About Side by Side Chai

Side by Side Chai is the story of two people building a life together.

We’re Jesse and Alta—husband and wife, musicians, composers, entrepreneurs, and parents. Long before Side by Side Chai existed, we were writing music together, traveling together, and dreaming about building businesses that brought people together.

That dream has taken many forms over the years.

We launched Coffee Cart Minneapolis in 2014, later expanded with Coffee Cart Nashville, and today continue creating new experiences through businesses like Soda Club Nashville, or our photo studio / event space Sidedoor Nashville(now retired). Whether it’s coffee, chai, music, or something entirely new, we’ve always been drawn to one simple idea: creating moments where people slow down and connect.

Side by Side Chai was born from that same philosophy.

What started as the chai we proudly served from our coffee carts quickly became the drink people came back for again and again. Coffee drinkers discovered they loved chai. Chai drinkers brought their friends. Café owners asked if they could serve it too.

Today, Side by Side Chai is served in cafés, restaurants, and homes across the country.

As we’ve grown, we’ve refined nearly every part of our product—from sourcing better ingredients and simplifying the recipe to creating packaging we’re proud to put on the shelf. But one thing hasn’t changed: our belief that the best things in life happen side by side.

Around the dinner table.
Across a coffee shop counter.
Working together.
Serving others.
Sharing stories.

Our hope is that every bag of Side by Side Chai becomes part of those moments.

Thanks for being part of our story.

— Jesse & Alta