It’s late morning in early June, and most of the Washington Nationals clubhouse is empty.
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The team filters in slowly, following a late game the night before. But in the front of the room, Matt Fouse is hard at work in his all-important role: caffeinating players and staff.
Manager Blake Butera requests a macchiato, a change from his usual order of a plain espresso shot. Horchata lattes, one of Fouse’s latest creations, are flying off the cart.
Pitcher Miles Mikolas strolls up, leans on the table and asks for another Americano. Just one shot this time, he says. He started the night before and doesn’t need to be too caffeinated this day, but he still has four kids to chase later. He wants it hot, just like always. He never does iced, regardless of how steamy it is outside.
When it’s ready, he grabs his drink, makes the short walk back to his locker and leans back in his chair next to reliever Clayton Beeter, who is sipping on an iced latte. The two sit there chatting and relaxing, just like they were at home in their living rooms.
Mikolas, who has spent time in St. Louis, Texas and San Diego, has been on teams with coffee setups, but not like this. This is a full-service coffee operation, just for them, in the middle of their clubhouse.
“It’s a little treat, a little pick-me-up,” Mikolas said. “Maybe it’s a rough game, tough game last night. Come in, ‘Hey, fresh coffee!’ Hopefully it leads to a win or just guys feeling good.”
That’s exactly the vibe the Nationals were going for when they hired Fouse’s mobile coffee company, Park and Perk, during the 2024 season. Kenny Diaz, the Nationals’ director of clubhouse operations and travel, wanted to find a way to break up the mundane day-to-day routines that players fall into during the grueling 162-game season.
Changing something up, even as simple as adding a barista who can make their favorite coffee beverages, can help break them out of their trance. Plus, it creates a homey, family-like environment for players who spend months away from theirs.
“That’s the biggest thing, team-building, having a conversation over a cup of coffee,” Diaz said as he sipped on an iced white chocolate mocha. “The goal is having these guys together, having a simple conversation, just like you would at your house.”
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When Diaz went in search of the perfect barista to bring in, he wanted to make sure that the person would not only not be starstruck being surrounded by professional athletes, but also able to keep the mood light and breezy. Fouse was the perfect fit.
The inspiration for his business came 10 years ago, when he purchased a Vespa sight unseen and discovered an espresso machine in the back. He was going to sell the machine, but his friend Thomas Rhodes, who owns the popular Baltimore chain Zeke’s Coffee, encouraged him to play around with it. One thing led to another, and soon he was roasting his own beans and bringing his coffee setup on the road to caffeinate film crews for shows filming around Baltimore, including “House of Cards” and “Veep.”
The Nationals were his first baseball client, but he has also caffeinated the Orioles and visiting clubs like the Marlins and Brewers. Fouse, a D.C. and Maryland sports fan, realized a long time ago, he said, that he was never going to be able to help his favorite sports teams on the field.
But, energizing the Nationals through a cup of coffee, he thought, is a way of hopefully contributing to their success.
“Everyone thinks as a kid, ‘I’m going to play Major League Baseball,’” Fouse said. “This is like the closest to being a Major League Baseball player that I can be. I feel like I’m actually making a difference caffeinating them.”
Different people take turns splitting the bill. Former reliever Kyle Finnegan was a big proponent of the cart and often picked up the tab when he was on the team. His order was four double-shot lattes — two for before he threw and two after. This year, Diaz and other staff members have taken on the responsibility, but Mikolas, Keibert Ruiz and Jake Irvin have all offered.
Fouse can make any concoction requested, from a pistachio lavender latte to the addition of white chocolate mocha at Diaz’s request. Most players are coffee people, to various degrees. CJ Abrams, Diaz said, asks for just a shot of espresso, but it’s a bit of a superstition for him. If the game goes well, he’ll get another one the next time.
As game time nears, Fouse packs up. On his way out, he leaves another shot of espresso on Butera’s desk, just in case he needs an extra jolt.
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