New owners launch Mountain Coffee

Some might think that Sisters Country has enough coffee establishments. Not so, says new resident and business owner Rob Schmidt, of Mountain Coffee Company.

"Bend is oversaturated with coffee businesses," Schmidt says, but Sisters is "just right."

In fact, the opening of Mountain Coffee does not increase the number of coffee establishments in town at all, as it has opened in the location of the now-departed Coffee Depot at 497 W. Highway 20 (in front of Crossroads Shell).

Mountain Coffee is a new business with its own coffee, serving a privately roasted blend that has been in his family business for years.

Rob and his wife Sara have settled in Sisters after driving across most of the Northwest looking to find the perfect place to open their coffee business. They sold their Mountain Coffee Company businesses in Butte, Montana, last July. After living in a 30-foot trailer for the last nine months, with two active young boys, their new house "feels like a mansion."

Coffee is an integral part of Rob's family history; his parents have been selling coffee in South Dakota since 1993.

Ron is adventurous when making coffee and enjoys experimenting with different flavors, but in the end "it is always about the coffee and great service."

Sara says, "Rob can get anyone to like coffee and get along with a rock."

Rob and Sara already have a second Mountain Coffee Company location in mind, and it is called "The Mobile." It is currently under construction and due to be ready in about six weeks. It is a full-service mobile coffee trailer which they plan to have available on-site at future Central Oregon events.

Being from Montana, Sisters Country weather will suit them, as the Schmidts are used to "having snow on their lawn until July."

Rob has been an avid snowboarder for years, telling Sara a long time ago that "if you follow me around snowboarding for 10 years, I'll go anywhere."

Warm weather will suit the business too, as Mountain Coffee also makes smoothies. They recommend their Huckleberry Smoothie, which is non-fat, yogurt based, and made with real Montana huckleberries.

Mountain Coffee is already open, but they are hosting a grand opening celebration on Monday, April 19. Rob wants to "kick this thing off big," and he is true to his word. Mountain Coffee will be giving away free 12-ounce coffees to anyone in a car that drives up and wants one, or $1.50 off of any other coffee. The promotion continues through Friday, April 23.

Their spring hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekends.

If you are as adventurous at ordering coffees as Rob is at making them, you might want to order a "Number Ten" or "The Bomb."