Today we’d like to introduce you to Pia Beck.
Hi Pia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Considered Coffee Bus was an accident.
For years, I envisioned a physical space where change-makers, creative problem-solvers, and catalysts in the community could come together.
After pursuing a brick-and-mortar location for our co-working and cafe concept for many months, I realized I needed a new approach.
Truthfully, I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder. After being told several times by landlords and brokers that they’d rather have their space sit empty than take a risk on leasing to a new business, I was determined to find a way to bring Considered to life without being tethered to a space.
I was scrolling through Craigslist ads and found the bus — a 1965 VW Microbus (split window!) with a sentimental story that matched my own childhood memories of my parents’ 1979 VW Bug convertible.
I met with the seller and knew immediately that this Bus was meant to be mine. It was a bonus to learn that he spent his workdays converting sprinter vans.
I asked if I bought his Bus if he would turn it into a coffee shop for me, and he agreed (I think he regrets this).
Before I knew it, Considered had become a micro, mobile coffee shop. The ethos and intention of the brand was the same as it had always been — to create a container where people doing cool things could come together. The manifestation was just a little different.
Four months after purchasing the Bus, Considered launched in Santa Barbara.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Most definitely not! The first challenge we encountered was figuring out how to put a full-service cafe into the 80 square foot cab of the Bus — and how to configure it to not only meet Santa Barbara health code but to also look cute and be functional for a Barista to work comfortably.
Another big challenge was ensuring our state-of-the-art espresso machine could get enough power. Machines like this require a HUGE amount of wattage, and we were dealing with space, weight, and other limitations.
Once we launched, we quickly learned some of the operational challenges that come with a mobile food facility. Namely, ensuring we get the parking spot we want and need for a successful day of service, what to do when we run out of fresh water at a big festival with a high volume of orders, and dealing with the elements (even mild conditions like an ocean breeze, which can cause our sensitive scales to read incorrectly).
These days, our biggest challenge is that something always needs fixing. It’s a remarkable engineering accomplishment that we were able to design our little cafe on wheels, and the upkeep of this unique system is ongoing and relentless.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Considered is about more than making a good cup of coffee.
(Although we do make a *really* good cup of coffee, and watching our customers’ faces when they take the first sip and realize the best cup of coffee they’ve ever had came out of a 55+ years old vehicle parked on the side of the road is something we’ll never stop loving.)
We believe that every person deserves to feel considered, and coffee just happens to be the vehicle we chose to make that happen.
So, what does it mean to feel considered?
To us, it means remembering our customers’ names (and even orders). It means showing up on an unremarkable strip of sidewalk and making someone’s day. It means making someone feel seen and understood in all their utter humanness.
It means giving back to our community and acknowledging that as a local business, we’re privileged enough to be in a position where we can operate from our values for the good of the many. We think it means lifting up other entrepreneurs and local business owners.
We think it means creating really sexy systems, being stubborn enough to fight the status quo, and changing food service standards that just don’t make any sense.
Considered was built on the idea that people have an insatiable desire to consume things that are truly exceptional. Things that make you want to linger longer. That makes you wonder, why aren’t more people doing it like this? And we hope to provide that.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
If you’re in Santa Barbara, you can stop by the Bus Tuesday – Sunday. Be sure to check our Instagram Stories to know where we are that day and our hours of operation.
We also love to serve at private events of all kinds. We’re proud of the diversity of communities we’ve partnered with, from non-profits to healthcare institutions, to college campuses, to religious groups, to schools, to luxury hotels, and more. You can book the Bus through our website.
We love to participate in larger festivals, fairs, and community events too.
The best way to support us is to buy a coffee when you see us around town and help spread the word on social media about what we’re up to.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.consideredsb.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consideredsb.co
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/considered-coffee-bus-santa-barbara-2
- Other: https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=557296444&q=Considered+%7C+Curbside+Coffee&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgU1I1qDBJTrEwSk5KMjW0TE0yN7O0MqhITk22MDeyNDY0TDM2SDW1WMQq45yfV5yZklqUmqJQo-BcWpQE4ik456elpaYCAJA_hW5IAAAA&mat=IgIIAQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwizrLnsgOCAAxW2M0QIHWg1AjYQ-rELegQIGBAF&biw=1564&bih=752&dpr=2.2
Image Credits
KaSandra Mitchell, The Humble Lion
