For those who need an extra jolt of caffeine on their way to work, the Coffee Merchant is happy to oblige.
Owner Penny Merchant opened her coffee truck in August, wheeling it around to farmers markets and other events. In November, she started setting up permanently on the corner of County Road 501 and Sossaman Drive. She and husband Jeff purchased the former Amerigas property, and now that propane tanks have been removed, they hope to someday remodel the corner to include a commercial kitchen and perhaps, space for more food trucks to park.
Popular drinks on cold winter days are caramel macchiatos, espressos and flavored coffees. Her frappuccino is also popular, as well as fruit smoothies. She brews Cuvée coffee because she liked the smooth taste.
Hungry? The Coffee Merchant features a rotating selection of sandwiches, muffins, bagels and cream cheese, oatmeal and breakfast burritos.
The used coffee grounds go into a bucket to be composted by the Pine River Garden Club.
Merchant, a longtime teacher at Bayfield Elementary School, said she loved educating students but was ready for a new adventure. The Coffee Merchant makes her customers feel happy, and she enjoys serving lunch to students at nearby Bayfield High School.
The Coffee Merchant is at her location most weekday mornings from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and she can bring her trailer to corporate, church or family events.
Merchant can be reached at (970) 749-4457, on the Coffee Merchant Facebook page, or a bayfieldcoffeemerchant.com.
