As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, the aroma of freshly roasted coffee mingles with the scent of spices at Ember Coffee. Here in Big Lake, Minnesota, we've perfected a unique twist on the classic pumpkin pie by infusing it with our decadent Pumpkin Spice coffee. This dessert not only celebrates the flavors of fall but also our commitment to craftsmanship and quality. Coffee-Infused Pumpkin Pie Ingredients: 1 9-inch unbaked pie crust 1 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup Ember Coffee's Pumpkin Spice coffee, brewed strong 1 cup pumpkin puree 2 large eggs 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ginger 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon salt Whipped cream, for serving Instructions: Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare Coffee-Infused Cream: In a saucepan, combine the heavy cream and brewed Pumpkin Spice coffee. Heat gently until just simmering, then remove from heat and let it cool slightly. Mix the Filling: In a bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, eggs, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Gradually stir in the coffee-infused cream. Assemble the Pie: Pour the pumpkin mixture into the unbaked pie crust. Smooth the top with a spatula. Bake: Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the filling is set and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool and Serve: Let the pie cool completely. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. An Invitation to Savor Fall This coffee-infused pumpkin pie is more than just a dessert; it's a testament to the inventive spirit at Ember Coffee. Not only does it capture the essence of autumn with every bite, but it also highlights the harmonious blend of our expertly roasted coffee with the comforting flavors of a holiday classic. We invite you to try this recipe at home, share it with loved ones, and perhaps even start a new tradition. And while you're savoring each slice, think of the warm, community-focused atmosphere of our Big Lake café, where every product is crafted with care and a touch of creativity. Join Our Coffee Community If you loved this recipe, consider subscribing to our coffee club! We offer our Roaster's Choice and our Blend Shuffle—both delivered straight to your door. Stay connected with the Ember Coffee family, where each cup brings you closer to the heart of our community. Enjoy the flavors of fall, one coffee-infused slice at a time! 🍂

Set Up the Ultimate Home Coffee Bar Creating a coffee bar at home is a great way to elevate your daily coffee experience and add a personal touch to your kitchen or living space, even in a rental. Whether you're renting a home in Portland, OR, buying a home in Burlington, VT, or searching for an apartment in New York City, NY, having a dedicated space for your coffee essentials can transform your morning routine into a more enjoyable and relaxing ritual. From the smell of freshly brewed coffee to the convenience of having all your favorite beans, mugs, and brewing equipment within reach, a home coffee station is a perfect blend of function and style. Designing a coffee bar at home that suits your taste involves considering things like space, equipment, and aesthetics. With a little planning, you can create a coffee corner that reflects your personal style while ensuring you have everything you need to craft the perfect cup. With tips from experts in the coffee and home design fields, we’ll show you step-by-step how to create an at-home coffee bar that caters to your unique needs and enhances your home coffee experience. 1. Figure out your space When planning a coffee bar at home, the first step is determining the best spot for it. “Creating a space that suits how you want to make coffee and is enjoyable to use is the best way to grow your love of creating the perfect-tasting coffee at home,” shares Toby, the coffee expert behind Coffee with Conscience.  The good news is that you don’t need a large area to create a functional and stylish coffee setup. Whether you have an entire countertop to dedicate or just a small corner to spare, the key is to work with what you have. Counter top vs coffee cart “Creating the perfect home coffee station is all about thoughtful organization and quality essentials,” advises Brigette Romanek, interior designer and blogger at HomeDecorFull. “Start with a dedicated counter space near an outlet, using a small shelf or cart if space is limited.”  Whether you’re passionate about having a variety of brewing equipment on display or just tight on counter space, “Consider using a rolling cart for a flexible coffee station that can move around your space,” recommends blogger Gina Dickson of Intentional Hospitality, a blog providing tips and advice on hosting at home. Stick to the essentials Once you’ve identified the perfect spot for your home coffee bar, consider the flow of your daily routine and the accessibility of your coffee essentials. “Keep your most-used items within easy reach, arranging them by workflow (like grinder, filter, brewer, then cups),” recommends Romanek from HomeDecorFull.  No matter the size of the space, the goal is to make your at-home coffee bar an organized, inviting spot that streamlines your coffee-making process. “Avoid cluttering your coffee space with unnecessary gadgets,” shares Matthew Berry, roaster and owner of Ember Coffee Co. in Big Lake, MN. “Ensure that at least half of your setup has open space for cup placement; keeping it clean and minimal makes it easy to stay organized while showing off your beautiful setup.” Compact is key A minimalist setup not only saves space but also keeps your area looking tidy and visually open. “When space is at a premium, I like to opt for compact brewers that don’t require much counter space,” suggests Jon Clark from the Nomad Coffee Club, a premium coffee bean subscription service.  “Even space-challenged coffee lovers can set up a coffee bar,” agrees Diane Kuyoomjian at Bruvi, one of the freshest and most versatile pod coffee brewers on the scene. “Whether you use a kitchen counter or a free standing cart, a versatile single-serve brewer that makes both coffee and espresso will provide all the barista vibes in a small footprint.”  Maximize a small space In small spaces, every inch counts, so keep your coffee bar clutter-free by sticking to the essentials and storing extras out of sight. “Maximize vertical storage with stackable storage canisters for beans and accessories, while a small tray beneath your equipment protects surfaces and keeps everything tidy,” says Robert Gomez from Kaffe Products, a company where you can find all the essentials for coffee at home. Even the smallest corner, windowsill, or unused wall can be transformed into a functional coffee station with the right organization. “A wall-mounted shelf or a pegboard and stackable storage containers can add an aesthetic backdrop for your coffee bar while also providing storage for beans, reusable filters and coffee scoops,” recommends the team at Nomad Coffee Club. 2. Choose home brewing equipment for your coffee bar at home After you figure out your space, the next step to creating your coffee bar at home is in choosing the right equipment to get the job done. The type of coffee brewer you should choose for your home coffee setup largely depends on what kind of coffee you like to drink, the amount of space you have, and of course, personal preference.  “It may sound simple, but there's no point in spending hundreds of dollars on a shiny espresso machine if it just collects dust once the novelty wears off,” shares Toby of Coffee With Conscience. “Good coffee is about the taste as much as the art of creation." “As a passionate home brewer, it’s easy to get caught up in buying every new device,” confides Syeh Naveed, the face behind the blog The Need for Coffee. “While fancy equipment can be tempting, if your brewing space isn’t clean and organized, it detracts from the experience. And worst of all, having too many brewers can lead to decision fatigue.” Naveed suggests simplifying your home coffee setup by sticking to one or two devices, helping to keep things simple while still maintaining your options. Your home coffee bar might have multiple coffee contraptions, but make sure they are each serving a distinct purpose, focusing on the following brewing methods.  Pour-over Pour-over coffee is a hands-on brewing method that gives you more control over how your coffee turns out, letting you really bring out the unique flavors of the beans. You simply pour hot water slowly and evenly over ground coffee in a filter, which results in a clean, smooth cup with lots of depth. Since you can tweak things like the water temperature, grind size, and how you pour, it’s perfect for anyone who loves experimenting to create their ideal brew. Plus, it’s simple and has a nice, relaxing ritual to it, which makes it a go-to for many coffee lovers. “You don’t need a ton of fancy gear to brew amazing coffee at home - just stick to what makes you happy,” suggests Alejo Galindo, one half of the duo at friendly coffee resource The Coffee Nerds. “A glass flask style brewer is a solid choice for manual pour-overs and easy to store when not in use. Just make sure to have a decent grinder and a water kettle for best results.” Handheld presses, plungers, and stovetop espresso Handheld tools, like portable espresso makers, manual presses, or stovetop brewers, are a great option for coffee lovers who want to enjoy stronger coffee on the go, in small spaces, or on a budget. These compact devices use manual pressure to brew rich, concentrated coffee without needing a bulky machine. While they require a bit more effort compared to automatic machines, they offer tasty results and the flexibility to brew anywhere, whether you’re at home, traveling, or camping. “If you love espresso and are short on space, a manual coffee press will take your love for coffee out of this world. Easy to use and easy to clean this brewer provides a fantastic concentrated coffee with a unique design and consistent results,” shares Matt Milletto, owner of classic Portland, OR roaster, Water Avenue Coffee. “Handheld espresso makers are perfect for espresso-based drinks without taking up any counter space,” Galindo agrees. Another recommendation comes from the experts at Pawling Coffee Roasters in Pawling, NY. “A plunger-style coffee device is ideal because it brews high-quality coffee without taking up much space. Once you gauge how much coffee you use per batch, you can eyeball it going forward. As long as your setup is organized, it looks great and lets you focus on what really matters: the delicious taste and aroma of freshly brewed coffee.” Jim D’Andrea from Maker’s Coffee Company adds, “Brewers like these fit any kitchen and produce amazing results. An electric kettle adds a simple way of heating water to ideal brewing temperatures which makes a huge difference in taste.” Automatic machines Home coffee machines are a great investment for coffee lovers who want to enjoy cafe-quality brews right from their kitchen. These machines come in various types, ranging from manual and semi-automatic to fully automatic and super-automatic models, each offering different levels of control over the brewing process. “When creating your home coffee station, there are many options,” agrees Home Coffee Tips author Ben Farrer, a trusted source for many types of brewing equipment. “For something modern, easy to use and space-saving, I would recommend a pod machine for convenient espresso. If you want to take it to the next level, I advise a home espresso machine and an electric burr grinder.” To complement your espresso-making setup, Ferrer adds, “You can buy plenty of coffee brewing accessories to match your kitchen aesthetic, like wooden tampers and coffee mats.” Drip coffee makers are another automated classic that give you an easy and consistent brew every morning. “My favorite drip coffee maker is my go-to for the best drip coffee every morning,” says Milletto from Water Avenue Coffee. “It’s compact, precise, and delivers 8 perfectly brewed cups, bringing the local coffee shop into your kitchen.” “Treat yourself to a good espresso machine, steam pitcher, tamping mat, and knock box to elevate your coffee space,” adds Carol from decaf coffee provider based in Springdale, AR, Talking Crow Coffee Roasters. “Finish off your coffee brewing setup with a scale,” Carol continues. A scale can be used for multiple different brewing methods to help find consistency by measuring the amount of coffee and water used in your brewing process, ensuring a more predictable cup every time. As the professionals at Seattle-based Langskip Coffee suggest, experimenting with different brewing methods to find your ideal cup of coffee is one of the key steps to creating the perfect coffee bar at home.  3. Invest in a burr grinder If you’re looking for the quickest way to elevate your home coffee experience, burr grinders are essential if you value consistency and control over the grind size of your coffee beans. Mindful consumption blogger Laura Yoder at Black Coffee Beautiful nods her head to the importance of a grinder, sharing, “A grinder gives renters an opportunity for high-end flavors, even if space is limited and the budget is tight.” Unlike blade grinders, burr grinders use two abrasive surfaces (burrs) to crush coffee beans evenly, resulting in a more uniform grind that enhances the flavor and quality of the brew. “The biggest difference between average and great coffee is the quality of the grind, and a burr grinder delivers consistent results,” confirms Berry of Ember Coffee Co. "Don't skimp on your grinder while you splurge on your brewer - flip that around,” seconds Matt Boshart, owner and head roaster of Reboot Roasting located in Omaha, NE. “A high-quality burr grinder should be the focus of your home setup.” 4. Use good quality coffee beans Whether you’re using a simple drip machine or an elaborate espresso setup, starting with quality coffee beans ensures that your brewing efforts result in the best possible taste, making every cup more tasty. "You don’t need a complicated setup for delicious coffee at home,” confides owner of Florida-based Coast to Coast Coffee, Matthew. “The two most effective tips to achieve coffee nirvana are to first, get your hands on freshly roasted beans. Second, grind them right before brewing.” Keep your beans fresh The freshness of the beans you’re using is important—treat coffee like an item with an expiration date, and don’t grind the beans until right before brewing for more flavor. To keep your beans staying fresh, Michelle Kaliher from the spooky themed roaster Sinister Coffee and Creamery in Portland, OR recommends storing your beans in an airtight container, away from light and heat. “Whether you prefer the bold richness of plunger coffee or the clean, smooth taste of a pour-over, this keeps the beans fresh and full of flavor,” Kaliher advises. Try a coffee bean subscription Coffee bean subscriptions are another way to ensure a steady supply of fresh, high-quality coffee delivered right to your door. Francesca from the Lux Cafe Club, a service that provides customers with high quality coffees, reminds that the key to a great home coffee experience is freshly roasted beans. A subscription service allows for delivery of premium coffee at intervals that suit your coffee habits, with a range of options allowing you to select your preferred roast level, grind size (or whole beans), and even specific flavor profiles. Sample different flavor profiles If you’re looking for a fan favorite, “Try a medium roast, which offers a bright and balanced flavor that everyone can enjoy,” says Claudia at Haymaker Coffee. By using high quality coffee beans in your daily coffee ritual, you can tailor your coffee experience to your taste preferences. Whether you enjoy light, fruity notes or deep, rich flavors, investing in quality coffee beans is essential for unlocking the full potential of your home coffee bar. 5. Keep your at-home coffee bar organized As you develop your coffee bar at home, staying organized is crucial for both efficiency and aesthetics, ensuring that your space is easy to use and visually appealing. “If you want to create the perfect home coffee space, the best one is the one you'll use,” advises Toby of Coffee with Conscience.  “Focus on keeping things simple with quality brewing equipment and smart storage solutions for your beans,” says Katie, author of motherhood and coffee blog KT Likes Coffee. “A clutter-free setup makes your morning coffee ritual smoother and more enjoyable.” Tips and tools for an organized coffee bar “Home coffee setups can take up quite a bit of counter space, especially if you dive deeper into the hobby,” confides Andrew Richter, founder and head roaster at New York-based Gotham Coffee Roasters. “My most recent coffee bar additions have been a mountable power strip to free up outlet clutter, and a dedicated paint brush to clean my messy grinder. Keeping a work area neat helps free up space whether you're at home or in a professional shop.” “Use space-saving organizers like hooks to hang your cups and dosing vials for your favorite specialty coffees,” adds Ember Coffee Co’s owner. “Efficiency is everything—plus, storing your beans in neat little vials helps you keep the space tidy and stylish.” The professionals at Haymaker Coffee suggest keeping organized by using clear containers for your coffee and tools, making everything you need for making coffee at home easy to find. Clear, labeled jars not only help you quickly find what you need but also add a clean, decorative touch to your coffee bar.  By maintaining an organized home coffee station, you create a space that’s both functional and beautiful, making your coffee routine smoother and more enjoyable. 6. Let your coffee station be an expression of your style As you develop your coffee bar at home, personal touches are what make a coffee station feel like it belongs in your space. Styling your coffee corner is an opportunity to have fun and express your creativity while making your coffee routine more enjoyable. “A plant or two, a jar of cinnamon sticks, and a cozy mug make the space feel warm and inviting,” affirms Lauren Dryer from the Scandi-inspired Langskip Coffee.  However, there are many ways to help your home coffee bar feel more personalized. Display unique mugs and drinkware “The perfect home coffee station combines style and functionality, creating a cozy corner to elevate your daily ritual,” emphasizes Eleni, the potter behind Pottery by Eleni. “Start by adding a special touch with a handmade mug, offering both beauty and comfort with each sip. Complete the look with a cream and sugar set, a charming countertop accent that keeps essentials within easy reach while adding an artisanal flair to your space.” Double-walled glass mugs also offer a stylish touch to your space while keeping your coffee at the perfect drinking temperature, and come recommended from the experts at Kaffe Products. “Set out a coordinated set of mugs for a cohesive look,” agrees Diane from the pod machine company Bruvi. “Showcase your style with sugar and spoons in attractive containers like neutral ceramics or baskets on a small tray.” Use decorative organization “Our mantra is to minimize clutter but maximize style,” continues the coffee experts at Bruvi. “Clear glass or acrylic canisters don’t take up visual space but are a great way to display coffee pods.” For easy clean-up and mess-free brewing, Nomad Coffee Club recommends adding a stylish coffee tray to minimize messy grinds or coffee stains on your countertops. “Use a small, dedicated corner with floating shelves for easy access to mugs and coffee beans,” adds Gunnar Monson, the face behind Sasquatch Coffee in Oregon. “Keep your home coffee bar organized with labeled jars for beans and tools, making your morning brew as seamless as it is enjoyable.” Add art and other personal touches “Don't be afraid to showcase your personality through quirky signs, vintage finds, or color schemes that speak to you,” advises Stephanie LeBlanc, author of the home styling blog Celebrated Nest. “Remember, your coffee bar should reflect your taste while still being practical - it's all about making your daily brew feel special.” “I love tying in personal touches,” agrees Maggie, the creator behind Coffee With Maggie and the early bird newsletter. “My coffee corner has a few plants, and features a custom painting my best friend, By Annie B., did of the cups from all my favorite coffee shops which ties the whole space together.” Customize your space with renter-friendly style options When creating a rental-friendly home coffee bar, it's important to focus on styling options that won't require permanent changes or damage to the space. “For personalization, go for renter-friendly options like peel-and-stick wallpaper or removable hooks to hang mugs or decor without damaging walls,” recommends hosting expert Gina Dickson of Intentional Hospitality. You can also focus on the aesthetics of your brewing equipment to bring more style to your at-home coffee bar with practically no effort. “Your morning coffee sets the tone for the rest of your day, so regardless of your favorite brew method be sure to choose one or two products that are unique, expressive of your personality, and elevate your daily routine,” says Aby Henry, the owner of Portland’s Bridgetown Sparrow Ceramics. Artfully crafted, matching pour over and mug sets are one of Henry’s favorite ways to add flair to any home coffee bar. Finish off your renter-friendly coffee space with colorful trays, baskets, or countertop organizers for an easy and aesthetic corner of your home. Change up your home coffee bar to match the seasons If you love to change things up in your home for each season, your home coffee bar is the perfect place to start celebrating. “Provide a functional and pretty space for your guests to enjoy a cup of coffee, starting with styling the space with seasonal decor items,” says country living blogger Lynn Langford with At Home in the Wildwood. “Risers and tier trays are perfect for decorating the area for the holidays or seasons. I also like to keep tea and hot cocoa supplies in the same area for those who might not be coffee lovers, but want a hot beverage.” “Refreshing your coffee bar for each season is my favorite way to infuse personal style into our vintage farmhouse kitchen,” adds the author of Celebrated Nest. “I love expressing my style by swapping out mugs on a tiered tray or hanging seasonal wreaths - easily adaptable ideas for any space. The key is to keep your essentials in place and decorate around them with easily changeable pieces, allowing you to transform your coffee station from summer refresh to fall cozy without any permanent changes.” Choose a color theme Using color in your home coffee station is a fun way to add personality and vibrancy to the space while enhancing its overall aesthetic. Incorporate pops of color throughout for a more balanced look, or use color to highlight your coffee bar as a focal point in your home. “I get the most compliments on our very pink to-go cup station. It includes matching cup sleeves adorned with our family monogram that I've designed and hand stamped, plus pink straws and hot coffee lids to match my iced/hot latte mood accordingly for the full custom cafe moment,” reveals lifestyle and home blogger Elle Wagner. “Our guests always get a huge kick out of how extra it is,” she laughs. The key to personalizing your home coffee bar is to balance style and practicality, ensuring that your decorative elements don’t overwhelm the space but instead contribute to creating an organized, beautiful area that enhances your coffee-making experience. 7. Focus on technique for perfect coffee at home The final step in elevating your at-home coffee bar is to make sure the coffee you’re making tastes great. If you’re getting the perfect flavor every time, you’ll be more inspired to use your home coffee station regularly.  Women-lead roasters Coroco Coffee Roaster Collective, based in Sycamore, IL, and Tostado Coffee Roasters in Portland, OR are powerful workhouses in the coffee space, and were happy to share the secrets to making coffee at home that mimic the professional cafe experience. Use filtered or distilled water Water plays a crucial role in brewing coffee at home, as it makes up about 98% of your final cup and acts as the primary solvent to extract flavors from the coffee grounds. The quality of the water you use directly affects the taste and balance of your coffee. “Use filtered water and keep your equipment clean to ensure each cup tastes fresh,” emphasizes Adriana Lopez, the woman behind Tostado Coffee Roasters. Filtered water can remove impurities like chlorine, which can give your coffee an off-flavor. “Consider using distilled water combined with a mineral enhancer to create the ideal mineral profile for brewing,” shares Karen Weckerly, roaster and owner of Coroco. Too-soft or distilled water can result in a flat or dull taste, but certain minerals in water are needed to bring out the coffee’s full flavor profile. Get your water temperature right The temperature of your water also matters, with ideal brewing temperatures for any manual coffee being just off boiling, around 202°F, continues Weckerly. Water that’s too hot (above 205°F) can over-extract the coffee, leading to a bitter taste, while water that’s too cool (below 195°F) might under-extract, resulting in weak or sour flavors. Use one part coffee to a higher amount of water “Experiment with water-to-coffee ratios and brewing methods to find your ideal strength,” recommends Lopez. “The golden ratio for coffee is 1:15 to 1:18 which means one part coffee to 15-18 parts water,” explains Weckerly. “This is perfect for a lot of brewing methods, including pour-overs, drip, and plungers.”  You can use a scale at first to get the hang of what this looks like, then as you get more comfortable, eyeball the amount of coffee and water you use each day for a truly seamless (and delicious) home coffee experience. Pay attention to your grind size Grind size is one of the most important factors in making great coffee at home, as it directly influences the overall flavor of your brew. The size of your coffee grounds determines how quickly water passes through them and extracts the flavors.  “A good double shot requires 17-20 grams of very finely ground coffee - think flour like consistency,” advises Weckerly.  A medium grind, with a texture resembling sand, works well for drip coffee makers and pour-over methods, balancing extraction time and flavor. For brewing methods like French press or cold brew, a coarse grind is ideal, as the slower brewing process requires larger grounds to prevent over-extraction and bitterness.  Lopez encourages home coffee enthusiasts to experiment with grind size and brewing methods to highlight the unique flavors of your favorite beans, giving you the best experience in your new home coffee bar. Go forth and create your perfect coffee bar at home  “For some, at-home coffee bars are a simple budgeting hack—but for me, it's truly a daily luxury that I miss when I'm traveling,” admits lifestyle and home blogger Elle Wagner. “The key to an iconic coffee bar is how custom you're willing to make yours. Investing in the right coffee makers, stocking and importing my favorite beans, pods, syrups, and milks, and even matching everything to my favorite color just for fun has made all the difference to using my setup on the daily.” As you start creating your own coffee bar at home, remember that it's all about making the space your own. Whether you invest in high-end equipment or start with the essentials, make sure you craft a setup that enhances both your coffee experience and your living space. With a bit of inspiration and planning, your at-home coffee bar can become the perfect spot to fuel your day and indulge in your love for coffee.

  Let’s pull back the curtain on Big Coffee for a moment. We all know the drill: a convenient drive-through, a familiar name, and a cup of coffee that you drink without thinking too much about it. Companies like Caribou and Starbucks have built empires by making us believe we’re getting something special—but let’s be real, you’re being sold a product that’s designed to maximize profit, not quality. Cutting Corners, Maximizing Profits Here’s the thing about commodity coffee: it’s all about the bottom line. The beans used by big chains aren’t selected for their flavor complexity or unique origin—they’re chosen because they’re cheap and available in massive quantities. If you’ve ever wondered why your coffee tastes flat or leaves your stomach in knots, this is why. Commodity coffee is roasted dark, often to the point of bitterness, to mask the flaws in low-quality beans. Then they load up on syrups, sugars, and artificial flavors to make the drink palatable. It’s a method that works well for turning a profit, but it has little to do with providing a quality coffee experience. In contrast, at Ember Coffee, our beans are sourced and roasted with care. We use an air roasting process that ensures each bean is evenly roasted, preserving the true character and flavor of the coffee. We’re not interested in cutting corners or hiding flaws. We’re about making coffee that respects the bean, the farmer, and you, the customer. Big Coffee CEOs vs. Local Roasters Here’s a reality check: while small, independent roasters like us are scraping by to deliver quality coffee, Starbucks and Caribou are paying their CEOs millions. It’s a classic story of big business taking shortcuts and reaping the benefits. Their coffee prices are high, but that money isn’t going to the farmers who grew the beans, nor is it being reinvested into quality. Instead, it goes toward billion-dollar marketing campaigns, sleek cafes, and fat paychecks for executives. Meanwhile, your local coffee roaster—like Ember Coffee in Big Lake—is investing every spare dollar back into better beans, better roasting techniques, and the community. We’re focused on quality and heart, not just profit margins. Sugar as a Disguise Have you ever looked at the ingredient list for your favorite Starbucks Frappuccino? It’s packed with sugar and artificial flavors. And there’s a reason for that: sugar masks bad coffee. If you’re starting with low-quality, commodity-grade beans, adding sugar is the easiest way to make it drinkable. Unfortunately, it’s also a way to get people hooked on a product that’s masking its flaws. At Ember Coffee, we prefer to let the beans speak for themselves. The bright citrus of our Ethiopian single-origin or the smooth caramel of our 10,000 Lakes Blend don’t need a sugar crutch. We roast to bring out natural flavors that make your cup of coffee a pleasure, not an assault on your senses. The Damage of Supporting Big Coffee When you buy your coffee from a big chain, you’re supporting a system that puts profit above everything else. Commodity coffee is often produced under poor working conditions, with little regard for the farmers or the land. Big Coffee is all about volume—about producing as much as possible as cheaply as possible. This leads to practices that are not only bad for the environment but also exploit the very people who grow the beans. Minnesota’s Best artisan roaster, Ember Coffee, believes in fair practices and quality at every step. From the farm to the roastery, we’re committed to sourcing our beans responsibly and roasting them to perfection. We do this because we believe that better coffee starts with respect—for the process, for the people, and for the planet. You Deserve Better Coffee If you’re tired of being sold a sugary, bitter lie, you’re not alone. People are waking up to the fact that coffee can be better—that it can be full of personality and flavor, not just caffeine and sugar. Coffee should be an experience that’s rich, nuanced, and satisfying, and that’s exactly what we strive to deliver at Ember Coffee. Next time you think about grabbing that Starbucks drive-through or Caribou iced mocha, consider this: you deserve a coffee that’s made with care. A coffee that’s crafted by a team who loves what they do. At our Big Lake coffeeshop, we’re here to provide you with just that—coffee that has heart, flavor, and the integrity that comes from doing things the right way. Support Your Local Roaster When you support local roasters like us, you’re not just buying a cup of coffee. You’re supporting a small business that cares deeply about quality and community. You’re choosing a product that respects the craft and delivers an authentic experience. We’ve been named Minnesota’s Best for a reason—because we care about every single cup we serve. So let’s rethink where we’re spending our coffee dollars. Instead of paying for a CEO’s bonus, invest in something real, something with heart. Come visit Ember Coffee in Big Lake, and taste the difference that true passion makes. Because good coffee shouldn’t need sugar to taste good, and it certainly shouldn’t be about maximizing someone else’s profit at your expense. Thank you for caring. Thank you for believing in small businesses, for valuing quality over convenience, and for being a part of this journey with us. Together, we can make coffee something meaningful—something that’s full of integrity, flavor, and hope. Your support means the world to us, and we’re excited to keep bringing you the best coffee we can.

Ever wonder why your home-brewed coffee doesn’t quite match up to your favorite coffeeshop’s? You’re not alone. Brewing great coffee at home doesn’t have to be complicated, but there are a few key things that can make all the difference. Here at Ember Coffee, we’ve been named Minnesota’s Best for a reason, and we want to share some tips that will help you enjoy a better cup, every day. Step 1: Quality Coffee Beans are Everything It all starts with quality. If your beans aren’t great, no fancy brewing technique is going to save your cup. Many people think any bag of beans will do, but if you’re looking to make a great cup of coffee, you need specialty-grade beans roasted with care. Here at Ember Coffee, we use air roasting to ensure that every bean is roasted evenly, which brings out the best flavors without the bitterness. Think of it like cooking—better ingredients lead to better dishes. Your coffee is no different. Don’t settle for stale, pre-ground beans from the grocery store. Our award-winning coffee is roasted fresh, which means you’ll be tasting all the unique notes and complexities that you simply won’t find in cheaper bags. Step 2: Invest in a Grinder A grinder might just be the most important tool in your home brewing arsenal. Forget about splurging on the latest gadget; if you’re serious about great coffee, start with a quality burr grinder. Grinding your coffee just before you brew ensures that the flavors stay fresh and aromatic. Coffee stales fast once it’s ground, and even the best beans can turn flat if left exposed to air for too long. A burr grinder (not a blade one!) will give you a consistent grind size, which is crucial for even extraction. At Ember Coffee in Big Lake, we always recommend grinding fresh—whether you’re making a pour-over, French press, or even a good old drip coffee. Trust us, the difference is worth it. Step 3: Don’t Get Fooled by Gimmicks There’s a lot of gear out there that claims to “revolutionize” your coffee, but here’s a secret: most of it isn’t necessary. You don’t need a thousand-dollar espresso machine to make great coffee. What you need are the basics done well—good beans, a proper grinder, and fresh water. Some people think they need gadgets like scales with timers or fancy pour-over stands. While those tools can help you refine your brewing, they’re not essentials. Instead of spending money on gimmicks, focus on what really matters. Spend your budget on quality beans from an artisan roaster like us at Ember Coffee. We believe in putting the customer and craft first, and we’re here to be your personal barista, walking you through what you need (and what you don’t). Step 4: Nail the Brewing Process It all comes down to how you brew. No matter what method you choose, there are a few basic rules to follow to get the best results. First, make sure your water is at the right temperature—between 195°F and 205°F. Too hot, and you’ll scald the coffee; too cool, and you won’t extract the full range of flavors. The ratio of coffee to water matters, too. A good starting point is 1:16—that means 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water. This ratio works well for most brewing methods and ensures that your coffee isn’t too strong or too weak. And finally, remember: practice makes perfect. The baristas at our Big Lake coffeeshop didn’t nail every pour-over on the first try, and you don’t have to either. The key is consistency, so keep brewing, keep tasting, and don’t be afraid to adjust things as you go. Ember Coffee: Your Personal Barista At Ember Coffee, we want to be more than just your favorite Minnesota roaster. We want to be your partner in making better coffee at home. We know that quality comes first, and we’re here to provide you with freshly roasted, specialty-grade beans that make all the difference. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your brewing game or just want to enjoy a more satisfying cup, we’re here to help. Come visit our award-winning coffee shop in Big Lake or check out our online selection of freshly roasted beans. Let us be your guide to better home brewing—because life is too short for bad coffee, and you deserve the best.

How to Dial in the Perfect Espresso Shot for Barista-Level Brews Ever wonder how to make that perfect shot of espresso at home? You're not alone. Brewing an espresso that brings out the best flavors can feel like a bit of an art, but with a little guidance, you can create that rich, balanced shot right in your kitchen. At Ember Coffee, our team—named Minnesota’s Best Coffee Shop and proud artisan roasters—loves sharing our knowledge to help you make the most of our Big Lake coffeeshop experience at home. Let's dive into the essentials of dialing in the perfect shot. Step One: The Grind is Everything Your espresso journey starts with the grind. For the perfect espresso shot, you need to get your grind size just right. Too fine, and your espresso will taste bitter; too coarse, and it’ll be sour and weak. A good tip is to think of your coffee grounds like table salt—small but still textured. If you’re using freshly roasted beans from an award-winning Minnesota roaster like Ember Coffee, you’re already off to a great start. Freshly roasted coffee makes all the difference, especially when air roasting like we do here at Ember. Air roasting helps bring out all the natural flavors of the bean—so having the right grind will ensure you capture all those subtle notes. Step Two: Getting the Dose Just Right Your dose matters more than you think. For a standard espresso, you’re looking to use around 18-20 grams of coffee. The trick is to be consistent. Weighing your coffee each time helps you get repeatable results. Many beginners skip this step, but dosing accurately is one of the most impactful things you can do to improve your espresso. Our artisan roaster process ensures you’re getting the perfect roast profile to maximize flavor, but if you don’t dose accurately, you’ll never unlock that potential. Step Three: Dialing In With Brew Time Now we’re getting into the heart of dialing in. Brew time should be between 25-30 seconds for a double shot of espresso. Start your timer the moment you start the shot. If it’s running too fast, your grind might be too coarse, and if it’s slow and syrupy, your grind could be too fine. Adjust your grind size until you hit that sweet spot. At Ember Coffee in Big Lake, we often talk about the difference between a “fast” shot and a “perfect” shot. When your shot runs too fast, you lose out on all those buttery caramels and chocolatey notes—the very things that make our Minnesota’s Best espresso blend shine. Step Four: Tamping Consistency Tamping your coffee evenly is essential. It’s what makes sure water flows through your grounds properly. You want to apply about 30 pounds of pressure—firm but not crushing. The key is consistency: you want the same tamp every time. If you tamp unevenly, the water will flow through easier on one side, and you won’t get an even extraction. One trick we love sharing at our Big Lake coffeeshop is to hold the tamper like you’re shaking someone’s hand. Use your body weight, not just your arm, and give it a solid press. Step Five: Taste and Adjust This is where the magic happens. Once you’ve pulled your shot, it’s time to taste it. Does it taste sour? Then your shot ran too quickly, and your grind needs to be finer. Is it bitter? It could mean the shot took too long, and you need a coarser grind. Each taste tells a story, and each adjustment brings you closer to that perfect shot. When you’re dialing in, remember: good espresso is all about balance. You want a harmony between sweetness, acidity, and bitterness. With our air-roasted beans, you’ll often taste bright citrus up front, followed by those deep, rich chocolates that we’re known for at Ember Coffee. A Few Pro Tips for Better Espresso at Home Use Fresh Coffee: The fresher, the better. Our air-roasted beans at Ember Coffee are usually best between 4-20 days after roasting. Water Quality: Don’t underestimate the power of good water. Filtered water will make a huge difference in the taste of your espresso. Consistent Practice: Making the perfect shot takes practice. Even our award-winning baristas started with imperfect shots before they dialed it in. Make the Most of Your Minnesota Roaster Dialing in an espresso shot is about understanding your beans and building consistency. At Ember Coffee, we pride ourselves as a Minnesota roaster who cares deeply about our coffee, our community, and bringing you the best. Whether you stop by our Big Lake coffeeshop or order from our monthly coffee subscription, know that each bean has been roasted with care to bring out the best possible flavors. With a little patience, some experimenting, and maybe a fresh bag of our artisan-roasted beans, you’ll be pulling perfect shots in no time. Don’t forget—if you need advice or just want to share your progress, our team at Minnesota's Best is always here to help. After all, great coffee is a journey we take together. Happy brewing!

Coffee is more than just a beverage; it’s a global connection that bridges farmers, roasters, and consumers. At Ember Coffee, located in the heart of Big Lake, Minnesota, we take pride in being a part of this journey. Our story is not just about great coffee but also about our commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainable practices. In this article, we’ll explore how we source our beans, the ethical considerations we prioritize, and it impacts Minnesota coffee culture. Sourcing the Finest Beans Every cup of coffee at Ember Coffee begins with the finest beans sourced from around the globe. We collaborate with three primary suppliers: De La Finca Coffee Imports, List + Beisler, Atlas Coffee, and Cafe Imports. These partnerships ensure that we receive high-quality beans while supporting sustainable and ethical farming practices. De La Finca De La Finca Coffee Importers has a rich history spanning over five generations of coffee farming in the highlands of Comayagua, Honduras. The family tradition, which started in the early 1900s, continues today with over 22 family members actively involved in coffee farming. De La Finca is known for its direct trade approach, ensuring that farmers receive fair compensation and that the coffee is produced sustainably. List + Beisler List + Beisler, based in Germany, has been dedicated to sourcing and delivering top-quality coffees since 1901. They work closely with smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and estates worldwide to promote sustainable practices and equity along the supply chain. Their commitment to "Premium Coffee Culture" ensures that every bean we receive is of the highest quality, grown and harvested with care and expertise. Atlas Coffee Atlas Coffee Importers, based in the United States, offers personalized coffee trading services that benefit the entire supply chain. They are dedicated to paying premium prices, investing in environmental sustainability, and providing ongoing education and quality assurance. Atlas Coffee ensures that both the producers and consumers of coffee receive the best possible products and services. Ethical Sourcing Practices At Ember Coffee, ethical sourcing is at the core of our operations. We believe that fair compensation and sustainable practices are vital for the well-being of coffee farmers and the environment. Fair Trade and Direct Trade Models We employ both Fair Trade and Direct Trade models to ensure ethical sourcing. Fair Trade guarantees that farmers receive at least the market price for their beans, providing a financial safety net. Direct Trade, on the other hand, involves direct relationships with farmers, often bypassing traditional trading routes. This model promotes transparency and typically involves paying above market rates to reflect the quality and sustainability of the produce. Environmental Sustainability Environmental degradation is a significant concern in coffee production. We emphasize practices that preserve the health of the planet, such as sustainable farming methods and reducing the carbon footprint of our operations. By supporting environmentally responsible growers, we contribute to the global effort to combat climate change. Challenges to Ethical Sourcing While we are committed to ethical sourcing, the journey is fraught with challenges. Market Fluctuations Coffee farmers often face fluctuating market prices that can significantly impact their livelihoods. The global coffee market is highly volatile due to various factors, including weather conditions, supply and demand dynamics, and geopolitical events. Extreme weather events such as droughts and floods can disrupt coffee production, leading to supply shortages and price spikes. Additionally, changes in global demand, economic conditions, and political instability in coffee-producing regions can contribute to market fluctuations, making it challenging for farmers to predict their income and plan for the future. These fluctuations can erode profit margins and affect the sustainability of coffee farming operations (Coffee Intelligence) (Tropiq). Climate Change Climate change poses a severe threat to coffee production. Rising temperatures and unpredictable precipitation patterns can reduce the areas suitable for coffee cultivation by up to 50%. This reduction not only affects the quantity of coffee produced but also its quality, as coffee plants are highly sensitive to changes in climate. Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and floods, have devastated coffee plantations in Central America, causing significant crop losses and infrastructure damage. These changes force farmers to adopt new farming methods and invest in climate-resilient crops, which can be costly and may not always yield the desired results (Euronews) (Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine). Labor Practices Unfair labor practices, including child labor and exploitation, remain prevalent in some coffee-producing regions. Economic pressures and the need for additional income often lead to the use of child labor on coffee farms. Moreover, the rising costs of production inputs like fertilizers, combined with market price volatility, put additional strain on farmers, sometimes resulting in cuts to workers’ wages and benefits. Addressing these issues requires enforcing labor laws, providing education and alternative income opportunities, and ensuring fair wages for adult workers. Companies and organizations must implement robust due diligence systems to identify, address, and prevent labor risks, ensuring ethical labor practices throughout the supply chain (Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine) (Markets). Our Approach To address these challenges, Ember Coffee adopts a multifaceted approach that involves close collaboration with our partners, continuous monitoring of our supply chain, and proactive engagement in sustainability initiatives. Collaboration with Partners By working closely with De La Finca, List + Beisler, Atlas Coffee, and others, we ensure that our sourcing practices align with our ethical standards. These partnerships are integral to maintaining a transparent supply chain and directly supporting farmers. De La Finca Coffee Importers, for instance, emphasizes direct trade relationships with smallholder farmers in Honduras, ensuring fair prices and investment in local communities. Similarly, List + Beisler has been dedicated to sustainable sourcing since 1901, promoting shared value and equitable practices throughout the supply chain. Atlas Coffee Importers focuses on creating meaningful, long-term partnerships with growers, ensuring that both producers and consumers benefit from high-quality, ethically sourced coffee (List Beisler) (Atlas Coffee Importers) (De La Finca Coffee). Continuous Monitoring We continuously monitor our supply chain to ensure compliance with ethical standards. This involves working with our partners to conduct regular visits to farms, perform audits, and maintain direct communication with our suppliers. Continuous monitoring helps address any issues promptly and ensures that our practices are consistently aligned with our values. Such initiatives ensure that all aspects of the supply chain are transparent and ethical. Engagement in Sustainability Initiatives We actively engage with our partners in sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing our environmental footprint and promoting sustainable practices among our suppliers. This includes investing in projects that support reforestation, water conservation, and renewable energy in coffee-producing regions. Initiatives like the Rainforest Alliance and USDA Organic certifications focus on sustainable farming methods that protect ecosystems and improve the livelihoods of farmers (CoffeeTalk). These efforts are crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability of coffee production and for supporting the livelihoods of coffee farmers in an environmentally friendly manner. Embracing Twin Cities Coffee Culture As a local coffee roaster in Central Minnesota, we are proud to be part of the vibrant Twin Cities coffee culture. Our commitment to quality and ethical sourcing resonates with the values of our community, fostering a deeper connection between our customers and the global coffee industry. Community Engagement We engage with our local community through events, collaborations, and educational programs. By sharing our knowledge about ethical sourcing and sustainable practices, we aim to inspire others to make conscious choices about their coffee consumption. Supporting Local Businesses Collaboration with other local businesses is a cornerstone of our approach. By working together with cafes, restaurants, and retail partners in the Twin Cities, we help to promote a culture of sustainability and quality in coffee. Conclusion The journey from bean to brew is complex, involving numerous steps and countless hands. At Ember Coffee, we are committed to making this journey as ethical and sustainable as possible. By prioritizing fair wages, environmental sustainability, and transparency, we ensure that every cup of coffee we serve is not only delicious but also makes a positive impact on the world. Join us in celebrating the rich coffee culture of the Twin Cities and savor each sip, knowing that it supports a better future for coffee farmers and our planet.

Transcript Hello, I’m Matt from Ember Coffee, where our mission is to elevate the coffee experience by providing ethically sourced, exceptionally roasted coffee. We understand the challenges restaurants and businesses face today—finding reliable, high-quality products shouldn't be one of them. That’s why we’re here to help, to demystify the process, and to deliver coffee that not only tastes good but also does good. At Ember Coffee, our commitment to ethical sourcing means we’re devoted to obtaining our beans in a manner that respects both the environment and the people involved. Our roasting process, featuring the pioneering Sivetz air roaster, known for its fluid bed technology, allows us to consistently deliver a cleaner, more flavorful cup. This technology ensures each bean is roasted evenly, highlighting its unique characteristics and providing a superior coffee experience. Our wholesale program is designed to support your business by offering: Hands-on training sessions and resources, ensuring your team excels at coffee service, Expert consulting to enhance and streamline your coffee offerings, Early access to our new and exclusive coffee selections, Reliable and timely delivery, so freshness is never a concern. We roast only the finest beans, selected from the top 1% globally, which we air roast weekly to ensure peak freshness. This isn’t just about serving coffee—it’s about creating memorable moments for your customers. Partnering with Ember means you’re not just getting a supplier; you’re getting a team committed to your success. We provide the best equipment, tailored support, and continuous guidance to help you serve exceptional coffee with confidence. Join us at Ember Coffee. Let’s work together to make coffee a highlight of your customer’s day and a defining feature of your business.

Transcript Hello, I'm Matt, and at Ember Coffee, we're not just about brewing the perfect cup—we're about empowering your brand with our unique private label offering. Why? Because your vision for a coffee brand deserves to be realized without the complexities and costs of roasting it yourself. At Ember, we provide a service known as toll roasting, where we take your selected green beans and roast them to perfection according to your exact specifications. This is not just about making coffee; it's about crafting an identity and offering a product that resonates with your values and speaks directly to your community. Whether you're a local CrossFit gym looking to energize members with a signature blend, a youth club aiming to fundraise with something unique, or a church community wanting to share a comforting brew, we're here to make that happen. Even local companies and corporate marketing teams find value in creating something bespoke that stands out in today's crowded market. Here's why partnering with us is more than just convenient—it's transformative. By entrusting us with your roasting, you leverage our state-of-the-art facilities and deep roasting expertise, freeing you to focus on your brand and your customers. This is about more than just coffee; it's about creating moments and memories. It's about supporting your strategic goals, whether that’s enhancing customer loyalty, boosting brand visibility, or offering something truly special that tells your story. Imagine your coffee, served in your style, under your brand, without the need to invest in expensive roasting equipment or manage the intricate roasting process. We handle the complexities of roasting so you can enjoy the simplicity of serving. At Ember Coffee, we are committed to quality, community, and sustainability. We ensure every batch reflects this commitment, helping you deliver not just a product, but an experience. An experience that your customers will love, remember, and come back for. So, if you’re ready to elevate your brand with a coffee that's uniquely yours, crafted with care and expertise, let’s make it happen. Let’s brew an unforgettable journey together.

Transcript Hey there, I’m Matt, and I’m not just here to serve you coffee; I’m here to invite you into the heart of Ember Coffee Company. You see, we believe that coffee isn’t just a drink—it’s an experience, one that should be accessible to everyone, not just the connoisseurs. At Ember, we strip away the pretense of coffee snobbery. Whether you’re a brewing rookie or a seasoned sipper, our doors—and our coffee—are open to you. It’s all about celebrating what truly matters: great coffee and even greater company. Now, you might be wondering, how do we ensure every cup of coffee is special? Well, it starts at the source. We’re committed to ethical sourcing, working with farmers who share our passion for quality and sustainability. From the lush fields where our beans begin their journey, to the small batches we meticulously roast, quality is our mantra. But it doesn’t stop there. We’ve mastered the art of air roasting, a technique that not only enhances the flavor but also shows our commitment to crafting the perfect cup. This method allows us to achieve a cleaner, smoother taste that lets the unique notes of each bean sing. And for those who cherish convenience without compromising on quality, we’ve got you covered with our recyclable K-cups. Designed for perfection, they’re ready to go whenever you are, ensuring you’re never more than a few moments away from a delightful coffee experience. So, whether you choose to grab a bag of our artisan-roasted beans or pop a K-cup into your machine, you’re not just brewing coffee—you’re brewing a story. Your story. Ready to unleash your bean-to-beautiful journey? Join us at Ember Coffee Company, where every cup is a new chapter. Let’s brew this story together.  

Transcript Hello, I’m Elisa from Ember Coffee, and I'm here to share the heart and soul of our culture with you. At Ember, we believe that small is significant. This shapes everything we do, from our beans in the roastery to the friendships that blossom in our coffee shop.We are committed to excellence, and hospitality in what we do. Whether it’s the precise art of air-roasting coffee or the warm greeting you receive when you walk through our doors, we want to bring goodness and beauty wherever we have the opportunity because serving our customers is a privilege to us.At Ember, authenticity is really important to us. We aim to be genuine, to reflect on the outside what we are on the inside. We love truth and simplicity, and we try to stay clear of the pretense and snobbery that can sometimes be found in the coffee industry. We'd rather focus on our love of coffee and the sense of family that it can create.As a part of the inner-workings of our culture we seek to show kindness and create a sense of belonging- and we believe that effort is never wasted. Because at the end of the day, we aren’t just roasting coffee beans and serving lattes—we are actually serving people.The last few years have been quite an adventure for us and we are so thankful for you, our friends and customers for being a part of our story.  As we continue to learn and grow we want you to know that we consider you part of our coffee tribe! We hope that when our beans come to your doorstep or you're drinking your cup of Ember coffee, you get a little more goodness in your day.

Within every thriving community, you'll likely find an independently-owned coffee shop. In today's world, coffee shops serve as key spaces for community members to connect and engage. It's no surprise that many are curious about the viability of starting their own coffee shop. Here, we share insights from our years of experience running Ember Coffee. We know because we've done it! Let’s explore how to start a coffee shop. What we know about coffee shops Like many, we took a leap of faith when opening Ember Coffee. None of us had prior experience running a business like this, but with a vision and a lot of passion we set out on the journey. Now several years later, we operate a successful cafe, a kitchen, and a roastery. We employ over 20 individuals, some of whom have been with us nearly from the start. To say we’ve learned a few things along the way is an understatement. We’ve learned a ton, some through successful hunches and some through utter failure. Thankfully we’re able to apply those lessons learned to further our business and continue our growth. We’re thankful for the people who coached us along the way by sharing their experience. And now we’re excited to share ours. The coffee shop concept On one side of the coffee offering spectrum, you have restaurants. For them, coffee is a tertiary product that is served after a meal. In the middle, you have cafes where coffee becomes a secondary offering served to nearly every customer alongside made-to-order dishes. And on the other side of the spectrum, you have coffee shops. The primary offering of a coffee shop is, well, coffee. Not only is it in the name, but coffee beverages are also the number one seller. Second to coffee is food, mostly pre-made pastries and light made-to-order dishes. And third, packaged goods like coffee bags and chocolate bars, as well as other retail, will be tertiary offerings. This is important to consider as the concept will have a tremendous impact on your start-up costs. 12 Steps to Opening a Coffee Shop 1. Cast the vision Develop a vision for your customer experience. What are you offering your community that doesn’t already exist? Who in your community are you targeting? What reputation do you want to obtain? Articulate this vision by creating a slide deck. Using images and text to tell the story. Dream big! 2. Build the business model Now focus your vision into a model for a sustainable business. We recommend the Business Model Canvas, an easy to build table for developing your business model. 3. Set your menu By this point, you probably have an idea of what you want to serve. Mock up a menu including all sizes and variants for all items. Once you’ve gotten everything written out, start chopping. Go item by item and ask if it is essential to your business’ success. If it’s not, cut it. A focused and concise menu will help you perform better than a bloated menu with too many options. 4. Find a location You’ll be looking in areas that are either urban or suburban. Neither is better than the other, and there are pros and cons to both. Keep in mind that your rent or mortgage should cost you no more than 10% of your net revenue. If a location costs $5,000/mo, you should be able to bring in at least $50,000/mo in revenue. If you don’t think you can, keep looking. Urban locations have high foot traffic and visibility. They’re in densely populated areas that also have high price tags. The benefit is you’ll be taking advantage of the draw the city creates. You’re going to where the people already are. In these areas, plan to rely heavily on to-go orders. At least half your sales will be from takeaway orders. Therefore, lots of seating isn’t necessary, and you can look for smaller spaces to stay within budget. If you’re looking in the suburbs or on the outskirts, you will likely become a destination drawing people to you. Because of this, you’ll need to find a location large enough for plenty of seating. Customers will likely want to spend time in your shop, so don’t lose a potential customer because all the seats are taken. If you are in a car-heavy area, consider a drive-thru. Drive-thrus can be very successful if you’re able to keep up with the quick pace. Finding larger locations in the suburbs should still keep you within budget because of the cheaper price tag. 5. Design the shop Now that you have a location in mind, hire an architect to help you lay it out. Architects know the building codes and laws to help you avoid costly changes later. You’ll not only be navigating building code but also health department requirements for food prep and city laws for accessibility. 6. Hire a contractor Getting the right contractor to handle the build-out is critical. Once you have your architecture drawings done, send them to several contractors and get multiple bids for the project. You may have a number in mind, but by getting several bids, you’ll be able to zero in on the true cost. Hire someone with a good rate and a good track record. You don’t want to have to repair poor work later on. Also, build-outs almost always take longer than projected. So be sure to pad your schedule and don’t let it stress you if construction takes a few weeks longer than anticipated. 7. Finance Financing can be the most discouraging step in the process. Once you have an idea for the build-out costs, but before you sign any contracts, you need to secure your financing. You’ll either be looking for loans or investment. With investment, you’ll be giving away ownership for capital. This is a great way to finance your shop as long as you and your investors are in alignment. Personal loans can be the easiest way to finance as long as the terms are spelled out clearly like interest rates and payback dates. Loans from banks or the SBA (Small Business Association) are other options, but don’t be discouraged if they tell you no. Banks are typically pretty conservative when lending money to coffee shops. Try your best to avoid credit card debt. Credit cards are the most expensive way to finance your shop. 8. Set up services Most of the items in this list will be happening simultaneously. While you are building out, hiring, and marketing, you’ll also need to be setting up all your services. Services like utilities, internet, security, your POS system, music, and service providers like CINTAS who provide towels, soaps, and floor mats. 9. Make it legal In this business, asking for forgiveness is not easier than permission. Make sure you’re meeting all the legal requirements for operating a business. By this point, you should’ve already set up your LLC with your lawyer or CPA. If you have business partners you should’ve also already set up your Operators Agreement as well. Now you’ll need to apply for an EIN (employee identification number) with the IRS, a state business license, and when you’re ready to open, you’ll need a certificate of occupancy. And definitely don’t forget about insurance coverage! 10. Hire and train Provide plenty of time prior to opening for your team to build camaraderie and confidence. Train on customer service, prep, and bar flow. Use our reference below on figuring out who and how many to hire. 11. Market, market, market Build hype! You want your community eagerly awaiting your opening. Start marketing your business at step 1 in this list. Make a splash by announcing your new business on social and with the local news. Get your family and friends involved. Don’t lose momentum after the announcement, but keep it building by releasing information like the menu, renderings of the layout, pictures of construction, etc. Do small coffee pop-ups throughout the community during build-out to give people a taste. This will help ensure you have a line out the door on opening day. 12. Open! Yay! You finally made it. Before announcing to the public that you’re open for business, work out the kinks by soft opening. At your first soft opening, invite family and friends, and if you can, don’t charge them. This is a gesture to thank them for supporting you, but also give your staff a warm-up. Plan to open for just a few hours, close, and spend a few hours with your staff working through what they learned and adjust what needs adjusting. Then do another soft open where you’re open to the public, but just let the word spread naturally. This will help prevent a rush that can overwhelm your new staff. Once you feel good, announce it to the world! Have balloons, a ribbon-cutting, get the mayor out, a DJ, and do everything you can to make it a celebration because you deserve it! How much it all costs TThe largest hurdle when opening a coffee shop is financing. And to figure out your financing, you need to have an accurate understanding of how much it will cost. And that depends entirely on your business model. The demographic you’re targeting, where they’re located, and the menu and experience that will appeal to them are the primary considerations when estimating your start-up costs. Keep in mind that you should have a goal of paying off your start-up costs within the first 5 years and ideally within the first 3. Your goal is to get to profitability as fast as possible. When estimating how much capital you’ll need to get off the ground, here are the things to consider. Build-out ($100k-$300k) Build-out is going to be your largest startup cost. Depending on the size of the space, your concept, and how much demolition and installation you’ll be doing, your cost will vary significantly. Finding a location that was previously a food & beverage establishment is a great way to reduce your build-out cost. Spend lots of time evaluating your layout and workflow to identify efficiencies like power and water placement. Expect build-out costs to fall somewhere between $100,000 and $300,000. Equipment ($30k-$60k) Equipment is the second largest cost when starting up. And it’s your menu that will dictate it. The equipment for a coffee shop falls into 3 categories: specialty equipment, commercial kitchen equipment, and ancillary equipment. Expect equipment costs to be between $30,000 and $60,000. Specialty equipment Espresso Machine: The heart of any specialty coffee shop, this machine is vital for crafting everything from lattes to macchiatos, ensuring each cup meets the high standards your customers expect. Pitcher Rinser: Installed beside the espresso machine, this tool swiftly cleans pitchers between uses, maintaining the quality of milk-based drinks and speeding up the beverage preparation process. Knock Box: A simple yet indispensable tool for quickly disposing of used espresso grounds, keeping the bar area clean and efficient. Grinders: Critical for any coffee shop that prides itself on freshness, having separate grinders for espresso and regular coffee allows you to grind beans on-demand, preserving their flavor and aroma. Batch Brewer and Airpots: Essential for serving high volumes of coffee during peak hours, these allow you to brew large quantities that stay hot and fresh, catering to customers in a hurry without compromising quality. Hot Water Tower: Ensures that hot water is always available for tea and other beverages, facilitating efficient service and a diverse menu offering. Water Filtration System: A cornerstone for making great coffee, this system ensures that the water used in all beverages is clean and pure, enhancing the taste and quality of the drinks served. Commercial kitchen equipment Ice Maker: An essential piece of equipment that ensures a constant supply of fresh ice for cold beverages, essential for iced coffees, smoothies, and other cold drinks, especially during warmer months. Refrigerators: Crucial for storing perishables like milk, cream, and fresh produce, refrigerators help maintain the freshness and quality of ingredients used in both beverages and food items. Freezer: Used for storing longer-term items such as frozen pastries, ice cream, and backup supplies, a freezer helps manage inventory and reduce waste by preserving essential ingredients until they’re needed. 3 Compartment Sink: A key component for maintaining hygiene, this sink features separate compartments for washing, rinsing, and sanitizing tools and dishes, ensuring that health standards are upheld throughout the operation. Dishwasher: Speeds up the cleaning process and ensures a high standard of sanitation for all dishware and utensils, crucial in a busy coffee shop environment where turnaround times are fast and volumes are high. Work Tables: Provide necessary space for food preparation and assembly, essential for efficient workflow and productivity in the kitchen and service areas of the shop. Ancillary equipment Pour Over Brewers: Ideal for crafting single cups of meticulously brewed coffee, these brewers appeal to connoisseurs who appreciate the art and precision in coffee making. Kettles: Essential for heating water to the precise temperature needed for different types of coffee and tea, ensuring optimal flavor extraction. Tea Pots: Serve a dual purpose, not only for brewing loose-leaf or bagged teas but also for presenting them elegantly to customers, enhancing the tea-drinking experience. Tamp: A vital tool for espresso preparation, it compresses the coffee grounds evenly, ensuring a consistent and flavorful extraction. Tamp Mat: Protects the countertop and provides a stable base for tamping, essential for baristas to apply the right pressure without damaging surfaces. Milk Pitchers: Used for frothing milk to the perfect consistency for lattes and cappuccinos, these pitchers are crucial for the precise pouring and latte art that distinguish specialty coffee. Scales: Ensure precise measurements of coffee grounds and water, crucial for achieving the perfect coffee-to-water ratio and consistency across servings. Stirring Spoons: Used for mixing drinks, they’re also indispensable for preparing layered beverages and ensuring flavors are well incorporated. Whisks: Needed for beating milk, matcha, or other ingredients to create smooth and frothy textures in various drinks. Strainers: Help in filtering out fine particles from teas and coffees, ensuring clarity and purity in every cup. Squeeze Bottles: Useful for storing and precisely dispensing homemade syrups and sauces, they contribute to the efficiency and creativity of drink making. Kitchen Timers: Critical for timing the brewing process, they help baristas achieve perfect brew times for coffee and tea, crucial for maintaining high-quality standards in drink preparation. Furnishings ($5k - $8k) Furnishings are an extension of your brand. The experience you create for your customers through your furnishings should match the experience you provide within your cup. Be as intentional with your decor, tables, chairs, and cups and plates, as you are with your coffee. Sourcing can be difficult, but don’t hesitate to ask companies if they offer trade discounts. Training ($5k - $8k) Once you have assembled and hired your team, you will need to spend time together to train. Training should include casting your vision for the shop and the customer experience, training on beverage and food preparations, bar flow, and how to work together as a team. Give your team adequate time to train so they’re not stressed or lacking confidence when you open. You have one shot at a first impression, so set your team up for success. Budget a week’s worth of pay for training all team members prior to opening. Professional services ($10k - $20k) It takes a village to open a business. Plan to incur costs for hiring professional services like a CPA, lawyer, architect, graphic designer, interior designer, or business consultants. Goods ($10k) You will need to place orders for all your goods like coffee, milks, tea, flavorings, food, paper goods, and retail before you open. Plan for around $10,000 for purchasing these items, and don’t plan to make much money off your initial order. You’ll be using a good bit of it during training and soft opens. Operating capital ($10k-$20k) It will take time for you to become cash flow positive where you have more cash coming in than going out. To help relieve stress and give you a cushion for just-in-case, plan to have $10,000 to $20,000 in the bank for operating capital. Who do you need to hire/how many people? To figure out who you’ll need to hire, start by identifying your roles. General manager, shift manager, barista, chef, cook, baker, are all common positions at a coffee shop but you may not need all of them at the start. Though having an individual split between multiple roles sounds like an efficient idea, typically it doesn’t go well. Let your team dedicate their minds to a single position. When hiring, start with your leadership team. Shift managers, lead baristas, and chefs will lead the team to success. Find people you believe in, who have experience, and that align with your vision. Even if you start out managing the employees yourself, you will eventually want to delegate those tasks, so having people to promote will be a smoother transition than hiring from outside. To estimate how many people you need to hire, start by creating a mock schedule. Based on the hours you’ll be operating, figure out the stations that will need personnel throughout the day. Coffee shops tend to be busiest in the late morning and early afternoon. And weekends are typically busier than weekdays so plan to be fully staffed at those times. Also be sure to account for time to open and close the shop. What supplies do you need? Goods sold Goods sold are the things that go into a purchase. It includes your coffee, milks, tea, flavorings, food, and retail. You’ll need to be in a weekly rhythm of taking inventory and ordering. Make use of a PAR level system which will prevent you from running out of inventory. Consumables Consumables include your paper goods like cups, lids, straws, napkins, filters, etc. As well as receipt paper, printer paper, and anything else that will need to be continually replaced. Cleaning supplies Soaps, detergents, disinfectant sprays can be provided to you through services like CINTAS. Other cleaning agents like Cafiza will also need to be on hand for cleaning your coffee equipment. Have more questions? Though it is stressful and difficult, nothing is more satisfying than seeing your community excited to see you open and eager to support you. It’s a special feeling that we feel very lucky to have. If you have more questions that we didn’t answer here, feel free to reach out and ask! If you’re in the process of opening a coffee shop, or even if you already have, we’d love to partner with you. Our wholesale program provides coffee as well as tea and we’ll help you navigate your barista training, which equipment to purchase, and answer any questions you may have about how to run a healthy business. Apply to be a wholesale partner  

Coffee is more than just a drink; it’s a part of our daily routine and plays a big role in our lives. If you sell coffee, whether you brew it yourself or resell it, you know it’s important to have great quality. Finding the right wholesale coffee partner is key, and you probably have a lot of questions: Will they understand and support my business? Will they be there when I need them? Can I trust them to deliver on time? We understand, and we’re here to help. As you look for the perfect partner, we’ve put together some important questions to ask. These will help you sort through your options and find a partner who is more than just a supplier, but a real supporter of your coffee business. What is a wholesale coffee partner? A wholesale coffee partner is a business that focuses on roasting coffee beans in large amounts and then selling these roasted beans in bulk to other businesses. These companies usually work on a B2B (business-to-business) model, supplying coffee to shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels, offices, and other places that serve or sell coffee to people. Wholesale coffee roasters are important because they make sure there’s always a steady supply of high-quality coffee for their clients. Wholesale Coffee Partner vs. Coffee Distributor You might wonder how a wholesale coffee partner is different from a coffee distributor. When you work with a wholesale coffee partner, you deal directly with the company that finds the green coffee beans, roasts them, and packages them. On the other hand, a coffee distributor works with various coffee roasting companies and sells their products. The advantage of working directly with the roaster is that you can have a closer relationship with the company that makes your coffee. This means faster communication and feedback, more flexibility, and better knowledge of the industry. Working with a distributor gives you access to a wider variety of coffee brands and products, but they might not have as much in-depth knowledge about coffee as the roaster. What to look for in a wholesale coffee partner? Choosing the right wholesale coffee partner is very important if you run a cafe, restaurant, retail store, or any other place that serves or sells coffee. You’ll want to make sure your partner is consistent, reliable, quick, and above all, honest. Here are seven questions we recommend you ask to find the best wholesale coffee partner: 1. What is their reputation? Reputation is very important. Look at how they treat their customers. Do they spend quality time in person? Do they treat each customer as if they are the most important, or do they neglect some? Start with online reviews, but also ask for references from a few of their current or past customers. 2. How do they source their coffee? Knowing where they get their coffee can tell you a lot about the reliability and quality of their products. Do they get their coffee through green coffee distributors, importers, exporters, or directly from the growers? Have they built good relationships with their green coffee suppliers? Do they share details about how the coffees were grown, their type, altitude, harvest time, and how they were processed? The better the relationship a coffee roaster has with their green coffee suppliers and the more they share, the lower the risk of getting poor quality coffee or having supply problems. Also, ask about their pricing to make sure you’re getting a good deal. 3. What types of roasts do they offer? Every roaster has their specialties—certain types of coffee or roast styles they are known for. Find out if they have the coffee types and roast styles that your customers like. Ask about the range of roasts they offer, from bold and dark to light and bright, and see if they have a good selection that suits your customers’ tastes. If your customers like darker coffees, they should taste rich and smooth, not too bitter. If they prefer lighter roasts, they should taste bright and delicate, not sour or tart. 4. What is their policy on freshness? Coffee tastes best a few days to a month after it’s roasted. Specialty coffee roasters often roast their coffee only when they have orders, and ship it the same day or the day after roasting. This makes sure you and your customers get the freshest coffee. Avoid coffee that has been sitting on a shelf before you order it. Make sure your customers are happy with the roast dates they see on the coffee. 5. Do they require contracts or offer terms? It’s common for wholesale coffee partners to ask you to sign a contract for a year or more to get the best prices, and they may also require minimum orders. This helps them plan their sales, but it might not help you. Some wholesale partners, like us, don’t require contracts. We believe a wholesale relationship should be based on trust and mutual benefits, aiming to improve both the customer experience and the business on both sides. You should get real benefits for your customers and your bottom line from your wholesale coffee partner, and they should too. 6. Will they be a resource for brewing advice? Your wholesale coffee partner should know the best ways to brew their beans. They should also help you get the most out of their coffee. Many wholesale partners have experience running coffee shops or cafes and can be a great resource for advice on bar flow, equipment, and how to brew. Even if you’re not local, it’s important to find a wholesale partner who can guide you on how to best brew their coffee so that you and your customers are happy with what you offer. 7. Will they be available? One of the last things to check is if they’ll be available when you need them. If you’re starting a new cafe, you might still be figuring out how often you need to order, or you might need help as your business grows. Your wholesale coffee partner should be easy to reach and willing to help you solve problems, offer advice on best practices for your bar, equipment, and maintenance, and be supportive. A good partner will be invested in your success.Deciding on your wholesale coffee partner isn’t just about the cost and products; it’s also about building a relationship. Finding a partner who supports you and helps you grow will benefit both your business and your customers. If you are looking for a wholesale coffee partner, we at Ember Coffee would love to work with you. We strive to support those who aim for excellence in their offerings, service, and customer experiences. Ready to get started? Let’s partner →