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Meet Elaine Krazer of Pacific Tradewinds Coffee in McKinney

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Elaine Krazer.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Elaine. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I met Colonel David Bateman in 2013 at his farm in Hawaii. We were working on projects together for the University of the Nations and I visited Heavenly Hawaiian Farms where he has 38 acres, and The Other Farm, where he has 42 acres. He has been planting and growing Kona coffee in the Kona district of Hawaii for 15 years. He asked me to propose some ideas to him for growing his business. He not only convinced me the plan was a good one, but that I should be the one to help him do it! So we started Pacific Tradewinds Coffee and produced TexaKona brands of Kona and Kona Blend products–grown in Hawaii and roasted in Texas. I was exploring franchises for purchase at the time and yet coffee is in my blood–not only am I an avid consumer; but I grew up on a coffee farm in Kenya, Africa. I knew the processes and yet this was my first exploration into product packaging and distribution.

My husband, David loves chemistry and mechanics and coffee roasting is where those two meets. He is in love with the process of taking green bean into the 35 kilo roaster and getting the temperature waves just right (called a profile) and ensuring the bean is roasted in such a way that the right flavors come through in the cup. This is definitely a scientific process that requires artful oversight. Our goal is to have no acidity in our coffee–no bitter bite. Some of the most prevalent coffees do have that bite–so ours may not be what you are used to but Kona is known for full body, aroma and low acidity and grows perfectly on the volcanos of Hawaii. It is the most sought-after coffee–similar to Jamaican Blue. It can be a very expensive coffee, which is why we have paired it with other origins–Kenya, Honduras, Costa Rica and India coffees. The Kona brings out these coffee origins best flavors called notes, and smoothes the acidity.

We looked in several Metroplex areas to find the right place for our roasting plant. Our warehouse on Highway 5 McKinney is a great place for us on the Oak Hollow golf course. We have been in that location since August 2015.

Our coffee is found at Central Market statewide, Sugar Boy donut in Frisco, Lone Star Foods Store in Denton and Sherman, online and at our roastery. Several churches in Florida and Arkansas and Allen use our coffee and we are opening the TexaKona Coffee Lodge on 75 in Van Alstyne in September.

Our warehouse roasting plant is also a coffee museum with artifacts from all over the world and a full explanation of the process of growing through brewing coffee beans. Visitors to the museum can taste any of our coffees at the full coffee bar and can enjoy a tour of the manufacturing area and museum. Our roastery can be rented and we have hosted birthdays, Girl Scouts, home school groups, riding clubs, church groups and reunions. We have a full white board/presentation screen and seating for 38 available and, of course, it comes with an open coffee bar.

The atmosphere is surprising– no one expects to find our brand of fun funk inside a boring red brick building.

We also make Kona coffee products that surprise people when they taste it at our place. TexaKona Krackle is a brittle made of coffee, butter and macadamia nuts from the next-door farm. It is addictively grand and it won product of the year last year at Coffee Fest.

We have a coffee-infused steak rub and chocolate covered espresso beans too.

We do corporate gifts of any budget, we have a full graphics department and label printing onsite to accommodate any personalized or custom needs.

Our regulars love to stop in for their coffee, and chat with our team who is a close-knit fun group of family and all-but-family personalities. Several are on our monthly subscription, but most prefer to come see us!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No business is a smooth road. I am a project manager & process designer for major corporations and I feel like I am starting over in my learning with this–even though it is my 3rd business. I do believe we have some things right–our products are the finest available. We stay on-trend, we have cold brewed coffee and Nitro Coffee (coffee on tap served with a beer-like foam). We are focused on Kona and Kona blend coffee products–so our focus is a unique one. This builds a niche, but also a finite path. Kona is a high-end coffee, designed for sports arena owner’s boxes, executive airports and penthouses. But we have also designed our Kona blends to reach the other audiences such as Central Market customers, coffee shops and convenient kiosks at other locations. We had to do that so we could serve more than a limited market. This means we had to add products for those secondary locations such as the best chocolate sauces and caramels, smoothie mixes and more. Now we are full service for coffee shops, individuals and big business.

Our custom capabilities mean we can serve the gifts market too, we are operating somewhere around month 22 of our 36-month plan, but we have only been open 19 months! This is huge, we are growing faster and this means our foundation is challenged while we are still building it. We have added manufacturing equipment sooner, and it pressured our processes–our bookkeeping, hiring, procurement, payroll and online systems. This whole infrastructure has to be solid before we grow any more. I believe in the “Don’t build a job, build a company” philosophy so we have to have that foundational infrastructure stronger very quickly. We are outgrowing it fast.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Pacific Tradewinds Coffee – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
A lot of coffee shops and roasters are in business in Texas and the Metroplex hosts several good ones. A good, local roaster can deliver the freshest coffee to its community–the fresher the better. We are the first roaster in McKinney and we offer the only American-grown coffee, Hawaiian. Additionally, we offer premium Kona and Kona Blends. This sets us apart in the coffee industry and in the Metroplex. We have one of the largest roasters among small-batch (non-corporate) roasters in the Metroplex. We are one of the few locations that does all the process of coffee, from plant to picking, processing, roasting, packaging and wholesale distribution. We also have a couple of retail locations–so we touch the entire coffee culture. We even produce our own KCUPS onsite — you won’t find a fresher KCUP.

Our location is also very unique with the Coffee Museum and environment we offer. No one is doing a coffee brittle, and few are doing steak rubs. Our chocolate-covered coffee beans are made from round, mutant, highly-concentrated Peaberry Kona coffee giving them a unique flavor. We give free coffee to anyone visiting–this is very different. We are like a winery–tastings are free and visit the gift shop after your tour. Our cold brewed coffee comes in French litre glass carafes and our Nitro Coffee on tap is one of the very few Kona Nitros available. We are known for strong flavor notes from known origins, and smooth coffees with no acidic bite. Our decaf is one of the best I have been forced to drink (ha ha) and our place is the most fun place to visit. Truly unique. We are proud to be “Where Hula Meets Howdy” TexaKona brands wants to ensure you know how to make a great cup of coffee at home and how to buy one at our partner locations too. We are big on educating and sharing.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Big things are in front of us with the TexaKona Coffee Lodge opening in Van Alstyne. Our partner, Lone Star Foods is offering our coffees at a few locations and the response is great. We know that the lodge will offer atmosphere, excellent food and the perfect coffee experience. We cannot wait. We are also partnering with Tupps Brewery in McKinney to produce new products and new locations. New product ideas are in the works and hope to announce those soon too. I look forward to more people finding our location the place to be.

Pricing:

  • Kona Blend Coffees $16.50
  • Gift Sets–custom from $5 and up
  • Roastery Rental $35 per hour, includes 10 drinks with $2 per additional drink
  • Fresh KCUPS made on site, $12 per box of 12

Contact Info:

Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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1 Comment

  1. Dana Hodge

    July 7, 2017 at 2:37 pm

    Congrats! I’ve wondered where you were. I have relatives in McKinney so will try to stop by your place sometime. Dana

    Reply

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