That was the consensus of everyone in The Handlebar Café that morning. They love the comfortable atmosphere. They love the coffee. They love the people. And many of them start every day in The Handlebar.
They’ve hosted Chamber events and even a photography show. With comfy seats as well as tables and counter seating, free wifi, and a “Secret Garden” in the back, The Handlebar Café adds just right mix of comfort and caring to their coffee and croissants.
“I thought it would take longer to build a true community: year-rounders, summer people, visitors… But it happened fast,” commented Jason. Not bad for an endeavor that he describes as “a total accident.”
He elaborated: “We were shown this space for our bike tour company, but when we saw it, we thought: too big, not quite right… Then as we walked out the door, Courtney and I looked at each other and said ‘coffee shop.’” The idea did not come completely out of the blue. “We both are restaurant kids. Courtney grew up with parents & grandparents in the restaurant business. I was washing dishes and clearing tables probably before I was legally permitted to in Indiana… Out here I managed fooods for a decade.”
Jason credits his staff for much of the Handlebar’s spirit and success. “We hire for character and teach the skills,” he explained. Hannah Johnson is the head barista at Handlebar. “She has the knowledge and a passion for coffee… She went to school in Seattle and worked in coffee shops there throughout school. She’s achieved Level 1 in National Barista Certification, and this year she’ll get Level 2. Hannah does all our training. Tanya is her protege, Wilkins has recently joined us, and Kate and Cobie are my Weekend Warriors during school and full time in the summer.”
The entire crew at The Handlebar is passionate about coffee. “It’s not too hard to make one good latte—it is extrememly hard to make a hundred good lattes in a row… We time our espresso shots…It changes for temperature and humidity—you can’t just push a button.”
Education is key to success in any business, and this winter Jason will be sending several employees to the headquarters of their main roastery, Compass Coffee, for additional training “to up their coffee game.”
“We didn’t have food in the beginning because we wanted to get the coffee down really well. I think we’ve done that, so now it’s time to add some breakfast and grab-and-go food… and we plan to institute a new tea program.”
Handlebar is collaborating with Atlas BBQ & Fish House and The Dreamland in a Flashback Film series this fall, and watch the Handlebar Cafe website at handlebar.coffee for other event announcements which could include a chess club for students.
