After spending over 25 years behind a desk, I dreamed of being my own boss again. When the pandemic hit, it gave me time and opportunity to reassess my life goals. I grew up in the food business, was a food writer, had a granola business, and roasted coffee as a side gig, so I knew I wanted to get back into the game, and coffee was a natural selection. I would eventually love to own a tiny shoebox of a coffee bar, and having a food truck seemed like a good stepping stone.
While I have the requisite espresso machine, I most enjoy making and drinking cold brew concoctions. Luckily, my signature drinks are my best sellers, all made with cold brew. I choose coffee because it's what I love. Some people drink coffee to wake up; I wake up to drink coffee.
The neighborhood where I am currently parked is a true neighborhood in the best sense of the word. While I live on the other side of town, in the food pod where Barney the Van is parked, I feel like I am part of that community. I've only been in business since the beginning of October, but I already have regulars that stop by, and I LOVE that!
Rian and his team have been great! I am so happy and thankful that my fabricator, Walt Dimick of
NW Mobile Fabricators in Portland, found Joule Case. I approached several local alternative energy companies in Eugene about powering a coffee van, and they all told me it couldn't be done. Joule Case told Walt and me that they could make it work.