From Pizzaiola to Barista

Laurie Averill may be more comfortable around pizza dough and toppings after being in the food industry for 24 years while owning MeTooPizza, in Culbertson, but over the past few months she has been developing and refining her newfound interests and talents as a barista and new business owner of Frackin’ Java, a drive through coffee house providing Culbertson residents and passersby with that much needed cup of eye opening, morning mud.

Averill sold her pizza restaurant in July in the hopes of having more time for herself and flexibility in her schedule after years of trying to retain employees and getting called in to work on her scheduled days off. She craved a new adventure that would enable her to still interact with people.

So now, her daily routine consists of mixing blended, iced and piping hot concoctions of caramel drizzled macchiatos and brain freezing ice rages. Strawberry smoothies, vanilla steamers, Italian ices, hot coco and chia teas all offered in a dizzying array of flavors provide patrons with an abundance of options and delectable enjoyment.

“Just when I think I have them all down, someone will drive up and order something like a latte split. Who knew people enjoyed coffee made with both leaded and unleaded coffee. I guess I looked at the customer a little puzzled but she happily explained what it was,” she said. Those explanations have been part of the learning curve that is helping Averill perfect every cup of coffee she serves. Because she is not an avid coffee drinker herself, she relies on the tastes, preferences and suggestions made by her clientele. While she may not have to worry about drinking up her own profits, she does enjoy a fresh steamer in the morning and an ice rage in the afternoon.

The idea for the business venture was an early morning brainstorm. “My husband is always up at 4:00 a.m. and one day he said, ‘why not open a drive through coffee house?’ That was the moment that got everything going,” she recalled.

Obtaining the prime location on U.S. Highway 2 prooved to be easier than she anticipated. With some internet surfing she was able to locate a Virginia man who owned property just west of Culbertson High School who had no intentions of using the property he had acquired through default.

With more help from the Internet, she was able to find a turnkey structure located in Great Falls at Malstrom Air Force Base set up for coffee sales and had it moved to its current location. Last January she hit a snag with getting everything set up when she discovered she had to petition to have the residential property designated as commercial property. The tedious undertaking took several months.

To get herself acquainted with the equipment and mixology involved in making specialty drinks, she spent the day working alongside a trainer at City Brew, in Billings. She also watched a lot of videos and used the taste buds of her friends and relatives to test out her drinks.

After doing all of her training on automated, push button machines she was disappointed to come home and find out her own equipment was reminiscent of Old World Italy where a pull handle and a strong, slow grip were the main ingredient in a great shot of espresso. “The experts assured me this was the best way to go but I was skeptical and because it takes a little longer, I wanted the automated machine because I don’t like to make people wait. But, now, those extra few seconds are worth it for the customer because the shot is of a higher quality,” she said.

In an effort to come up with a name that was fitting and catchy she called upon Jed Kleppen, a family friend living in Hawaii who owns three coffee houses on the main island. With the recent influx of oil boom population, Frackin’ Java just seemed to fit.

In the morning she serves breakfast burritos and is considering offering other food options.

Frackin’ Java is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.