Monmouth County Mom Starts Coffee Business

Lara Gottlieb is a Monmouth County native, mom of two, and founder of Smart Sips: delicious and unusual coffee pods made locally and sold nationwide.

From Chocolate Maple Bacon to Sriracha Honey Almond...you'll have fun trying these new flavors when you're brewing a cup of coffee! I got a variety pack for a family party I was having over the weekend and my family had so much fun trying all of the crazy delicious flavors! This coffee was a real conversation piece!

Smart Sips was created by Wall Township resident Lara Gottlieb, who, after a corporate career in marketing and advertising, wanted to start her own business after having her first baby. The burden of the long commute and the desire to start her own business left her wanting to leave the corporate world.

She has fashioned her new company with a dedication to connecting with customers. Lara has done things like holding a Facebook contest so that you can name coffee flavors you wish existed. After holding the top three up for a vote, Smart Sips created the people's choice: White Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle.

Smart Sips Coffee pods are brewed in Brick Township in small batches to ensure consistency. They use an old-style process of flavoring the highest quality beans, infusing tastes and smells that inspire Lara in her own life, like the warm smells of pumpkin spice and cinnamon, or the pop of flavor that makes Raspberry Rum Ball one of their most loved flavors . And not only does Smart Sips make coffee...they also have some delicious hot chocolate, cappuccino, and tea flavors.

Smart Sips Coffee was named for the health benefits that make it smart to sip. Coffee is, after all, one of the few natural beverages that can be a positive addition to your well-being. After all, coffee lovers know that having a cup of coffee can be one of the best parts of your day! And with coffee flavors like they offer, you can satisfy your taste buds with one small pod of your favorite brew instead of actually eating the calories you'd find in desserts with the same flavors.

Smart Sips aims to add some fun to your day with flavors that are out of the ordinary so that coffee becomes more than a drink and instead becomes an experience. Red Velvet Cappuccino is one of their popular flavors. And how about some of these: Chocolate Cherry Cordial, Chocolate Covered Espresso Bean, Blueberry Cinnamon Crumble, Pecan Whiskey, Bananas Foster and Chocolate Peanut Butter!

All Smart Sips products are gluten free, trans fat free, parve and kosher. The coffees are also all sugar- and calorie-free, and the hot chocolates and cappuccinos are low-calorie (only 70 calories per cup.) These single-serve beverage cups for Keurig K-cup Brewers are sold nationwide by CLICKING HERE or on Amazon in single varieties or in sampler packs like "Flavor Lovers,", "Chocolate Obsession", and "Liquor Lovers."

Although there is no actual coffee shop where you can go grab a cup of this awesomeness, ordering the pods is easy and then you can try them one cup at a time! I would also recommend the sampler packs as a great and memorable gift idea.