Dragon's Brew Espresso: An addiction in the making

It is January 18th: I approached the newly paved entrance to what once was a vacant lot for several years. There now sat a finished cute white building with tangerine orange trimmed across the bottom and "Dragon's Brew Espresso" written across the front in bright neon colors.

Writing a review of a new business was going to be difficult. This was the only new business in Albany I could find. The thought of critiquing this coffee stand would mean ordering real caffeinated coffee. I shuddered!  The last caffeinated cup of coffee I tried was at a "Dutch Bros." and it tasted not of fine roasted coffee beans but more like charcoaled burnt beans.

I drove up and to my left was a large white menu board boasting a variety of coffee drinks. There were basic 12 ounce cups of coffee starting at $1.50 and running all the way up to specialty drinks at $4.50.

The window opened and a mature woman looked out. I use the term "mature" with endearment. It was pleasing not to see another teenager using the "tip tactic" of wearing short- shorts. My preference- leave the moon flaunting to the evening sky.

She said hello, she was warm, friendly and very talkative as I ordered a -Soy White Mocha 16 ounce latte. I wondered if it were going to be made correctly. Soy is of the utmost importance, when one is lactose intolerant; the white mocha refers to white chocolate not milk chocolate. She nodded without question. Within two minutes, she handed me the coffee.

While I was paying, the other worker inside leaned out  and said hello. He handed me a little white gift box tied with ribbons and attached was a coffee punch card. He said, "Just a little grand opening welcome gift for you." I said out loud " Hmmm…nice touch."

I thanked them both and then asked if they wouldn't mind if I returned in a couple of hours to ask some questions about the business. Introducing herself, the woman said with pride, “I am the mom of the owner!" Her name was Therressa Coffman she was also the manager.

Driving off, I hesitated for a moment, closed my eyes and inhaled the aroma of the coffee, it smelled wonderful. I slowly touched my lips to the coffee cup feeling the heat, and knowing from experience, not to drink it yet because it was too hot. Torture I thought...the first real cup of caffeinated coffee I have had in a while and I can't drink it yet. The waiting felt like eternity and when I finally sipped the coffee, the first impression was "ahhh very pleasing." It was bold and nutty but did not taste burnt. It was a little too sweet for me but then I always ask for "less syrup" and this time I had forgotten. Admittedly, I was very surprised and found myself wishing I had ordered the largest size.

I returned in two hours, this time with my teenage daughter “Hailey” in tow, wanting in her words "something cold and yummy." Sliding open the window Coffman said, "You're back, would you like something else?"

“Do you have a signature drink?’ I asked.  Coffman nodded and said, "The favorite is called a “Frescante,” it is a specialty iced blended choice of flavors with espresso and it tastes like a candy bar shake."

Of course to the right of me in the passenger seat the typical teenager response- a nod. Then looking up from texting an actual verbal response, “a chocolate muffin too!” While Hailey was savoring her treats in the car, I was invited inside to view the new stand. Entering the building I was introduced to Jessie Peele, a barista in training and Coffman’s brother.

The amount of cars and people who approached while I was interviewing Coffman was impressive. She never stopped talking to me, making drinks for customers and training Peele the whole time. It was if I was watching a “Ballet of the Barista.”

She told me this was her son “Michael Coffman” and business partner “Garry Hastie’s” investment. Michael has been in the army for 11 years, had tours of duty in Iraq and was finally leaving the army to return home. He was expected home that day at 6 p.m. She has been doing everything in her power to have this shop up and running before he came home.

She discussed how difficult it was with all the permits, works and city approvals to finally open the business. She started applying on July 5, and it took until Jan. 14 to receive an approval for placing the building on the lot. She also stated that it took four months longer than anticipated and cost her three times the amount budgeted.

Coffman had already opened a coffee shop in Lebanon once before and in her words “It was not this difficult nor did it cost this much!” 

Coffman was adamant that all construction be done by local contractors. Everything she buys must be local even the coffee beans which come from "Allann Bros." in Albany. She purchases her fresh baked goods from "Kris’s Kitchen" in Lebanon and they are brought here fresh daily. Coffman could not stress enough how important it was to keep the money “as local and as close to home as you can at least within a 40 mile range.”

Leaving the little shop and driving home, I did notice that it is difficult to enter the parking lot if you are traveling east on Knox Butte Road because you have to take a left on Century Drive to enter.  However, west bound travelers have it much easier.

To sum up my note-worthy experience in the words of Hailey, my passenger and self professed muffin and coffee connoisseur, “Oh Mom, the muffin was unbelievable! You know how muffins are either dry or too soft and spongy and stick in your throat? Well this one was moist and the flavor perfect, and my “Frescante” was ...well I am sooo already addicted!”


Dragon's Brew Espresso                            
3513 Knox Butte Road, Albany, Ore.
Monday through Saturday 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.


Starting your own coffee business:

1) How to start your own drive-thru:
http://caffe.home.mindspring.com/drive-thru.htm
2) Learning to become a barista:
http://www.hotfrog.com/Products/COFFEE-TRAINING/OR
3) Obtaining commercial permits:
http://www.cityofalbany.net/comdev/building/

Surprising Number of Older Students Attend LBCC

by Dineen Charest

It is of no surprise that on Jan. 5 there were 28,343 students enrolled in LBCC. What is surprising however, is the amount of registered students that are middle age and above.

Currently, there are 11,898 students over the age of 40 attending LBCC, according to Jean Nicoletti,  manager of the office of Institutional Research at LBCC.

Why are so many middle-age people going back to school and what has prompted them to do so? How difficult is it to attend classes when many of their fellow students could be considered their children or grandchildren?

At 43, Dan Alire is obtaining a two year degree in Business Management Supervision. He was a manager with Hewlett Packard for 12 years but never had a college degree.

When Hewlett Packard started shipping operations overseas, Dan's position was eliminated. Not able to find a job without a Management degree, Dan was offered to take advantage of a program called the Federal Trade Act Assistance Program. With this program, the Federal Government would pay Dan two years of unemployment as well as pay for his classes.

In order to qualify, Dan was required to take a personality test which paired him with occupations that not only fit his profile but had the greatest employment availability. Hopefully, Dan will  obtain his degree in two years because there is a catch...after the two years are finished, he cannot re-apply for unemployment and his school benefits would end.

Alire remembers attending his very first day; he said "I felt like a loser because here I am over 40 with twenty years in the workforce. I have always been able to work and support my family but now looking around the classroom I saw so many kids ...and I was starting over, I felt old. I felt like a failure."

Alire talked about the two weeks before school started and how he experienced nightmares and panic attacks. It actually took him at least mid-way through the first term to become comfortable with his surroundings. He revealed his largest worry ... will he find a well paying management job with a reputable company after graduation? And will he find one in this area, because as he said, "I am not able to relocate my family, my house is here, my family, my whole life is here!"

Another student Debbie Ohling, 46, is a single mother of a six year old son. She was working as a heavy equipment operator when she became injured. Unable to continue to work, her choices were few, either go on permanent disability or go back to school.

Ohling enrolled in LBCC three years ago to obtain a degree in Child and Family Studies. Her desire… to become an advocate for special needs children.

Ohling shared her impression of walking into a classroom for the first time in 20 years. "I looked around noticed the young faces, I was afraid I would not survive this class never mind lasting until graduation! But, I survived- mostly due to necessity and the Disability office at LBCC, they were incredible, they helped me through the most difficult times!"

After graduation this spring, Ohling is not sure if she will continue to a four year college... or move to Alaska. She discovered the pay is higher in Alaska and she believes there is less competition finding a job. Since she has no family here and she does not want to find herself swamped with student loans at the age of 46, Alaska may be her best choice for supporting her son.

Alire and Ohling are like many of the middle age students who are starting over. Our crumbling economy is forcing many people back to college because they now find themselves without the necessary skills or degrees to succeed in today’s workforce, especially when employers are more likely to hire from a much younger group of applicants who have degrees.

For the student over 40, gone are the days of wondering what outfit is fashionable for school? The question does my back-end look fat in these jeans? Or what parties are happening this weekend?

No, for those students the questions are… will I be able to support my family when I graduate? Will I be hired over youth because of my life experiences, and at this stage in life will I be able to succeed?  Unlike most students the middle age do not have the luxury of time...it is a question of survival with failure absolutely not being an option!

GOING BACK TO SCHOOL HELPFUL RESOURCES:

Call Linn Bentons registration office at 541-917-4811 or visit Future Students: http://www.linnbenton.edu/go/future

FASFA (Applying for Federal Student Aid): http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Applying for Scholarships: http://www.fastweb.com/

Finding out about Disability Services: http://www.linnbenton.edu/go/disability-services

Transportation Services to LBCC ...(Linn Shuttle) 541-367-4775 or: http://www.linnbenton.edu/go/transportation