Sharing stories and adventures about all things coffee, stories, and stoke
Viewing entries tagged
nacho the van
The light was soft, the gravel still damp from the night before. Riders rolled in slowly, quiet in that pre-race way with legs tense and minds somewhere between stoke and nerves. I had already fired up the kettle in Nacho the Van, the smell of freshly ground beans mixing with pine and chain lube in the cool morning air. It wasn’t anything fancy. Just coffee, a little conversation, and the quiet satisfaction of showing up.
That’s the version of Loam Coffee I’ve grown to love most.
This past weekend, I had the chance to serve coffee at the Gorge Gravel race for the very first time — and let me just say, it was an unforgettable experience.
From the moment I rolled up with Nacho the Van, I knew it was going to be a special day. The energy was electric, the community was welcoming, and the winds… well, let’s just say they added a little extra adventure to the day! Majorkudos to every racer who braved those crazy gusts and powered through. Gravel events are always about grit and perseverance, and this weekend definitely delivered on both fronts.
Spring is almost here, summer adventures are calling, and there’s no better companion than a cup of freshly brewed Loam Coffee. Whether you’re chasing the sunrise at a gravel race or dropping into a long technical descent on your enduro rig, Nacho the Van is there to fuel your adventure. This spring and summer, catch us at cycling events across the region, serving up the perfect blend of coffee and community.
One of the most exciting parts of reacquiring Loam Coffee after three years away has been sharing the journey with you—not just re-engaging with the company but also planning for its growth. Since getting Loam back was unexpected, I feel like I’m playing with house money. There’s no rush. Instead, I’m focused on the long game: building and executing a thoughtful, sustainable plan.
So, what’s the plan?
Nacho the van has come a long way from being an 11-passenger van used to carry collegiate athletes to games all over the Pacific Northwest. At the same time, there’s still a LONG way to go. Since I bought the van from the university where I teach, many students know its backstory as they see it sitting in the school parking lot. Some joke, saying, “Yeah … it still looks a little sketchy.”
So, what is the latest on the Nacho conversion process?
It’s that time of the year… race season is here! Whether you’re racing DH, enduro, XC, gravel, or road, weekends are filling up with racing! That means you need fuel for optimal performance. Who needs energy drinks and fancy gels with electrolytes when you can pound a 10oz cup of naturally processed Ethiopian coffee before you hop on the saddle to race?
Wait, you don’t or wouldn’t? All joking aside, we’re gearing up for race season here in Portland with Nacho the Van
