Coffee at Sunrise: Behind the Scenes at Oregon Trail Gravel

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Coffee at Sunrise: Behind the Scenes at Oregon Trail Gravel

By the time most riders stirred from their tents each morning, the coffee was already flowing.

Each day of the Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder began in the dark. I’d crawl out of bed at 4:30am, fire up the coffee brewers, and start brewing coffee before the birds even knew it was morning. By 5:00am, that familiar smell ... Loam Coffee in full bloom .... began to drift across camp.

And like clockwork, the line would form.

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Burritos, Brews, and Backroads: Life on the Road Serving Coffee at Cascade Gravel

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Burritos, Brews, and Backroads: Life on the Road Serving Coffee at Cascade Gravel

I have a road trip ritual I rarely stray from: Diet Mountain Dew, crunchy peanut butter Clif Bars, sunflower seeds, and classic country music. How that combo came to be, I couldn’t tell you. But it works.

I just rolled back home after a weekend of serving coffee at Cascade Gravel in Sisters, Oregon. These events always feel like something special. The energy. The people. That final pre-race sip of coffee before riders clip in and chase 40, 60, or 80 miles through the shadow of the Cascades.

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From Gas Station to Trailhead: Making Specialty Coffee Less Complicated

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From Gas Station to Trailhead: Making Specialty Coffee Less Complicated

Let’s be honest: most people aren’t drinking espresso pulled from a $20,000 machine, let alone a $1,000-$2,000 machine at home. They’re not measuring water temperature or timing the bloom. They’re grabbing a mug on the way out the door, pouring drip from a countertop brewer they picked up from Walmart, or topping off a gas station cup somewhere on a dusty road between Point A and Point B.

And you know what? That’s okay. It’s actually great.

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Why I’m Slowing Down Loam Coffee to Serve Something More Meaningful

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Why I’m Slowing Down Loam Coffee to Serve Something More Meaningful

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.

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Coffee, Gravel, and Crazy Winds: My First Time at Gorge Gravel

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Coffee, Gravel, and Crazy Winds: My First Time at Gorge Gravel

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.

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