Series that features tenants of the Clear Lake Area Community Center
By Muriel Nelson
Kate’s Coffee Koop is a recent addition to the Clear Lake Community Center’s tenants. That is, this business now has an office at CLACC on the third floor and sells coffee offsite.
Katie Wagner started her specialty coffee business “for fun” during the covid crisis in 2021. Her husband and business partner, Derek, bought a concessions trailer and upfitted it for brewing coffee. They took it to two events that year…..just to try out their concept of a mobile coffee shop. This led to scheduling several sales events the next year and from there, their business was off and running! Perhaps a better way to describe this phenomena is a quote from the Kate’s Coffee Koop website: “The spark that ignited a passion has now started a fire”.
We now know this business entity as a ‘mobile specialty coffee and soda shop’ serving Western Wisconsin. Kate’s Coffee Koop team has grown to 40 members who sell a variety of freshly brewed coffees, teas, pastries and more. Most people join Katie’s team from word of mouth recommendations. Interestingly, many of her team members are former customers! She looks for people who share her enthusiasm for a good cup of coffee and for being a positive member of the community.
The business currently works from three units. “Betsy”, their current truck, was once a Fed Ex delivery van. They also sell from their coffee wagon and a smaller coffee cart; the latter can be used for inside events. They not only park their rig at places like Nilssen’s parking lot in Clear Lake but also at scheduled private events. They’ve been at, to name a few, graduation parties, showers, post-prom parties, weddings, and employee appreciation parties. Katie enjoys working with her customers and often decorates her truck to match the theme of the event.
Katie has some laudable goals for her business. First is to support the local community. Everything they sell is obtained as locally as possible, as in, milk from the local grocery store, freshly roasted coffee beans from St. Croix Falls, flavoring syrups from Woodville, and pastries from nearby bakeries. Local community support also means that the business gives back. They take a percentage off the top of their sales and donate it to local non-profit organizations such as back-to-school programs, cancer drives, etc.
During a recent conversation, Katie mentioned her decision to take over the coffee shop at Pillar Bank in Clear Lake. This will be Kate’s Coffee Koop’s first “brick and mortar” experience. The plan is to be fully operational in August. However, before that, Katie is planning “pop up events”, that is, when the coffee shop will be open for a few hours on short notice. This will allow Katie and her team to “test the waters” and refine their operations prior to opening. Keep an eye out for the pop up announcements on Kate’s Coffee Koop social media sites.
The mobile-based side of the business will continue after the coffee shop opens. Katie may expand the menu at the coffee shop, but it will include what is already available on the trucks. The truck menu includes freshly brewed coffee with 15-20 different optional flavored syrups. Also offered are the expresso-based lattes and cold brew coffee along with chai tea, matcha green tea and hot cocoa. But wait, there’s more….try a smoothie, or a blended drink if caffeine is not your fare. Italian soda is also available in the spring and summer. Katie says their lemonade is the best! Fresh pastries from area bakeries as well as protein drinks are also offered.
While interviewing Katie about her business, she shared some important facts about making the perfect cup of coffee. It turns out that are two different types of coffee beans. The different ways the beans are roasted, ground, and subjected to water determines the taste. First, the bean must be properly roasted, and she relies on Three Arrows in St. Croix Falls for this. The next important step is grinding the freshly roasted bean to the correct consistency. Following this, one must use good water no matter the method used to prepare the coffee, that is, whether it’s made by drip, pour over, pressed, or cold brew. The true test for coffee is drinking it black, but most of us have our own way of adding in syrups and milks or cream to add to the flavor.
If you’ve grown a bit tired of your “pod coffee”…or whichever way you make the caffeine-rich drink at home, consider trying a cup at Kate’s Coffee Koop. You can find truck locations at katescoffeekoop.com or on any of the social media (Facebook, etc.). They’ll be at several fairs this July as well. Also check out their website, katescoffeekoop.com, that has more helpful information including how to sign up for a private event, menus, and merchandise available.
When you talk with Katie, you can sense her strong entrepreneurial focus. She has many ideas for growing her business while also supporting the Clear Lake business community. Just meet up with her over a cup of coffee sometime. By the way, she says black coffee is best!
Kate’s Coffee Koop Owners
Derek, Charles, and Katie Wagner
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