Michigan entrepreneur launches business with caffeinated baked goods

'Get Up and Go' line includes cookies, muffins

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – It's a routine that's shared by millions every morning: grabbing a cup of coffee for a boost and chowing down on a muffin or doughnut to satisfy a sweet craving.

Now, an entrepreneur in Michigan is selling the idea of a caffeine-pastry combo.

Chris Bogdan is the founder of Ann Arbor's "Get Up and Go," and maker of naturally caffeinated baked goods.

Bogdan said the idea was inspired by a mission to save a few bucks.

""I was originally spending $6 or $7 on a muffin and coffee from my local coffee shop, and I was going broke," he said.

Thus, the concept of the two-in-one treat was born.

Bogdan's current line of baked goods include a cinnamon coffee cake muffin, double chocolate chip muffin, chocolate chip cookie, mocha express chip cookie, fudgy brownie and a chocolate chip blondie.

And while Bogdan says each of his treats are an equivalent of a cup of coffee, he isn't revealing his exact method to combining the caffeine.  

"It's similar to how they make decaffeinated coffee. I can't go into exactly how we do that," he said.

The treats are sold at Mujo's Café on Bonisteel Boulevard. Store manager Kelly Christensen says the idea has taken off.

"People were a little hesitant at first because you're used to seeing caffeine in liquids, not necessarily in a solid form. But once people tried them, they realized they actually worked," she said.

DJ Jagannethan said the treats work for those all-night studies.

"He gave me like half a brownie, and it woke me up, and I finished all my coding in like a couple hours. Then I was like 'Okay, now I can go home,'" he said. "Coffee, I used to just choose over food because I needed to feel awake during the day. Now, I can get both, and it's like the same price as a coffee."

Since the fall, the treats have been available in Michigan, California and Texas. Bogdan has recently expanded to Boston and is hoping to go even bigger – he's launched a Kickstarter campaign.

"The campaign is all or nothing. So, if we raise the full $10,000,we get to begin manufacturing, and if not, then we don't get anything," he said.