OUR STORY
Kool Beans began with a spark of curiosity, a popcorn popper, and a dream in Kurt's garage. What started as a simple experiment, roasting green coffee beans in a hot air popper, quickly turned into something bigger. Friends and neighbors began to request bags, and before long, a small business was born. That humble beginning paved the way for what would become a full-scale coffee shop and roastery rooted in community, quality and sustainability.
2011 - 2017
In The Garage & Farmers Market
From 2011 to 2017, Kool Beans was a garage operation, literally. Kurt roasted coffee out of his garage, perfecting his craft one small batch at a time. If you're a true Kool Beans OG, you’ll remember the green box on the front step: leave your cash, grab your beans, and go. Around that same time, we started popping up at the Saturday farmers market in Downtown Brookings, serving pour overs, cold brew, and chocolate covered espresso beans. In 2017, at the age of 61, Kurt made the bold decision to leave his job as a gift planner for the ELCA Church of South Dakota and open our first storefront.
2017 - 2021
First Storefront
From August 2017 to September 2021, 314 Main Ave was home to our very first storefront in downtown Brookings. Tucked between the alley and Main Avenue, it was a cozy, welcoming space where Kool Beans came to life. Alongside the café, we operated Fikakaffee, a charming, rentable space for parties, events, and gatherings. We opened our doors with just a handful of staff and Kurt, fueled by passion, curiosity, and a whole lot of coffee. In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, our doors were closed for months. Our only source of income came from selling the beans we roast in-house. Thanks to the incredible support of our community, we were able to keep the roaster running and weather the storm, one bag of beans at a time. This little corner of downtown served us well and laid the foundation for everything that came next.
2021 - present
1894 Building
In October 2021, Kool Beans moved into the historic 1894 building, the oldest building on Main Street at 225 Main Street and it instantly felt like home. With on-site roasting, cozy charm, and deep community roots, the space seems like it was always meant for us. Today, we employ over 20 incredible team members and share seating with Mosaic Wine Bar. In 2023, Erinn Thomas, Kurt's daughter joined the team as a full-time manager and in 2025 became co-owner.