Spring time in the Ozarks to me means, great weather and even better food. We all have our routines right? Work through the week and try to do something fun on the weekends. In my household when its spring or summer and its a Saturday we have the same routine....the farmers market!
There are multiple farmers markets usually open on a Saturday morning, and we aren't shy about frequenting them all, since they all offer a lot of different items. But the one we always start at is the Greater Springfield Farmers Market that is located in the parking lot of the Battlefield mall. But there is a specific reason why I prefer to start here when I'm on the hunt for fresh veggies, and that would be for two things. One, there is a stand where a family is rolling and frying fresh egg rolls! Two, I got to get my caffeine fix from Trailer Perk Coffee!
So by now I'm sure you're saying, egg rolls and coffee?! Yes, egg rolls and coffee is how I like to start my farmers market hunt on Saturdays! But enough about the egg rolls, lets get to the sweet nectar of mother earth that gets most of us people going every morning. The moment you pull up to the market, you cant miss the brightly colored Teal and Pink trailer set up at the front of the stands. There is usually a line of people waiting to be caffeinated for the day and in a see of chain coffee shops, they have chosen wisely with this local delicacy!
I have tried for the most part, everything on Amber's menu, but there is one thing that keeps bringing me back, its name is the Airstream! A tasty butter pecan latte served either hot or iced. Usually I go with the iced version but depending on how cool it is outside, I'll option for hot. This is one of my favorite lattes in the 417 and I had the great pleasure to pick the mind of the owner Amber Ottoson to learn more on the background of this great traveling coffee shop!
What made you want to get into the coffee business?
Amber: I grew up in Washington state where the coffee culture runs deep. After moving to Springfield, I realized I missed it so much. I knew that when the time came for me to enter back into the workforce (I was a stay-at-home mom at the time) that I wanted to attempt to bring a little of the Northwest to the Midwest.
Were you a barista or have a background in making coffee before opening the trailer?
Amber: I have been working coffee since I was 17 years old holding various positions for different companies. I was able to gain a lot of experience in knowing the ins and outs of running a coffee shop both as a barista and supervising. Those skills gave me confidence when starting my own business.
The biggest takeaway from working in this environment is the relationships I build with my customers. I enjoy working with people. I enjoy loving them and getting to know them. I love being a positive aspect of someone's day. I just use coffee as the catalyst to do so.
Of all your tasty beverages, which is your most popular drink?
Amber: The most popular drink is our "Tornado". It is a caramel latte (2 scoops of Ghirardelli caramel sauce) with 4 shots of espresso. It's sweet and strong and I swear you will be vibrating for the rest of the day after drinking it. I cater to a lot of teachers and medical staff which I think contributes to this drink's popularity. It gets the job done! Next would be our white chocolate and raspberry "Flamingo". It's foundation is white coffee (unroasted espresso) which has less of a full bodied, acidic taste that people either love or hate about traditional espresso. It is so blonde in color that the raspberry shines through making it a pink coffee. Super fun, super yummy, and delightfully "Instagrammable".
Do you have a favorite from your menu?
Amber: I put a lot of thought into my Signature Drinks. There is something for everyone among them. I personally love the "Airstream" which is our butter pecan latte. My husband's go-to is the "Happy Camper" (a toasted marshmallow mocha made with dark chocolate).
I know you set up shop at the Greater Springfield Farmer’s Market on Saturdays during the spring and summer months, are there other locations that you frequent through the week?
Amber: My gigs change every week, but I am so lucky that more and more locations have scheduled regularly scheduled caterings solidifying consistent access to my coffee for their employees. I do have room in my schedule for special events and new places wanting to try us out. I do have customers that actively hunt me down and search for my locations (posted every Sunday on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter). It's all part of the fun and my opportunity to travel to new places and meet new faces.
I love my Saturday's at the market where my regulars can find me.
Trailer Perk Coffee is such a great name, how did you come up with it?
Amber: I have to give credit to my husband. He made a joke after we had purchased the concession trailer apologizing that he couldn't afford to buy me a Hyde Perk (a coffee shop near Hyde Park in Idaho) but he could take me to the "trailer perk." As soon as he said it, the marketing aspect laid out immediately before my eyes and I knew that was it. Trailer Perk Coffee was born.
Your trailer has got to be the most vibrate and brightly colored trailer I have seen in this area! How did you decide on what you wanted it to look like?
Amber: Yes! That was completely on purpose!
I wanted her to pop with bright punchy colors. I wanted you to notice her when driving down the road. I wanted you to NEED to take a picture next to her.
I had a vision designing this boxy trailer to look like a vintage Shasta trailer, complete with overgrown foliage and pink flamingo lawn ornaments. I just COULD NOT articulate it well enough when designing the vinyl wrap. I have the wonderful fortune of having a sister in the Marketing industry that assured me she could come up with something I would like after crying to her that "they just don't understand what I want!" She shortly presented me with the design that you see today, along with the menu, business cards, logo and website. I couldn't be more grateful for her taking the time to make my vision come to life. She absolutely hit it out of the park and I give her full credit for the cohesive and beautiful marketing that TPC has today.
So, what does the future look like for Trailer Perk Coffee? Anything in the works?
Amber: Shortly before the pandemic, my husband and I were looking at potential sites to have a permanent location. My dream is to have a spot where customers can consistently start their day with Trailer Perk Coffee. We have hit the "pause" button for now, but I would love to explore that possibility again as soon as possible. I honestly love my job and I want to continue it and expand it as much as I possibly can.
For now, I am proud to travel day to day and serve coffee out of my tiny trailer. I have to give thanks to the Springfield community that has embraced me with open arms. It's been a very fun ride.
Amber Ottoson, owner and operator of Trailer Perk Coffee
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