Today we’d like to introduce you to Kassie Gerred.
Hi Kassie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always known that I can make a difference in lives of others. I spent 11 years working with families and was ready to explore other ways I could make a difference in my community. I love bringing joy to others. There is something about coffee that brings people together and I wanted to be apart of that. I always wanted to have my own coffee shop, but with so many great coffee shops in town, I needed to be different and wanted to reach more people. In August of 2025 while talking with my husband and my mom about my future, The Coffee Chariot dream was brought to life. With the support of my family, we started looking for a Coffee Truck. Within 2 weeks we found a van in Wisconsin. My husband and father in-law went on a short 16 hour round trip and brought the van home. We started making it our own and had our soft opening in October of 2025. We did a few events in 2025 to get a following and went full time in January 2026.
Now we are traveling to businesses, schools, farmer’s markets, and attend different events! We are so excited for this summer and all the places we will travel to and the people we will meet.
One thing we will always be committed to is giving back. We often partner with organizations and donate a portion of our sales back to whoever we are working with! We also partner with other small businesses by using their products in our coffees/lattes. The Coffee Chariot would not be successful without support from our community, and we want to share our success with others.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We have been pretty lucky in our journey thus far. However, starting a mobile business in January has not been easy. Mother Nature has thrown us some curveballs, and we have had to adapt along the way. For example, to ensure our customers are able to stay warm and dry when visiting The Coffee Chariot, we have started a drive-thru option.
Like any business, we have had our ups and downs, but we adapt as we go. Adaption has been easier with the support we have received over the last few months. We have put everything we have into this business and being resilient is the only option we have when obstacles/challenges present themselves.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Coffee Chariot is a mobile coffee van that travels Charlevoix County and surrounding areas. Unlike most coffee shops, we bring the coffee to you! We are a full functioning coffee house on wheels. You’ll find Coffee, Specialty Lattes, Cold Brew, Lotus Energy, Refreshers, and Tea at The Coffee Chariot. If you do not see what you are looking for on the menu, there is a really good chance we can make it! Most of the time you will find just myself, Kassie Gerred, behind the glass. However, sometimes I have guest Baristas for bigger events. Even though customers mostly interact with me, my husband, Patrick Gerred, is very involved behind the scenes. He ensures we are up and running and that I have everything I need when I hit the road.
Besides being mobile, another thing we are known for is supporting other small businesses. All of our coffee beans are roasted locally by Cheboygan Coffee Roasters. The honey we use in two of our Specialty Lattes is from Three Bears Honey. You will also find real maple syrup from Hart’s Maple Acres in our maple lattes/cold brews.
The thing that makes us most proud about The Coffee Chariot is how we support our community. Whether it be students, schools, extracurricular activities, or other organizations, we give back as we can. We are successful when others around us are successful.
We want people to know we are very thankful when they chose The Coffee Chariot. We love bringing coffee to you. Whether it is during a business lunch break, at student drop off, a special event, or a collaboration, we are here for you! Don’t let our name, The Coffee Chariot, fool you into thinking we only sell coffee. We also sell Refreshers, Lotus Energy, and Tea for our non-coffee friends.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Every community we have come into contact with has been amazing and supporting. The businesses in our area have been nothing but welcoming and wanting to help support us in any way possible. Without these people, this dream would not have been possible.
There is nothing about our community that we don’t like.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: the_coffee_chariot
- Facebook: The Coffee Chariot
