CoffeeGoddess
New member
Can we post pictures on this site?!!
Yeehaw! We FINALLY finished converting a horse-trailer into a coffee wagon and started roasting, brewing and serving to the masses at our downtown farmer's market, two days a week, a few weeks ago.
It's been wonderful! The first day, our freezer went crazy and froze the milk, so I decided I had three choices: 1) Break down and cry 2) Fold up and start again the next market day 3) Go ahead and stay, give away the brewed coffee (obviously no lattes or mochas) and get to say hello to the folks who will be our customers.
I chose number three and had a busy, wonderful time. The feedback on the Kona-blend that I roasted myself was wonderful and I must have received a thousand compliments on our cart. The health inspector came to give me my go-over and told me that we should build and sell them- he loved it and passed us with flying colors and free advice on where to advertise!
After that first chaotic week of opening the market, I excepted things to slow down a bit. Instead, we are gaining in sales each day. We will definitely pay for the cart early this summer (even working only two mornings a week).
The cart itself started as a double-axel horse trailer (the balance is beautiful and it's a solid piece, unlike other kinds of trailers we looked at). We put in a good floor then used the same material for the ceiling and countertops, plus we have the needed three sinks, had sink, hot running water, etc. I stand OUTSIDE the trailer, with the espresso machine facing the customers so that I can talk and interact with the customers. I think this had been key- people love to come up and chat about the wagon. They really love seeing the espresso trickle and change colors as it flows.
My husband converted the electric-powered espresso machine to gas (and what a powerhouse it is! A Conte hand-levered one that goes on forever!). The wagon uses five-gallon bottled water (we have two gas powered water heaters from RVs, customized by the hubby for our needs) and we have the ability to carry many more. We put a countertop over the front half of the trailer so the little outside door (painted bright gold) opens into a large storage area for water and cups, etc.
The only time I need to plug into any power is if I want to run the drip brewers while running the grinder... otherwise, I can balance the power needs without having to plug in, AND NO LOUD GENERATOR!!! Propane and a battery, baybay!!
The wagon is painted in a gold, harlequin pattern and I have an airbrush artist coming out to look at it this weekend to add two coffee cups to the back doors.
All in all, we spent way under $10,000 and have a wonderful coffee cart with room to add a little oven or (as the health inspector suggested) carry a grill that has a cover on it to set up outside the wagon, so growth is possible (if we choose). The market has been very busy and we already have "regulars" who love to talk Fair Trade, peaberry and smile when I use an actual demitasse for a shot.
LOVIN' IT BIG TIME!!! It'll be even better next summer when the profits of the day are no longer paying off the credit card bill we amassed in making it.
Loving that man, of mine... :wink:
Yeehaw! We FINALLY finished converting a horse-trailer into a coffee wagon and started roasting, brewing and serving to the masses at our downtown farmer's market, two days a week, a few weeks ago.
It's been wonderful! The first day, our freezer went crazy and froze the milk, so I decided I had three choices: 1) Break down and cry 2) Fold up and start again the next market day 3) Go ahead and stay, give away the brewed coffee (obviously no lattes or mochas) and get to say hello to the folks who will be our customers.
I chose number three and had a busy, wonderful time. The feedback on the Kona-blend that I roasted myself was wonderful and I must have received a thousand compliments on our cart. The health inspector came to give me my go-over and told me that we should build and sell them- he loved it and passed us with flying colors and free advice on where to advertise!
After that first chaotic week of opening the market, I excepted things to slow down a bit. Instead, we are gaining in sales each day. We will definitely pay for the cart early this summer (even working only two mornings a week).
The cart itself started as a double-axel horse trailer (the balance is beautiful and it's a solid piece, unlike other kinds of trailers we looked at). We put in a good floor then used the same material for the ceiling and countertops, plus we have the needed three sinks, had sink, hot running water, etc. I stand OUTSIDE the trailer, with the espresso machine facing the customers so that I can talk and interact with the customers. I think this had been key- people love to come up and chat about the wagon. They really love seeing the espresso trickle and change colors as it flows.
My husband converted the electric-powered espresso machine to gas (and what a powerhouse it is! A Conte hand-levered one that goes on forever!). The wagon uses five-gallon bottled water (we have two gas powered water heaters from RVs, customized by the hubby for our needs) and we have the ability to carry many more. We put a countertop over the front half of the trailer so the little outside door (painted bright gold) opens into a large storage area for water and cups, etc.
The only time I need to plug into any power is if I want to run the drip brewers while running the grinder... otherwise, I can balance the power needs without having to plug in, AND NO LOUD GENERATOR!!! Propane and a battery, baybay!!
The wagon is painted in a gold, harlequin pattern and I have an airbrush artist coming out to look at it this weekend to add two coffee cups to the back doors.
All in all, we spent way under $10,000 and have a wonderful coffee cart with room to add a little oven or (as the health inspector suggested) carry a grill that has a cover on it to set up outside the wagon, so growth is possible (if we choose). The market has been very busy and we already have "regulars" who love to talk Fair Trade, peaberry and smile when I use an actual demitasse for a shot.
LOVIN' IT BIG TIME!!! It'll be even better next summer when the profits of the day are no longer paying off the credit card bill we amassed in making it.
Loving that man, of mine... :wink:
