Brookings ,S.D. (KELO AM) - The South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum presents Coffee 101–The History and Impact of Coffee on Our World with Kurt Osborne of Koolbeans Coffee at 7 p.m. Oct. 9.
Osborne, who is from Brookings, will discuss and offer samples of coffee varieties from around the world, along with specialty foods that will excite any coffee lover. The free program is open to the public.Koolbeans specializes in custom roasting small batches of coffee. This homegrown South Dakota business was started in 2012 by Osborne and Joy Nelson of Watertown, his business partner.Osborne, who works full time for Lutheran Planned Giving, was interested in coffee as a hobby for a number of years.
"I started goofing around with coffee by using a hot air popcorn popper," he said. Osborne developed a curiosity about the characteristics of certain beans and their roasting levels. He began to collect and use a variety of brewing apparatuses and incorporated coffee into some cooking.Osborne appreciates "the pure enjoyment of making a cup of coffee for yourself, family and friends.
"Koolbeans purchases green coffee beans from 12 countries of origin and custom roasts these to customer preferences in small batches. They also offer chocolate-covered espresso beans, which are popular in gift baskets, as wedding favors and special occasion treats.Koolbeans has enjoyed steady growth due to strong customer loyalty and word-of-mouth recommendation. They offer the option of a unique roast customized with a customer's logo. Their products are also popular as fundraisers for organizations such as high school choirs and church youth groups. Koolbeans contributes a minimum of 10 percent of their profits to charitable causes.Koolbeans items will be available for sale at the museum's gift shop.
For more information, contact the museum at 605-688-6226.About the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage MuseumFounded in 1884, the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum is dedicated to the preserving the history of agriculture and the heritage of rural life in South Dakota. It is located on South Dakota State University campus at 925 11st Street, Brookings, S.D. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, call 605-688-6226 or visit www.agmuseum.com.