Coffee Caravan: Fair vendor reports single day record

Congratulations, Palouse Empire. You are the most caffeinated area on the county fair circuit.

Barbara Brouner of Chelan, owner of the Coffee Caravan, reported her stand at this year’s Palouse Empire Fair set the high mark in one-day sales for the almost 20 years she has been in business. She said more than $5,000 worth of coffee and juices sold during Saturday morning and through the afternoon sun.

“We were definitely busy,” said Brouner, reporting what her employees told her. “They said the place was lined up as far as you could see.”

The stand sold out of its frozen mocha and smoothie supply, but what really moved Saturday was the flavored lemonades. Brouner said her stand, located at the fair’s crossroads, kitty-corner from the Jones Schoolhouse, sold 244 gallons of lemonade Saturday alone.

Though Brouner is a veteran of Mockonema Meadows, at age 70, she decided to stay home and sling drinks at the fair in Chelan.

“They’re both about the same size,” she said. “But we sold four times as much at Colfax than Chelan.”

Brouner felt bad she missed the trip to the Palouse Empire Fair.

“I tell you, that’s always been my favorite fair,” she said. “What’s so nice about the Palouse fair is the kids. All those FFA and 4H kids are so nice and polite and respectful. It’s the way a county fair always used to be.”

The Coffee Caravan is a popular stop for kids because it offers half-price refills if buyers keep their cups.

“They run a great stand, and they’ve got a great spot,” said Fair Manager Bob Reynolds.

“Those kids, they walk up with cups that are so ratty and torn apart after a day or two, that sometimes we just have to relent and give them another cup for free,” said Brouner.

She said kids at the Evergreen State Fair at Monroe, where she also sells drinks every year, hang on to their same cups, often held together with duct tape and baling twine, for the whole 10-day extravaganza.