Made-to-Order Coffee Beans

For Greg and Kendra Fred, starting a coffee roasting business was a natural outpouring of their shared love of coffee and family.

Having already launched a successful wedding videography and photography business together, the married couple—along with Greg’s parents, Denise and Mike Fred—used the reduced-pace life that 2020 presented to bring their dream of selling their own air roasted beans to life.

“For us, coffee marks these simple memories of family gatherings,” Greg said. “We would always brew coffee in the mornings, and it’s something we all love.”

Meet the Freds! (From left) Emmett, Greg, Kendra, Denise, and Mike. Photo Courtesy of Fred Coffee Co.

Fred Coffee Co.—bearing the last name of both couples—officially began when it launched its website last December. Unofficially, the Freds have been roasting coffee as a hobby for over 20 years, dating back to when Greg was growing up in Springfield, MO. Kendra and Greg now headquarter the business out of their home in Aberdeen, while Denise and Mike air roast Fred Coffee’s beans from their home base in Bismarck, ND.

The Freds chose to air roast their beans rather than the more common method of drum roasting for the sustainability and freshness air roasting offers. The process, which uses a bed of hot air to roast the coffee beans, is also more efficient and fits Fred Coffee’s model of small-batch, made-to-order coffee beans.

“Coffee isn’t made to sit on a shelf,” Kendra said. “Peak freshness is within three days to a month of roast, so that’s why we decided to do made-to-order and sell based on region.”

Fred Coffee Co. currently offers beans from a variety of regions around the world, including Peru, Kenya, Colombia, Papua New Guinea, and others. The Freds also have an espresso blend and decaf beans.

One of the perks of being a small, family-run business, Kendra said, is being able to accommodate the different tastes of their customers. When a customer was wanting to order coffee from Guatemala and Fred Coffee didn’t offer that origin, the Freds tried out the beans themselves, liked them, and decided to add that region to their lineup. That’s just one of the many benefits of shopping local—becoming a part of a business model that puts customers, who often become friends, first.

“It’s been really awesome to see this thing we’ve had a passion for and dreamed about for so long become a reality,” Greg said. “The support from our family and the community has been exciting.” //

Find out more about Fred Coffee Co. on their website www.fredcoffeecompany.com. Beans are available at the farmer’s market and online.

Beans Made for You, Coffee Made by You

Fred Coffee Co. selected three fun, fall recipes for you to try at home. These coffee drinks are especially delicious when you pair them with the Freds’ air roasted beans. So, turn on your coffee makers, grab a warm blanket, and enjoy these tasty autumn drinks. //

Iced Honey Cinnamon Latte

Ingredients

• 2 shots of espresso
• 1 Tbsp. of honey
• 1/8 tsp. of cinnamon
• 1/2 cup of milk of your choice
• Handful of ice

Directions

Brew espresso and mix it with the honey and cinnamon while it’s still hot. Stir those three ingredients well. The heat helps the honey melt and combine. Pour over as much ice as you want and add your milk to taste.

Mexican Coffee

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup ground dark roast coffee
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 6 cups water
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup chocolate syrup
• 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

Place coffee and cinnamon in filter basket of coffeemaker. Add water to coffeemaker; brew as directed. Simmer milk, chocolate syrup, and sugar in small saucepan on low heat until sugar dissolves. Stir milk mixture and vanilla into brewed coffee. Pour into serving cups. Garnish with whipped cream and cinnamon, if desired. 

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Latte

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 6 cups milk of your choice
• 1 1/2 cups very strong coffee
• 1/3 cup pureed pumpkin
• 1/2 sugar or honey
• 1 tsp. of cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. cloves
• 1/4 tsp. allspice
• Whipped cream (optional)

Directions

Add the milk, coffee, pumpkin, sugar, and spices to your slow cooker. Whisk well to combine and cook on high for 2 hours. Serve with whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon.