Owner Kurt Osborne had the hobby of roasting coffee in a popcorn popper in his garage. That has grown to become what now is a successful business with a storefront in the oldest building on Main Avenue.
That’s where you will find Kool Beans Coffee and Roasterie in downtown Brookings at 225 Main Avenue.
Monthly drink specials are something the business doesn’t shy away from. This is a key factor in bringing in customers such as college students who study while having a treat.
“We try really hard and put a lot of effort into sourcing really great ingredients that go into our coffee drinks,” manager Erinn Thomas said.
Kool Beans is not just your ordinary coffee shop.
“All of our coffee and espresso is roasted on site,” Thomas said.
Not only do they roast it on site for their business, but Kool Beans also roast for 15 other coffee shops and businesses.
It takes about 20 minutes to roast 15 pounds of coffee beans. These beans are then served or sold directly from the shop.
“Mostly every bean that we used, I have roasted it,” said Julia Kreifels, a Kool Beans roaster. “In a way I’m kind of like the backbone of the shop.”
Keeping the businesses growing has not been an issue for this Kool Beans team. The three things the employers focus on are community, quality and sustainability.
Kool Beans wants to make sure you enjoy your coffee.
“Here we are a lot more focused on the quality whereas places I worked before were more focused on just speed,” said Isabella Fiecke, a Kool Beans barista.
While coffee is the main item on the menu, it’s not the only thing on the menu. Using relationships with other businesses like Coddleston Bakery, Kool Beans is able to serve items like scones and cookies to expand their menu.
This is a goal the business wants to be noticeable to customers. They want to make sure this is the best quality of coffee in Brookings.
Having positive interactions with the customers is something the Kool Beans team holds of high value as well.
“The Kool Beans team is a close knit group of people that are all great,” Kreifels said.
“I just love getting to know everybody and making people’s day with a coffee is so fun,” Fiecke said.
The environment of Kool Beans is known to be what makes it so special. A lot of students go to Kool Beans to do their work because of the comfortable atmosphere.
“It was so warm and inviting just in the time of me walking in, ”customer Taryn Hettich said.
It’s open Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., so students have a lot of time to visit the shop.
The shop is closed on Sunday, so staff have a day for maintenance and cleaning. A crucial element in keeping the shop up to date on facility upkeep.
In 2021, Kool Beans moved their building from 314 Main Ave, to their newer location which has been a big growth component for the business.
“It’s more open,” Thomas said. “It’s vibrant, and it’s big, and people enjoy being in this space.”
