my sanity.”
Acknowledging the significance of coffee in his life, Downey Jr. reminisced about his childhood, associating the morning coffee ritual with family and home. He expressed, “To me, it is family. It is home. I associate that morning coffee with my mom, getting ready to drive me to school.”
In a recent collaboration with entrepreneur Craig Dubitsky, Downey Jr. has ventured into the coffee industry with their brand, HAPPY. The product line includes whole beans, ground coffee, instant coffee, and K-cup-compatible pods. Emphasizing their approach, the ‘Iron Man’ star stated, “It’s just become such a massive industry, but we realised you’re either getting stuff that tastes like pencil shavings, or you’re getting the [artisanal] stuff that was passed through the small intestine of a yak…”
He added, “I don’t want to overcomplicate this. I want to feel like I’m making coffee that ticks all the boxes for everybody.”
The duo is committed to keeping HAPPY accessible to everyone, avoiding a “snobby” attitude towards their creation. Craig Dubitsky explained, “We didn’t want to be, we made up this word, baristacrats. We didn’t want to be snobby. It was important for us to make something that could elevate the every day.”
Beyond creating a coffee brand, Downey Jr. and Dubitsky have partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), incorporating information on finding assistance for mental health issues in their coffee packaging. Craig noted, “Coffee sparks conversation. And loneliness is another big, big epidemic in this country. In some ways, we’re not in the coffee business, we’re in the happy business. That said, we’re still making sure the coffee is awesome.” The launch of HAPPY signifies Downey Jr.’s passion for coffee and his commitment to supporting mental health awareness.
