Grumpy Goat: Bringing Minneapolis specialty coffee culture to southwest Florida, one perfect cup at a time
Cold Coffee Success Stories is a series that focuses on pioneering companies in the cold coffee space and their unique stories. This week, we feature Grumpy Goat, a specialty coffee company devoted to serving Floridians the perfect cup every time.
The legend goes that the first coffee beans were discovered by an Ethiopian shepherd – Kaldi – who noticed that his herd of goats tended to run wild after eating the little red coffee cherries that grew wild in his home region.
Kaldi shared his discovery with the local monastery, where the coffee cherries were mixed into a drink. This helped keep the monks awake and alert during evening prayer. Word spread to neighbouring monasteries and the coffee culture began to spread.
Almost one thousand years later, in 2016, Grumpy Goat founder Brian Abernathy embarked on a pilgrimage of his own. He moved from his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Bonita Springs, Florida, and found the local coffee scene lacking in comparison.
Brian began roasting and brewing himself, seeking the perfect cup. He emphasised freshly roasted, single origin, gourmet-grade coffee beans and close-knit community values.
We spoke to Randy Mitchelson, co-owner of Grumpy Goat, to learn more about the company’s journey and how it approaches cold coffee in the perenially warm Florida sunshine.
From Grumpy beginnings to becoming a part of the local fabric
“Prior to the vision for the Grumpy Goat Coffee Roastery, the quest for the perfect cup of coffee began in Minnesota, where Brian grew up and became accustomed to having access to great coffee,” says Randy.
“After relocating to southwest Florida, Brian struggled to find that perfect cup of coffee and took it upon himself to solve the problem.”
“There wasn’t much of a coffee scene here, especially coming from the Minneapolis area,” adds Brian. “I really missed that.”
Sprudge’s guide to Minneapolis coffee reinforces Brian’s feelings at the time. The city is a melting pot of different coffee cultures, with Vietnamese, Swedish, African, and Mexican choices, some of the most renowned. Moreover, trailblazing specialty coffee companies, including Peace Coffee, Spyhouse, Dogwood, and Mill City Roasters, call the city home.
Bonita Springs, in contrast, is roughly a tenth of the size of Minneapolis, and Florida, as a whole, does not have quite the same specialty coffee legacy as the Midwest or the East and West coasts.
“Tired of subpar roasts, Brian took it upon himself in 2016, purchasing a roaster and experimenting and honing in on brewing the perfect cup,” adds Randy.
“Brian is very selective about which coffee beans Grumpy Goat imports. He focuses on coffee that grows at high altitudes, is 100% Arabica, and is fully traceable.”
“Moreover, Grumpy Goat has collaborated with numerous chefs, brewmasters, and food industry partners to develop several Grumpy Goat coffee-inspired flavours and recipes. A collaboration with a local microbrewery resulted in a coffee stout aptly named The Goat, which won a silver medal at Florida’s Best Beer competition in 2019.”
Indeed, Brian jumped into the local Bonita Springs community with both feet upon arriving. He brought his experience and lessons from some of the country’s most celebrated specialty coffee roasters to Minneapolis. He applied them to building not just a coffee business that delivers on quality but one that is ready to partner, collaborate, and innovate with neighbouring businesses.
What does cold coffee mean to Grumpy Goat?
Cold coffee consumption is on the rise at a macro level. In 2023, for example, Starbucks reported that over 75% of the beverages it sold in its branded chain business unit were served cold.
Nevertheless, in many coffee-drinking countries and regions, cold coffee consumption is still curtailed by seasonal weather conditions. The United States has a strong tradition of drinking iced beverages. Thus, cold coffee consumption is a more natural development, whereas places like Northern Europe do not, and cold brew sales, for example, are more limited to the warmer months.
Florida does not have that problem. Even in the coldest winter months, temperatures barely drop below 15 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit), which is more than warm enough for an iced coffee. By the way, in Sweden, the average January temperature is below freezing.
We asked Randy how Grumpy Goat approaches cold brew and cold coffee.
“Grumpy Goat’s approach to its products is to provide a clean, consistently fresh, high-quality product. Our cold brew is produced throughout the week, always using fresh, single origin, fully traceable coffee beans.”
“Customers appreciated seeing only two ingredients on our label: coffee and filtered water. In addition to direct-to-consumer sales of our cold brew, we also collaborate with local coffee shops and cocktail lounges to provide cold brew that is used in their drinks like espresso martinis and other mocktails and cocktails.”
Grumpy Goat’s commitment to specialty coffee values, like traceability, artisanship, and sustainable sourcing, gives some clue to the emphasis the company places on cold brew production. Unlike the popular and more indulgent iced coffee drinks like flavoured lattes and frappuccinos, cold brew helps high-grade coffee to shine through on its own, with a mellower, less acidic finish than when brewed hot.
As a result, many specialty coffee roasters choose to serve cold brew as a cold coffee option, just like Grumpy Goat.
“Our core product offering is freshly roasted specialty coffee,” says Randy. “Whether we are selling directly to consumers or offices, retailers, or online stores, the product is the same.
“Our cold brew sales continue to grow. Production will be expanded in 2025 to keep up with demand, especially as people are learning to appreciate a clean cold brew with no additives.
“Additionally, some of our customers share that they are tired of making their own cold brew at home and choose to convert to Grumpy Goat cold brew after they weigh the cost-benefit. It’s a great solution for coffee lovers looking to make their coffee habits less irritating to the GI tract, too. Low acid coffee is highly sought-after – it’s one of the most common topics our customers ask for advice on, and certain origins and brewing methods can help keep the acidity under control.”
How important is packaging and branding to Grumpy Goat?
In the highly competitive modern coffee industry, packaging and branding are crucial to success. Sustainable materials, biodegradable and compostable packaging formats, and eye-catching designs all better appeal to more eco-conscious consumers trying to choose a recognisable item on a busy supermarket shelf. First impressions count for a lot.
“Our approach to packaging is simple, consistent, and functional,” says Randy. “For example, bags of freshly roasted coffee are opaque to block light – which can cause bean degradation – and vented to allow the bag to degas.”
“The high-quality products do not need a lot of window dressing given what’s inside. To keep prices at or below market for our customers, we focus on delivering a premium product that is most cost-effective.”
“That being said, our collaborations and partnerships have resulted in some fun packaging projects. The Grumpy Blonde Ale takes Riptide Brewing’s Olde Naples Blonde and infuses the flavours and aromas of our coffee beans. The eye-popping design we came up with has led to more merchandise, like t-shirts and stickers.
“We’ve had similar brand collaborations with Chubby Mermain Brewing and Next Level Sushi.”
Grumpy Goat leverages brand and aesthetic to reinforce variation and innovation in its product portfolio, a point generally well received by consumers seeking engaging new products and beverage types.
“We take coffee seriously, but we want people to have fun with the brand,” Randy adds.
“Grumpy Goat has become a luxury brand that consumers can feel comfortable with and have fun, and not feel pretentious or judged. Whether someone is brewing their coffee on a fancy machine or using an auto-drip coffee maker, the secret to a great cup of coffee starts with the best beans.
“Another key part of our aesthetic is transparency. When customers visit our roastery, they enter into a retail setting where they can see the roasting equipment and green bean inventory and can have informative conversations with Grumpy Goat staff.”
At Grumpy Goat, the best quality coffee is the foundation of the business model. Brian’s original journey to find and perfect the best cup of coffee still rings true today, as the company innovates and collaborates with new trends and partners.
Packaging, branding, and aesthetics reinforce quality, whether through compelling partnerships, transparent production and manufacturing processes, or simply some added fun.
Residents of Bonita Springs and the southwest of Florida should be glad for Grumpy Goat’s continued commitment to coffee perfection.
To source your own highly customisable, sustainable, and biodegradable packaging for your own cold brew and cold coffee lines, visit our website or contact the team. At Cold Brew Pak, we offer custom cans, bag-in-box packaging, and flexible cold brew pouches to suit multiple different needs and designs.
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