INDEPENDENT STORYTELLING PLATFORM DOCUMENTING GRASSROOTS RACE CULTURE AND THE COMMUNITIES BEHIND IT
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nacho the van
The light was soft, the gravel still damp from the night before. Riders rolled in slowly, quiet in that pre-race way with legs tense and minds somewhere between stoke and nerves. I had already fired up the kettle in Nacho the Van, the smell of freshly ground beans mixing with pine and chain lube in the cool morning air. It wasn’t anything fancy. Just coffee, a little conversation, and the quiet satisfaction of showing up.
That’s the version of Loam Coffee I’ve grown to love most.
This past weekend, I had the chance to serve coffee at the Gorge Gravel race for the very first time — and let me just say, it was an unforgettable experience.
From the moment I rolled up with Nacho the Van, I knew it was going to be a special day. The energy was electric, the community was welcoming, and the winds… well, let’s just say they added a little extra adventure to the day! Majorkudos to every racer who braved those crazy gusts and powered through. Gravel events are always about grit and perseverance, and this weekend definitely delivered on both fronts.
One of the most exciting parts of reacquiring Loam Coffee after three years away has been sharing the journey with you—not just re-engaging with the company but also planning for its growth. Since getting Loam back was unexpected, I feel like I’m playing with house money. There’s no rush. Instead, I’m focused on the long game: building and executing a thoughtful, sustainable plan.
So, what’s the plan?
Nacho the van has come a long way from being an 11-passenger van used to carry collegiate athletes to games all over the Pacific Northwest. At the same time, there’s still a LONG way to go. Since I bought the van from the university where I teach, many students know its backstory as they see it sitting in the school parking lot. Some joke, saying, “Yeah … it still looks a little sketchy.”
So, what is the latest on the Nacho conversion process?
After a little over two months from the night Nacho the Van was stolen, I finally have Nacho back in my possession. It was definitely two months of uncertainty, wondering whether Nacho was fixable, if the finances lined up with the insurance payout to not only keep it but begin fixing it up, and oh yeah … Nacho had to get a drug test. I am excited to share an update on Nacho with you.
It certainly has been a week of ups and downs around here. First, Nacho the Van was stolen last Wednesday night/Thursday morning. While there was a lot of uncertainty that we’d ever see Nacho again, we received a call from Portland Police that they had found it Sunday night. But that’s not the end of the story …
