Megan Heck’s grandmother loved coffee. Not only did she love coffee, but she thoroughly appreciated the experience of being served a handcrafted espresso beverage made by a skilled barista. Throughout her childhood, Heck would often accompany her grandmother on these outings.
“She would get a coffee every day and the baristas would know her name and her order,” Heck said. “She knew their names and all about their life. There was more than just coffee, there was a connection.”
This memory would come to serve as a foundation for Heck. As she moved through her life, she collected coffeehouse experiences with the goal of one day opening her own shop. A goal that Heck has officially realized as she joins the Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market with her artisanal coffee trailer, Nomad Coffee PNW.
As Washingtonians from birth, Heck along with, co-owner and husband, Dylan — a patrol deputy for the Clallam County Sheriff’s Department – say they are passionate about the Northwest.
Nomad Coffee takes elements of modern, urban culture — informed by Heck’s time spent in Phoenix, Ariz. – and blends them with the rustic feel of the Pacific Northwest.
“I wanted it to feel like I was serving coffee to friends from my home kitchen, cozy and welcoming,” Heck said. “The trailer is very much my happy place.
“It has been so fun to serve people and watch them walk away when they take a sip of their drink, look to the person next to them and say, ‘Wow. This is really good.’”
Seasonal, ethically sourced selection
With years spent as both a barista and a devoted coffee shop patron, Heck has a finely tuned ethos when it comes to her coffee operation.
“We are passionate about serving customers really good quality coffee and supporting other local businesses,” Heck said. “We love to show people how good coffee can be when you have high-quality espresso.”
Heck’s beverages spotlight espresso locally roasted by Gold Feather Coffee Roasters, a small-batch coffee roasting company from Port Angeles dedicated to creating ethically sourced coffee.
All Nomad Coffee beverages are available hot or iced at the market. Heck’s main menu features lattes, mochas, Americanos, cappuccinos, doppio espresso, chai lattes, London fogs, seasonal tea, hot cocoa, and steamers.
With rotating seasonal menus, the current summer menu highlights a Honeycomb latte (Heck’s favorite, featuring local honey from Miss Bee Haven Apiaries), a lavender honey latte, and a strawberry sparkling lemonade featuring Heck’s homegrown, fresh strawberry puree.
“We wanted to focus on the flavor of coffee and get people to fall in love with the flavor of a simple latte,” she said. “We only choose flavors that complement our espresso. We were very intentional about the syrup flavors we offer.”
Heck recognizes the important role a good cup of coffee plays in the broader market space.
“My hope is that Nomad Coffee can help create a culture at the farmers market where people walk up, grab a cup of coffee, see friends that they know, and continue on to support other small businesses at the market,” she said. “That’s a huge goal of mine, to continue cultivating this culture of community.”
Set the tone
Heck recommends market guests set the tone of their market experience by getting their coffee beverage first thing on Saturdays.
“On a rainy day, you can come and get a hot latte and walk around and sip that latte to keep your belly warm. But on a hot day, iced coffee can cool you off and refresh you as you walk through the market. If you need to distract your kids, you can come and get them a hot chocolate!” Heck said.
She’s excited to join the dynamic vendor roster at the market this season and feels appreciative for those who consistently show up in support on Saturdays at Civic Center Plaza.
“With the way our world is right now, it is the best time for the community to invest their money in small businesses,” Heck said. “It’s small farmers who put in the effort every single day to make sure they can bring you the best quality produce possible. It’s small businesses who are making things by hand in a world where a lot is made by machines.
“There is so much more intentionality and love put into a product that comes from a farmers market. Right now, the world needs to invest in those around them, both financially and with encouragement.”
As she connects with buzzing customers at the market, Heck will certainly not forget who helped spark the original inspiration for her now thriving business.
“My nana now calls me every Saturday after the farmers market to see how it went,” Heck said. “She’s so excited to see how Nomad Coffee grows over this summer and the years to come.”
Nomad Coffee PNW is at the Sequim Farmers and Artisans Market every Saturday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. through October. Visit your community market at Sequim Civic Center Plaza at North Sequim Avenue and West Cedar Street.
Be sure to tune in on Thursday at 4 p.m. to KSQM 91.5 FM for the live radio “Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market Update.”
Emma Jane Garcia is the director of the Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market.
Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market
Open: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 30
Location: Sequim Civic Center Plaza and Centennial Place, downtown Sequim
More info: manager@sequimmarket.com
On the web: sequimmarket.com
Photos courtesy Nomad Coffee Nomad Coffee PNW features a rotating seasonal menu, such as a Honeycomb latte, a lavender honey latte, pictured iced, and a strawberry sparkling lemonade featuring Heck’s homegrown, fresh strawberry puree.
