OUR PHILOSOPHY
EVP (Etes-Vous Prets?!) Coffee is a local, independent & woman-owned business that opened in October of 1997 on Highland Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin. Over 25 years later, EVP now has 4 vibrant locations & roasts thousands of pounds of coffee each year.
Our intention since we opened has been to serve all people beautifully, and in the spirit of kindness and love. We continually strive to create a work culture & business that emphasize these ideals.
Our intention since we opened has been to serve all people beautifully, and in the spirit of kindness and love. We continually strive to create a work culture & business that emphasize these ideals.
OUR STORY
"Prior to opening EVP, I was a substance abuse counselor in my hometown of Anchorage, Alaska. When I was looking to transition from my job, I asked myself, "How can I serve my community in a meaningful way, but in a less stressful environment?" It was during that transitional process that EVP was born. For me, EVP goes beyond just producing excellent coffee- it's about truly valuing people and creating a successful business that has love and kindness as its central focus."
-Tracy Danner, Owner
-Tracy Danner, Owner
WHAT DOES 'EVP' MEAN?
EVP is short for 'Etes-vous prets?' which is French, and means "Are you ready?". 'Etes-vous prets?' used to be the traditional starting command for rowing races.
ABOUT OUR COFFEE
At EVP, we roast our coffee on a daily basis, and aim to serve the coffee while it is still fresh. Unlike most other coffee roasters, we date our beans so you know when they were roasted. We often serve the coffee we've roasted the same day or within a few days. For most people, once they've had freshly roasted coffee, they can't go back--it is like the difference between fresh bread and old stale bread, you can taste the difference! We take pride in producing a quality product. We sell our beans online and at all our shops.
HOW DO I STORE MY COFFEE?
Our recommendation is to store your coffee in a dry, cool, dark & airtight space. Airtight storage in a refrigerator or freezer has worked well for us. Exposure to oxygen degrades coffee and the quality decreases. Although coffee doesn't 'expire' & caffeine content isn't affected, poor storage techniques will affect flavor & vitality of your coffee. The sooner you brew coffee from when it was roasted, the fresher it is and the better it will taste.
OUR ROASTER
We roast our beans using a Sivetz Fluid Bed Roaster. Pioneered by the late Michael Sivetz, renowned researcher & inventor, our roaster uses fresh hot air to roast coffee rather than a heated surface used by traditional barrel roasters. The result is a clean, uniform roast that is free from bitter tasting tars left behind by traditional barrel roasters.
In Memory of Michael Sivetz
Michael Sivetz, 90, of Corvallis,Oregon passed away March 22, 2012. Mr. Sivetz was best known for his invention of the fluidized bed roaster, (the roaster we use at EVP), and was a passionate advocate for coffee quality and freshness. A SCAA Lifetime Acheivement Laureate, Sivetz was a pioneer in the coffee industry.
We honor Michael for his generosity and genius, and treasure the time we got to spend with him. He was always willing to share his knowledge with us. We are truly blessed to have known him.
We honor Michael for his generosity and genius, and treasure the time we got to spend with him. He was always willing to share his knowledge with us. We are truly blessed to have known him.