Summer Moon is a coffee shop chain that prepares its coffee over an open flame. The coffee shop started in Austin, Texas, and operates locations in Kansas City and Oklahoma. With their unique way of roasting beans, and their twist on simple milk and cream, people clamor for their coffee drinks. The good news is, wherever you are in the country, you can purchase these unique beans and create your own wood-fired coffee to have with you tonight.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Summer Moon Coffee Starts and Ends With Family
In 2002, Bruce Karnes wanted to start roasting his own coffee. His son-in-law says, "He's always loved cooking over wood, and he thought...can you roast coffee over a wood fire?" After several experiments, he decided it was good enough to sell.
In 2002, the family opened their first store. It started out as a café, which morphed into the roaster. The original roaster was operated by hand and took 3 people to roast each batch. The company now operates 2 roasters, but the process remains the same. They still use the same brick wood-fired ovens that they built in the early 2000's. They roast the finest coffee beans over seasoned Texas oak.
They're Known for More Than Coffee
While the fire roasted coffee is delicious, it's Summer Moon's signature moon milk that customers go nuts for. This sweet cream additive with 7 secret ingredients boosts the flavor of any espresso drink, without overwhelming the coffee flavor. You can add moon milk to any drink, or you can order a moon latte, which is espresso topped with moon milk. If you getting your coffee in Texas in the summer, go for the winter moon, which is the moon latte served over ice for the same list price.
Summer Moon Is Growing
Summer Moon has 29 locations sprinkled throughout Texas and the midwest. Though they started in the major metropolitan areas like Austin and San Antonio, you can now find them in the smaller towns, like Frisco, TX. Their franchises are popping up in Oklahoma and Kansas City, too.
Summer Moon's Name
While there is no official origin story behind the coffee shop Summer Moon, the name itself has an interesting story. For those American history buffs, they may think of the book, Empire of The Summer Moon, by S.C. Gwynne. "Empire of The Summer Moon spans two astonishing stories. The first traces the rise and fall of the Comanches...The second entails...the epic saga of the pioneer woman Cynthia Ann Parker and her mixed-blood son Quanah, who became the last and greatest chief of the Comanches." Set during the arrival of the railroads, this Native American novel might inspire you to hold a historical feast, with some Summer Moon coffee, of course.
This New York Times bestseller should very well be on your reading list. The next time you're picking up your Summer Moon Coffee, bring along a copy or podcast of Empire of the Summer Moon for a true meta experience.
