Hiker Coffee, a locally-founded coffee roaster based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, has recently opened its first café in the newly developed Market On River building in Chippewa Falls. Though the café may be a new venture for some, the brand has been making waves for nearly a decade.
Founded in 2016 by Addy Serum and Zach Pecha, Hiker Coffee has grown from a passion project into a full-time business. In less than 10 years, the roaster has expanded significantly. It launched a coffee-on-the-go rental camper, moved into a new warehouse with upgraded equipment, and underwent a rebranding to emphasize their commitment to clean, quality coffee. Hiker also expanded its reach by landing its products in over 30 REI stores nationwide.
“We’ve always had the idea of opening a café in the back of our minds,” Zach said in a recent interview. “We just didn’t think it was going to happen this soon.”
Now, with a few weeks of café operation under their belts, both Addy and Zach have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers and neighboring businesses. They jokingly mentioned that they are finally getting some much-needed sleep after the whirlwind of opening their first café.
In 2024, the company rebranded to further reflect its commitment to clean coffee. This decision was not just business-driven, but was also influenced by lifestyle changes after the founders’ autoimmune disease diagnoses. These health challenges prompted them to scrutinize everything they consumed, leading to a cleaner, safer product at Hiker Coffee. This philosophy has carried over to their café, where all menu items are gluten- and dairy-free, though cheese can be added upon request. The menu features oat milk in some drinks and gluten-free focaccia bread for sandwiches, proving that a lack of certain ingredients doesn’t mean a lack of flavor.
Hiker is also committed to quality in every detail. Each batch of coffee beans is third-party tested – an uncommon practice in the industry – and free of seed oils. The café also uses a water purification system called Reverse Osmosis (RO) for both water and ice, ensuring the highest quality in every cup.
As Hiker Coffee enters this exciting new chapter, it continues to provide clean, delicious coffee while emphasizing community and well-being.
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