Big Mountain Coffee offers caffeine high
A few years into her ownership of Big Mountain Coffee Roasters, Chenoa Torklep has built a rhythm and customer base to weather both real storms, like the dramatic winter forces that draw people to the coast, and figurative, like the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The drive-through window that has long served locals and visitors has remained open to assuage desires for caffeine and sweets. And, though there have been changing requirements regarding indoor dining, the spacious lobby remains open for in-person ordering, browsing of gift items and viewing of the tempting fresh pastries from local favorite Depoe Baykery.
Originally from Washington, Chenoa became a regular customer at Big Mountain Coffee during frequent visits to the Oregon Coast.
“As soon as we hit the coast, I would take a deep breath and my cares would wash away,” she said, “and I felt like this was where I belonged.”
After persuading her husband to move to the coast with her in 2013, Chenoa soon became a fixture at Big Mountain and went on to apprentice under Brent Duering, who had opened the distinctive, industrial-style coffeehouse back in 2003.
“He says I was one of his first customers,” Chenoa said. “Then eventually when I moved down here, we became good friends. I hung out enough that we both decided that I should work with him.”
From Duering, she learned all about the beans: where they are sourced from, where they are grown and how they are roasted.
“I guess at some point in time it became like the white rabbit hole that I just went down into and kept on learning,” she said.
Running a coffee shop was a natural fit for Chenoa, who had worked as a barista off and on for eight years in-between stints in stage management, and who has a people-powered personality.
“My superpower is that I remember people’s drinks,” she said. “I might not remember their name, but I’m really, really good at remembering their drinks.”
“I try to spend as much time as I can with every person,” she added. “I want them to have a good experience as well as a good cup of coffee.”
Big Mountain remains dedicated to roasting coffee in small batches — no more than two pounds at a time — in order to ensure quality control. Everything in the store has been roasted within 72 hours of sale. Internet sales, which make up half the business, are roasted to order.
The coffeehouse sources Fair Trade, organic beans from small farms all over the world, all of which are roasted to a medium roast to allow their natural flavor to shine through.
Bestsellers include The Grizz espresso roast, which blends beans from several different countries to create tones of lush milk chocolate and caramel.
For a dark-but-smooth flavor, Chenoa recommends the Starborg blend, finely balanced using five beans from throughout Africa.
Meanwhile, single-source options include a dark, robust bean from Sumatra, as well as lighter beans from Costa Rica and Brazil that are closer to a breakfast blend.
For customers with a sweet tooth, Chenoa recommends the Chocoholic’s Choice, made with Belgian and milk chocolate for a balanced sweetness. Seasonal fall drinks are crafted with care, using house-made pumpkin syrup. And, when warmer weather returns, all mochas and lattes are available as blended ice drinks, served up alongside a range of smoothies.
The seasonally changing baked goods, like many fall lovers’ favorite, pumpkin muffins, offer customers the perfect companion to their beverage, whether they are picking something up at the drive-through or staying to enjoy the chic, industrial-style décor, complete with stainless steel and exposed rafters.
Chenoa said she has no plans to change the atmosphere of the laid-back coffeehouse that became her home away from home almost two decades ago.
“I felt like I love what Brent created and didn’t want to change anything,” she said. “It’s not about it being under new management. It’s not about new anything. It’s keeping the soul of it.”
Big Mountain Coffee Roasters can be found next to Chester’s Thriftway Market in Lincoln Beach, two miles north of Depoe Bay and eight miles south of Lincoln City. Hours are from about 7 am to about 2:30 pm Wednesday through Saturday, and about 7 am to about 12:30 pm on Sunday and Monday. To learn more or order your own custom-roasted batch of coffee, call 541-764-2195 or go to bigmountaincoffees.com.