‘Unique from bean to cup’: Inside a tech-forward coffee shop coming to Johnson County
What happens when a tech whiz, his wife and their lovable mutt, Hermie, start their own coffee company?
They create Hermetheus Coffee: a coffee shop in downtown Olathe opening early next year at 101 S. Kansas Ave.
The couple’s coffee journey began as a hobby, but after four years of roasting, Jason and Faith Scott are looking forward to deepening relationships with customers they gained at the Olathe Farmers Market.
The two began looking for spaces a couple of years ago after realizing they wanted to see their customers on a more regular basis.
“What really … gives me life, it’s not the roasting of the coffee, it’s actually interacting with the people who are enjoying my coffee right there,” Jason said. “That’s where the coffee shop idea really began to take hold.”
And yes — the shop is named after the moniker they gave their 7-year-old rescue dog. Plus, Jason said, the “her,” “me,” and “us” are a symbol of the couple’s venture together — and with their community.
Jason can tell you all about the one-of-a-kind machinery he uses to brew a good cup of Joe, including the roasting “co-pilot” device he built and patented himself. Without getting too in the weeds, it automates the manual heat knob of the roasting machine to make sure it stays at a perfect temperature throughout.
Faith bragged about her husband’s MacGyver-like skills.
“(Jason) is absolutely brilliant and always has this incredible vision,” Faith said. “It’s really fascinating.”
And, once the shop opens, customers will have a chance to roast coffee themselves, using the touchscreen Novoroaster (which was not invented by Jason). On it, they’ll be able to select the raw coffee beans and punch into a computer system how they want them roasted: dark, medium, light.
Not your typical coffee experience, Jason said.
“It’s unique, from bean to cup,” he added. “We have control of the process, every step of the way. … It’s not a regular coffee shop.”
The Scotts don’t quite have their menu finalized yet, but they want to focus on a simple coffee menu that will include lattes and cold brews. They plan to have a small selection of grab and go food options.
The “whole reason” they’re opening a coffee shop, Jason said, is to build community within Olathe.
“I want this to be just the most welcoming and non-judgmental coffee shop ever,” he said. “I don’t care if you know what a macchiato or a cortado is, just get a cup of coffee and enjoy it.”
They’re looking to host community events to draw people of all walks in. Faith, who loves art and poetry, also hopes to give opportunities for creatives to share their talents in the space.
The shop will have fewer than 25 seats inside the shop, with a few outside tables.
Hermetheus Coffee will be joining several new businesses in growing downtown Olathe. Pizza 51, Third Street Social and Char Bar are all coming to the area as part of the city’s ongoing push to turn the quiet area into an entertainment district.
Farther north at 119th Street and Renner Boulevard, Olathe is looking to open a theme park and hockey arena.
