About

Our Mission

Calliope Ice Cream develops, discovers, and explores all the awesome flavor combinations that exist outside of the traditional ice cream box, conjuring fond memories through flavor and using the highest quality ingredients available. We are inventive, innovative, and creative (without being gimmicky) and strive to have a good time while we work hard. Remember, it’s only ice cream after all.

FOOD.

Food sustains us. Not just in the, “you have to eat to live” way (although that’s one of the truest truths) but in the way it shapes our lives. There’s a reason that no matter what your house looks like, everyone always hangs out in the kitchen…

LOVE.

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Indeed! Because if you don’t have love, what do you have? Not much.

FUN.

Hard work & fun are not mutually exclusive. Things we have to do – chores, tasks, obligations – might feel less like work if we would only incorporate more fun into doing them. Enjoy yourself, wherever you are.

Our Story

It started in 2011 with Jason making ice cream in the basement at the Weary Traveler Freehouse in Madison. Staci and Marty joined in soon after and Calliope was born. Jason left the company in January 2015 to focus on his career, while Staci and Marty continue to introduce Calliope to many, many people who just were not expecting spicy ice cream. In July of 2019 we opened our first scoop shop within an Ian’s Pizza at the Garver Feed Mill on Madison’s east side, where we serve our seven original flavors and rotate four small batch flavors made on-site every week.

Donations

We don’t make cash donations, and because we are small we work within a strict budget. Even if we have the donation budget available, we can’t afford to give very much to any one group. Reach out to us at [email protected] and we’ll let you know if we can help out!