Eckstine family opens Coffee Depot

With a focus on customer happiness, the Eckstine family has opened Coffee Depot near the Shell Station in Sisters.

The coffee kiosk was formerly occupied by Outlaw Coffee at the west end of town.

The shop, freshly painted and newly signed, offers customers the opportunity to start their day "on the right track."

Joe and Lara Eckstine have lived in the area for a number of years, dating to when Joe managed Papandrea's and Espresso Junction. When owner Rudy Booher sold, three and a half years ago, Joe opened his first coffee stand, which he still operates, across from Redmond High School.

When Outlaw Coffee owner Melvin Herburger decided to sell earlier this year, he contacted the Eckstines, who he had known for many years, to see if they were prepared to expand.

"We jumped at the chance to move back to Sisters," said Joe. "Three of our children are in school here and we love the community, so it was a very exciting and easy decision."

The Eckstines look forward to serving their friends and neighbors daily and hope to provide each and every customer with consistently friendly service and high quality products.

"We are very particular about whom we hire, and everyone is trained to make drinks the same way," said Lara. "Of course, having our two daughters, Beth and Naomi, working for us helps to ensure expectations are met."

Joe expressed his philosophy about running the drive-thru in terms of giving customers a pleasant experience.

"If people know that each time they come here they will receive a satisfying product and experience a pleasant, friendly interaction, then we know we are doing our job," he said. "It's not just about getting a cup of coffee."

Naomi sees the family business as an opportunity to be together and learn.

"Like my dad says, Sisters schools do a great job on education, but learning a work ethic really comes from your parents," she said. "Another plus of working with customers is that it gives me a chance to show off my newest earrings."

The Eckstines other two children include David, 29, and Noah, 11.

Included among the Eckstines friend-customers are David and Sarah Van Diest, who remarked, "You get something 'Eck-stra with the Eckstines,'" referring to the family's outgoing, fun-loving personality.

Coffee Depot serves a wide variety of hot and cold coffee-based drinks, as well as fruit smoothies, Italian sodas, and baked goods. The coffee beans used come from a company in Colorado, called Elevation, that roast beans at elevation, which cuts down on the burnt taste that accompanies some espresso beans, according to Joe.

"We're overjoyed to have this opportunity because the people of Sisters are unique," said Lara.

She recounted her favorite memory of serving coffee in Sisters, when a woman came through, handed her a $5 bill and told her to use it for the next customer to come through. Lara did so, but each of the next nine customers wanted to pass it on. The tenth customer, who admitted to having had a terrible day, cried with thanks at the kind gesture.

"That's what makes Sisters special," she said.