Portable Coffee Shop Made From Shipping Container

2022 - Volume #46, Issue #3, Page #07

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After a trial run last fall, Stephanie Eckel, an English and speech teacher, is eager to open E’s Espresso in Eagle Bend, Minn., as soon as summer vacation starts.
Eckel’s electronic engineer husband, Jay, suggested using a shipping container to fulfill his wife’s lifelong dream of owning a coffee shop. The couple started with a well-used 20-ft. shipping container they found on Craig’s List and made remodeling it a family project.
“On the outside it has dings, but Steph said that was OK, she wanted it to look industrial,” Jay notes.
He added a door and windows, insulation, wiring, and covered the interior walls. Steph and their daughters painted the inside with impervious paint to meet commercial kitchen codes and painted it black with a white roof on the outside. The Eckels shopped on Craig’s List to purchase most of their commercial equipment and Jay built a new control board for the coffee maker.
He installed an RV tank and pump for the water supply. Used water drains outside to a tank on wheels for gray water that can be emptied into the town’s sewer system. Jay built jacks under the container to lift it up to load and unload on a trailer he made out of two trailer house axles.
A local business owner offered space and electricity for E’s Espresso to set up in August 2021. Stephanie, who has been making cappuccinos, lattes and Italian sodas since 2005 for school fundraisers, wasn’t sure how much business she would have in Eagle Bend (population 500).
“We had 150 people the first Saturday,” she recalls. “I was blown away by the community support. People thanked me because they didn’t have to drive to a bigger town for coffee, and my prices are cheaper.”
Lattes and dirty Chai (tea with a shot of Espresso) are most popular along with Italian sodas, made a little different with Stephanie’s own recipe. She also serves smoothies and tea.
The container is big enough to have an 8-by 8 ft. area for customers and four stools inside. Plans for this summer include an awning and table for people to sit and visit outside.
Located on a major highway, U.S. 71, that leads to Minnesota’s northern lakes and cabins, E’s also gets business from travelers, though much of it’s from locals.
“It’s so fun to meet people and hear their stories,” Stephanie says, noting she and her daughters look forward to working at the portable coffee shop this summer.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, E’s Espresso, Stephanie Eckel, Eagle Bend, Minn. (ph 218-639-6855; es.espresso.container@gmail.com, Facebook: E’s Espresso).

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Portable Coffee Shop Made From Shipping Container After a trial run last fall Stephanie Eckel an English and speech teacher is eager to open E’s Espresso in Eagle Bend Minn as soon as summer vacation starts Eckel’s electronic engineer husband Jay suggested using a shipping container to fulfill his wife’s lifelong dream of owning a coffee shop The couple started with a well-used 20-ft shipping container they found on Craig’s List and made remodeling it a family project “On the outside it has dings but Steph said that was OK she wanted it to look industrial ” Jay notes He added a door and windows insulation wiring and covered the interior walls Steph and their daughters painted the inside with impervious paint to meet commercial kitchen codes and painted it black with a white roof on the outside The Eckels shopped on Craig’s List to purchase most of their commercial equipment and Jay built a new control board for the coffee maker He installed an RV tank and pump for the water supply Used water drains outside to a tank on wheels for gray water that can be emptied into the town’s sewer system Jay built jacks under the container to lift it up to load and unload on a trailer he made out of two trailer house axles A local business owner offered space and electricity for E’s Espresso to set up in August 2021 Stephanie who has been making cappuccinos lattes and Italian sodas since 2005 for school fundraisers wasn’t sure how much business she would have in Eagle Bend population 500 “We had 150 people the first Saturday ” she recalls “I was blown away by the community support People thanked me because they didn’t have to drive to a bigger town for coffee and my prices are cheaper ” Lattes and dirty Chai tea with a shot of Espresso are most popular along with Italian sodas made a little different with Stephanie’s own recipe She also serves smoothies and tea The container is big enough to have an 8-by 8 ft area for customers and four stools inside Plans for this summer include an awning and table for people to sit and visit outside Located on a major highway U S 71 that leads to Minnesota’s northern lakes and cabins E’s also gets business from travelers though much of it’s from locals “It’s so fun to meet people and hear their stories ” Stephanie says noting she and her daughters look forward to working at the portable coffee shop this summer Contact: FARM SHOW Followup E’s Espresso Stephanie Eckel Eagle Bend Minn ph 218-639-6855; es espresso container@gmail com Facebook: E’s Espresso

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