BONFIELD — When the pandemic shuttered his mobile petting zoo business in 2020, Bonfield native Brandon Malone shifted gears and started his own coffee company, but farm animals remained integral to his work.

No, the llama, alpaca, pony, donkeys and emus are not grinding coffee beans on his parents’ Bonfield farm.

Rather, one special animal, a 15-year-old llama named Barb, inspired the theme behind Llama Bean Coffee Co., with artist friends custom designing the llama logo and artwork.

What makes Barb so special?

Barb’s dad was the first animal on the family’s farm when their petting zoo operation was started around 2005. Barb was born there a few years later.

Over the years, she’s been a crowd favorite when Malone has taken her around the community for petting zoos.

“People love Barb because she is a personality,” Malone said, noting Barb’s trademark sassiness and curiosity.

Barb’s boldness can be a bit much at times, as she is not shy about sticking her long neck in children’s faces.

When that is the case, the children usually gravitate to Jack, a 35-year-old donkey who has always had a very mellow disposition.

The diverse herd also includes Peanut the pony, as well as two emus, Bonnie and Clyde.

The only living bird taller than an emu is its cousin, the ostrich.

“The emus tend to freak people out, but they are really tame,” he said.

They have also been known to photobomb his pictures with Barb, he joked.

Jerry the alpaca is a new addition to the farm and hasn’t had a chance to go to a petting zoo yet due to the pandemic.

Alpacas and llamas are both part of the camel family, with llamas being a bit larger animals than alpacas.

“In college, I was known as, not necessarily the llama guy, but the guy that had a llama and was always taking goofy pictures with her and stuff like that,” Malone said.

A 2014 Herscher High School graduate, Malone got involved with the coffee project at North Central College in Naperville, where he studied accounting, finance and business management.

His involvement with the college’s coffee project eventually led him down the path to starting his own coffee business in November 2020, he said.

The project involved forming a direct-trade partnership with coffee bean farmers in Guatemala, traveling to meet with the farmers twice per year, and paying the farmers a sustainable wage above market price for their coffee, Malone said.

Llama Bean Coffee is sourced from Peru and Guatemala with the same type of fair-trade partnerships, though Malone has not been able to visit the Peruvian farmers due to the pandemic.

The coffee is roasted and packaged at the North Central College Coffee Lab.

Malone currently has six varieties of coffee and hopes to expand his offerings. A popular blend is Tipsy Llama, a medium roast aged in a bourbon barrel.

He also makes a light roast “zen blend” called Llamaste (pronounced like namaste).

Additionally, a portion of proceeds from the Llama Be Me — Espresso Yourself Blend are donated to support different organizations and causes each month.

In January, donations went to the families of Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic and Officer Tyler Bailey.

Malone has been selling coffee at local events and farmers markets as well as online at <a href="http://llamabeancoffee.com" target="_blank">llamabeancoffee.com</a>.

He hopes to be able to sell his product at physical storefronts in the future and dreams of opening a llama-themed café where petting animals could be part of the experience.