County Road Coffee expanding to new building

By Shari Harris, Publisher

County Road Coffee, which currently operates out of a trailer in Licking, will be moving soon to a building on the same property on the east side of North Main Street, just north of the four-way stop. Owners Heston and Ashlyn Jordan, of Licking, are hoping to be in the building by the end of July, and they encourage you to watch their Facebook page for an announcement about their planned “parking lot (coffee) party grand opening.

The Jordans started their first business in 2021, opening in 2022 in a trailer across from Walmart in Salem. In May of 2024, they moved the trailer to a new location, on East Scenic Rivers Blvd., and were able to transition to a building on the property in September 2024. This location is located next to Casey’s General Store in Salem.

They opened their Licking location in the same year as their Salem one, in November 2022. At first they were in town on pop-up dates, then three days a week, 7-11 a.m., then five days a week, 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. The last expansion of their open hours added Saturdays, 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Jordans have grown their business to meet the needs of their patrons. In addition to their Salem and Licking coffee shops, they also have a Grab and Go Station stocked with their cold drinks at The Branded Brunette hair salon in Edgar Springs. After they move to the building in Licking, they can use the mobile trailer to do more events, or they may scout out a third location. In addition, the move will give them more room to offer additional items to their customers.

Regarding future growth, Ashlyn Jordan said, “We’ll let the Lord lead our steps.”

Ashlyn was a labor and delivery nurse and Heston worked for the State Land Survey when they realized they were spending too much time apart. They had a young daughter as well, and wanted to spend more time together. They noticed a void of coffee shops in the area and decided to combine the options of a big city coffee shop with the service, kindness and care of a small town business. Within a month, they were able to leave their other jobs.

“We don’t work less,” Ashlyn said, “but now we work together.”

One daughter has increased to three children under the age of five years as their business has expanded, making their lives even busier. Ashlyn does the baking for sweet treats to accompany the coffee orders, helps run the business and works one day per week in a clinic as a nurse at Down Home Healthcare, doing IV therapy. Heston does maintenance, IT, marketing, ordering, and is doing all the construction required to get their new building ready. In addition, he is youth pastor at Rock Springs Baptist Church. They have 10 employees in Salem and four in Licking, making sure their customers’ needs are met.

The Jordans spent many hours in the test kitchen tasting coffees to choose the 12 signature lattes on their menu. They wanted to be original and specific to their brand, yet also have some that are more recognizable to coffee drinkers. County Road Coffee also offers a feature menu of drinks that changes monthly. In addition they have smoothies, energy infusions, chai tea, matcha, milkshakes, lemonade, splashers (a mix of fruit juice and puree), and their house-made cold brew. Their energy infusions contain lotus energy concentrate, which is a natural form of caffeine and is safer for pregnant women and children; they can be ordered with carbonated water or flat water.

You will also find a selection of baked goods to accompany your drink. Muffins, extravagant cookies, cinnamon bread, mini loaves and more are baked in Salem from scratch. Ugly biscuits are also available; this is an old fashioned drop biscuit with sausage, bacon, egg and cheese, drizzled in butter after it is baked.

After the move to the building, County Road Coffee will have a drive-through window on one side and a walk-up window on the other side. Other changes are anticipated. A fizzy menu (dirty soda menu) will be added along with flavored teas, and they may do some of the baking here as well. Lunch will also be offered, and will be seasonal in nature. Summer items include Cobb salad, market salad, sweet and spicy turkey BLT, chicken salad, club wrap, oriental chicken wrap and ham and Swiss melt. Sandwiches are served with Goat Chips (original, kicker, or sweet potato chips) and a pickle. A Licking exclusive will be a “puffle.” This is a puffy waffle with fillings, and the Licking employees are working now to choose the right fillings for their patrons.

“It’s not just about the coffee, it’s about the people. Coffee is just the avenue in which we get to love on our community,” Ashlyn Jordan expressed. “ We’re not just in the coffee business, we’re in the people business.”

You can see their menus on their Facebook page, countyroadcoffee@gmail.com. Drive through their current location and place your order, or call ahead at 417-699-6315. You can also place a mobile order by going to countyroadcoffee.square.site.