Meet the Couple Behind Eagle’s Newest Pour Over Coffee Bar
Photos Courtesy of Lex Nelson
Story by Lex Nelson
It only takes a few minutes of chatting with Mel and Ryan Heuser to find out they don’t do anything halfway. After moving to Eagle with their three kids in 2018, the couple dove head-first into local-focused entrepreneurship. Mel, a self-proclaimed “serial entrepreneur,” first created the DIY workshop group Gather Idaho. Then she started Frontier Feathers Farm, a hobby farm complete with chickens, goats, an orchard and 18 gardening beds. Finally in August of 2020 the pair embarked on their biggest project yet — Coffee and Supply Co., Eagle’s newest pour-over coffee bar. It combined Mel’s business acumen with Ryan’s love of coffee.
Coffee and Supply Co. lives up to its name. Its two-story storefront is part coffee shop and part general store. On any given day, visitors wander in to find Mel giving away bundles of her homegrown herbs alongside shelves of Living Sky Family Farm eggs, Molly’s Mills seasonings, Freeze Dried Depot candies, Baggerdasher wristlets, and Better Skin lip gloss. The connecting theme is “Idaho-made,” followed closely by “women-run small business.”
“There are so many artisans in the Treasure Valley, and even before COVID that was our plan, to support small business and local [business]. But now more than ever it has been so important because of the past year and the struggles they’ve had. To be a platform for them has been wonderful. I love sharing their stories and constantly bringing in new artists to share with our customers and community,” Mel said.
Downstairs at the coffee bar, more local products make appearances on the menu. Coffee and Supply Co. gets its buzz from DOMA Coffee Roasting Company, a Post Falls-based roaster that Ryan fell in love with after discovering their La Bicicletta blend at Albersons. The way he tells it, without DOMA’s influence Coffee and Supply Co. might not exist.
“I just literally cold-called those guys and was like, ‘Hey, I’m opening up a shop. I don’t know anything about the logistics of a coffee shop. Like, how long does my back counter need to be? And how many grinders do I need?’ and they have been just outstanding partners to work with,” Ryan said, noting that the coffee bar is a transition after 20 years in the clothing business.
DOMA crafts two specialty blends for Coffee and Supply Co.: the fruity Blue Note Blend and the rich, sugary Boondock Blend. Its beans are complemented by Cloverleaf Creamery milk, Steele Apiaries honey, and Creekside Mallow Co. marshmallows. The menu features explanations of each drink, part of Ryan’s mission to make pour over coffee more approachable for customers.
The Heusers also offer beer and wine by the glass and baked goods from a rotating selection of local bakeries. On June 4, sourdough scones and “cruffins” (delightfully flaky croissant/muffin hybrids) from Meridian’s Wild Phyllis Bakery were on display alongside bites from Zeppole Baking Co.
Despite opening their shop in the middle of a global pandemic (and hailing from California) the Heusers feel embraced by the local community.
“They continue to come in day after day and vote with their dollars,” Ryan said.
To learn more about Coffee and Supply Co., follow them on Instagram at @coffeeandsupplyco.
