'Everybody loves coffee': The Human Bean opens in Ashland

Mar. 1—ASHLAND — Coffee and caffeine lovers may have a new place to call home after the opening of a coffee shop striving to treat guests as "good human beings."

After months of anticipation, The Human Bean, a drive-thru coffee shop on Fairfax Drive in Ashland celebrated the opening with a Northeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Owners Bettie and Mike Chapman agreed bringing the bean to Boyd County was not to drive out other coffee competitors in the area, but to give people a variety of places from which to choose.

"When my husband and I decided to open up The Human Bean, we looked around and did our research," Bettie Chapman said. "What really drew us to The Human Bean was how much they give back to the community and what they stood for."

Mike added, "We sell everything you would ever want."

Bettie Chapman went to Oregon — the site of the original location of the franchise — to train for three weeks and witnessed something she says has been a motivating factor of bringing The Human Bean to the tri-state area.

"I really liked their concept of how the baristas treat the public. It's so important to us that people are treated with kindness ... to be a good human being," she said.

She said after opening the Barboursville, West Virginia, location, they garnered a good response and decided to look for a second spot in Ashland.

"When I trained in Oregon it totally amazed me that every block there was a coffee shop; you have so many choices and I don't feel like there are enough choices in Ashland for people.

She added, "Everybody loves coffee."

Miranda Berry, of Boyd County, was in the drive-thru to get her hands on coffee from The Human Bean. She said she has never tried it before and was excited to see another coffee shop come to town.

"I love coffee, especially because not very many coffee places around here do it very well. I am excited to try new things," she said.

Among the number of drinks offered and displayed on the menu was "Bright Energy," a caffeinated energy drink, exclusive to The Human Bean.

"It's made with clean caffeine and a green coffee bean," Bettie said. "It's delicious. It comes in sugar-free lime and original. You get that high from the caffeine, but you don't get the crash, it's got lots of vitamins and much healthier for you."

The drive-thru chain serves espresso, coffee, tea, smoothies and kid-friendly beverages.

"Our most popular menu items are our Snowy Mocha, it's a white chocolate — you can do that, hot, iced or frozen. Then we have our Mexi Mocha, which is a cinnamon chocolate," she said, which has been a big-hit at the Barboursville location.

The location couldn't have been in a better location, Mike said. They chose the spot because of the flow of traffic.

"We always want to be on the coming-to-work side of the road and this matched it perfectly. You get to us before you get to our competitors down in town," he said.

Marty Gute, Ashland City Commissioner thanked the owners for their investment in Ashland. Gute, an avid supporter of Tim Horton's and lover of its coffee, ripped up a coupon for Horton's.

"I guess I'll have to tear my Tim Horton's thing up and start shopping here," he said as others were heard clapping and gasping.

Bettie Chapman said the personal contact from employees at The Human Bean sets it apart.

"Customer service is so important, I have been in some places and you aren't even acknowledged for the first couple of minutes," Bettie said.

Mike Chapman added, "The difference of products and the quality of the products ... that's the big thing. No one wants to open a business and sell mediocre products; we tasted this product and it was top notch and we knew that the community would love it."

The Ashland location has hired 32 baristas and trained for three weeks in preparation for Friday's grand opening.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Mike said he is seeing a shift in people's eating and buying habits. When asked if he was worried about a decline in customers due to the business being strictly drive-thru, he said no.

"Most people prefer a drive-thru," he said.

The Human Bean is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 1305 Fairfax Drive.

(606) 326-2657 — ajohnson@dailyindependent.com