The Grind, a charming coffee shop on wheels, has opened in Bethel. Operating out of a repurposed 1970s horse trailer, The Grind’s emphasis on quality ingredients and excellent coffee craftsmanship has quickly made it a hit in the community. Owners Brian Beyerbach and Olivia Cuneo spent the summer renovating the trailer and navigating the legal processes required to operate before opening to customers this September. In just a few months, The Grind has become Bethel’s newest caffeination fixation.
Cueno brings years of experience working as a barista and manager of coffee shops, where she honed her craft and dreamed of opening her own shop. When the opportunity presented itself, she knew she had to claim it. The Grind is a celebration of Cuneo and Beyerbach’s love for coffee. Months of work went into transforming the trailer, creating the business plan, and thoughtfully curating the menu. The Grind’s philosophy? To build community by sharing the highest-quality craft coffee beverages with Mainers in an innovative way.
The Grind’s menu offers the usual suspects: lattes, cappuccinos, hot chocolates, and americanos, as well as a rotating seasonal specials list and baked goods. Customers can elevate their drink by adding unique, housemade syrups such as vanilla rose, maple ginger, and cardamom honey, playfully nicknamed “Cardi Bee.” Cuneo and Beyerbach keep their menu on the smaller side to ensure the highest-quality drinks and smooth service.
Coffee shops often function as the heart of a community, and Maine is teeming with these spaces. Many are used to the classic brick-and-mortar coffee shop with its comfy chairs, warm lighting, and bulletin board featuring local happenings. The Grind seeks to replicate that familiar, comforting feeling you get stepping into a physical coffee shop but in a new form. A mobile coffee cart offers unique opportunities to bring craft coffee on the go. The “pop-up” nature of the cart allows for more flexibility and experimentation with menu offerings, hours of operation, and location.
For its first month of business, The Grind was stationed at the base of Mt. Abram, where bike park users and trail hikers were some of its first trial customers. This winter, it will resume service there to greet the thousands of skiers that visit throughout the season. Cuneo and Beyerbach both grew up competitively skiing and know how rewarding a hot drink is after a long day on the slopes. Imagine warming your near-frozen hands on a frothy cappuccino or velvety hot chocolate. Now, The Grind will make that a reality. Cuneo says she’s looking forward to seeing the town and mountain become busier during ski season, and she is also interested in seeing how the cart will function in the colder months.
This winter, you can visit The Grind Tuesday–Friday at Philbrook Place (162 Main Street) and Saturday–Sunday at the base of Mt. Abram! Stop by to be served by Olivia and Brian and get a taste of what this small but mighty coffee shop on wheels has to offer.
