Meet Megan Kranzler & Danielle Cogan | Co-Owner of Bright Side Coffee Co.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Kranzler and Danielle Cogan, and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan and Danielle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Throughout the last 10 years, we had both worked and managed coffee shops, been sales reps for prominent brands in the industry, and worked on the distribution side as well. This felt like the perfect set up to create a coffee-centered business together using our unique experiences and shared skill sets. During our time in the industry, one thing we constantly heard from the general consumer was how intimidating the craft coffee scene was, often times making local coffee shops unapproachable for newcomers. As frustrating as that was to hear, we knew we could bridge the gap. We found ourselves dreaming up potential business endeavors so often, that in 2019, we felt it was time to finally make it a reality!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Bright Side Coffee Co. is a full service craft coffee trailer based in Northern Colorado, designed to bring a gourmet coffee experience to you. We do public events such as festivals, art markets, and food truck rallies. We also specialize in private events such as weddings, company parties, or private celebrations. We have the freedom to  create a truly one of a kind beverage experience for you and your guests!

What are you proud of?
We have worked so hard to build a unique and inviting brand. Wowing our customers and seeing their smiles affirms us that our vision has become a reality! Something else we’re extremely proud of is our handcrafted chai, which has become a staple at every event. Megan was able to take her expertise in tea and create something that is so distinctive and unique to Bright Side. Maybe someday you’ll even be able to purchase it in local stores!

How did you get here?

After years of dreaming up a coffee business together, we finally landed on a mobile concept because we simply couldn’t choose just one city to call home. We scoured the internet for the right vessel, and were thrilled with the idea of a vintage camper! We found one that was already being used as a beverage business, and was seemingly turnkey. Unfortunately though, we realized we had stumbled upon our greatest challenge yet. While doing some minor cabinet replacement we found the entire internal structure was rotted out, forcing us to completely gut it and rebuild. That was our first “Oh shit, what did we get ourselves into?” moment. But after a couple beers and some laughs, we decided to “look on the Bright Side” and realize we’d already come this far so let’s push forward. Having to constantly remind ourselves of the positives during that process was also how we came up with our name! So with support from our families and our self-appointed general contractor, Kevin (Megan’s Dad, and our knight in shining armor), we were able to begin the complete remodel of our sweet little camper.

What lessons have you learned?
Oh man that’s a loaded question. Opening a business is never cut and dry, so you kind of learn as you go. When it comes to being in a 50/50 partnership, we have learned to lean heavily on each other’s strengths, but also support each other’s weaknesses. In terms of the business, we’ve learned to adjust our approach at times, based on specific wins or losses, so that we better cater to our consumers’ needs.

What do you want the world to know about your brand?
Our goal from the beginning, and moving forward, is for the craft coffee experience to be approachable, inviting, and always exciting. The beauty of mobile coffee is the ability to meet people where they are and really showcase the reasons we fell in love with the industry in the first place!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Northern Colorado has some amazing gems! Let’s start with Greeley. If you’re looking for a creative and inviting space with the best pour over coffees, you have to visit John Galt at the Atlas Theater. If you’re hungover, the breakfast burrito that will bring you back to life can be found at The Blue Mug. If you’re in the mood for live music and tacos, you can’t pass up the gorgeous rooftop at Luna’s and a show next door at the Moxi. Northern Colorado is a magical bubble in which you can throw a stone and hit an amazing brewery in any direction. Here are some of our favorites across the area. Odell is a must for their epic brews and incredible outdoor space. Maxline is very dog-friendly, and has a Bingo night that is truly unmatched. If you’re looking to get out of the hustle and bustle of Fort Collins, High Hops in Windsor is your spot, and Weld Works in Greeley is always top notch! In Fort Collins, the goal is to get outside. We love floating the Poudre River, or hiking Horsetooth rock and then cooling off after in the reservoir. If you’re visiting between the months of May to September the Fort Collins Food Truck Rally at City Park on Tuesdays hosts a large variety of food trucks and local live music.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
To be honest, we have been each other’s biggest fans since the inception of our friendship in college! Knowing we weren’t on this wild endeavor alone, was the thing that kept us going. A huge shoutout is owed to both our respective parents, as well as our partners, Shaun and Jessie. They were all the first to believe in us, and provided us with enthusiastic support the whole way through. We’d love to shout out Tanner Barkin, of Moore Collection, as he single handedly created our iconic logo that you know and love. We’d also love to thank our sweet friend, and college roomie, Emily Lundquist, who built our website, and helped create our overall branding. And of course we certainly can’t go without saying how thankful we are for our Northern Colorado community, who has welcomed us with open arms the last few years! Bright Side wouldn’t be here without all of you, and we are immensely grateful for all the love!

Website: https://brightsidecoffeetrailer.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightsidecoffeetrailer/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrightSideCoffeeTrailer

Image Credits
Stephanie Hindi (Hindi Rose Photography) Austin Hannon