WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Originally established in 2013 as a coffee roasting wholesale business in Carmel, Ind., Diane and Kevin McAndrews have recently opened a new coffee shop, the Indie Coffee Roasters, near the western edge of the Purdue campus.
Although this is not their first venture into the realm of owning a storefront, this is their first time opening a location away from their base of operation in Carmel.
But earlier this year, the McAndrews saw an opportunity to become a social hub for the blossoming community in West Lafayette.
Currently, homes are being constructed on the western edge of West Lafayette by the Carmel-based Old Town Design Group. The new coffee shop is located at 1501 W State Street.
“Being up here in West Lafayette, they (Old Town Design Group) were able to show us the complex itself. And being on the west end of town, there aren’t many things yet, but there’s slated to be about two hundred homes behind us. So, there will be a community that we would like to serve and be part of and get to know the regulars,” said Diane McAndrews.
This idea of being a connector for the community is what inspired the couple to open their first storefront in Carmel, which opened in 2018
“We got into the coffee business for the people. We wanted the coffee to represent the community and be the place where others can make those life-long connections,” said Diane McAndrews.
“We saw a house that looked like a coffee shop and we knew some people that like coffee, so we all got together and opened up. We were well embraced by the community, great repeat customers, it’s a great area and very supportive.”
Regarding the coffee, Indie Coffee Roasters likes to keep things traditional and simple. They don’t use a lot of syrups or blended drinks, instead, they want customers to experience the raw taste of their roasted coffee beans.
Although they offer a variety of styles of coffee and kinds of milk, most of the flavor in their coffee comes from their roast. Depending on the roast that is served, the coffee could have a subtle dark chocolate taste to it, or a hint of cinnamon, brown sugar, or lemon.
Although all of their beans are roasted at their Carmel location, their beans are all sourced from different countries in Latin America like Honduras, Mexico, Columbia, Peru and Guatemala.
Indie Coffee Roasters doesn’t make anything for their shop, but would rather partner up with local bakeries and distribute their goods at the coffee shop.
“We want to be a part of a community that’s in need. I don’t want to take business from another place, in fact, I’d rather partner with another place,” said McAndrews.
Although the McAndrews has just opened in West Lafayette, they have high hopes that they’ll become a new community hub for people in the area.
For those interested in visiting Indie Coffee Roasters, the shop is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It should also be noted that although there is construction in the area, there is parking available behind the shop.
Noe Padilla is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at 1NoePadilla.