Q. How did the Coffee Company get its start?
A. I purchased the Coffee Company from its original owners that opened the coffee shop in 1992.
Q. How is the Coffee Company different from the other coffee shops in town?
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A. The Coffee Company is the largest coffee roaster in town. We roast over 300 pounds a week, thus guaranteeing coffee beans that are at their peak freshness, roasted only 2 to 7 days prior to being sold. We also have a full-time baker on staff that bakes all our pastries and breads from scratch. This combination of freshly roasted coffee and amazing homemade pastries makes for a unique experience.
Q. As a follow-up: How do you try to stand out when there are so many coffee options in town?
A . As an independently owned coffee shop we have the freedom to carefully pick and choose food options and coffee options that we see fit for our customers. If a customer requests something “off the wall” we have the option to research the product and bring it in our store to fulfill that request. With being 100 percent independent, customers can assure their dollars are being kept local as well.
Q. How have you seen the business change over the years?
A. When I began working at the Coffee Co. in 2002, customers were just beginning to bring in computers for studying and work purposes. At that time, customers were more interested in grabbing a cup of coffee and enjoying a comfortable visit with a friend or colleague. The idea of a “Friends” coffee setting was very popular with couches and comfortable seating. Now customers seek out more of a “work-ready” setting. We were one of the first businesses with free Wi-Fi. Now Wi-Fi is practically in every store and business, and customers are now using coffee shops and similar settings for more of a “third place” and workplace to get work and studying done outside of school and the workplace.
Name: Sarah Sand
Title and business: Owner, the Coffee Company
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Year opened: 1992, owner since 2007
Number of employees: 12
Address: 2100 S. Columbia Road, Grand Forks
Phone: 701-772-1995
