“Can I Borrow Your Van?” The 24 hour journey that launched Sputnik Coffee.
Vova: “Hey, Greesha, can I borrow your van?"
Greesha: “For what!?!”
Vova: “To pick up a coffee roaster in Ohio”
Greesha: “Sure, knock yourself out!”
(Via text message)
Vova: “Yo, Michael and D (Diarmuid), I found a 5kg roaster on Craigslist. It’s in Columbus OH. It’s only 7k. Will we do it?”
Michael: “Hell yes!”
D: “Absolutely, what’s the worst that could happen.”
Vova: “Nice, who wants to come at 4 am tomorrow morning?”
Michael: “Sorry guys, I can’t make it, but I’ll get you the money tonight”
D: “Pick me up”
24 hours later, Vova and Diarmuid had spent 14 hours hauling themselves across the Midwest in a 2000 Chevy conversion van, discovered the Chevy was not tall enough to fit an 800+ lb US Roasters Corp steel roaster, eaten lunch on a sidewalk, pierced a hole in the steel floor of a Uhaul trailer, and with the help of Greesha and Michael, drilled into a chimney to vent the roaster from a basement in Logan Square.
What you’ve just read, was how we started Sputnik Coffee, where we focus on making great coffee simple and affordable. We first started with our $6 bag, then our $45 5lb subscription, and now we’d like to launch refreshing cold brew growlers - perfect for your home, office or a millennium park summer night.
Does the growler sound interesting? Let us know at vova@sputnikroasters.com, we’re racking up pre-orders now.
Wishing you an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.
Sputnik Coffee Company
Interested in Cold Brew for your office? Let us know - vova@sputnikroasters.com
3 comments
Write a commentAl Delgado
Excellent coffee! Had a sample at South Loop Farmers Market! Had buy a cold cup of your coffee and a couple of bags to take home!
Joaquin Caraza
Cool story, wish you great success!!! It reminds me of my own café miramar project diving through the mountains around my home town in Veracruz, Mexico to find “beneficios de cafe” who would supply constant, good quality green beans for the developing brand before the sophisticated coffee culture really started to pick up anywhere.
Rose Russell
Growlers sound real cool!