THE STORY BEHIND THE RUMOR
How a family passion for flavored coffee turned into Northeast Iowa's favorite small-batch roastery.
It Started in a Garage.
Rumor Has It... Coffee Roasters began with Jerry and Sharon — two coffee lovers who turned a hobby into a craft. Working out of their garage in small-batch quantities, they developed a one-of-a-kind flavoring technique that set their coffee apart from everything else on the market: bold, true-to-flavor coffee without the bitterness.
For years, they shared it at local markets and through online orders, building a loyal following one cup at a time. The secret was simple: really good coffee, roasted with care, flavored our secret way.
Now It's Our Turn.
When Melanie and Mark had the chance to carry on what Jerry and Sharon had built, they didn't hesitate. Mark brings a lifelong background in agriculture, which is a natural fit for the patience and precision that great roasting requires. Melanie brings the heart and hustle that makes this more than just a business.
Together, they're now roasting out of their “top-secret coffee lab” in Sumner, Iowa, honoring the original recipe, perfecting the process, and building something they're genuinely proud of.
THE SECRET IS IN THE FLAVOR
Most flavored coffees taste like an afterthought. Ours don't. We use a proprietary flavoring technique perfected by the original founders. Our method infuses real, full flavor into every batch without bitterness or a sharp chemical finish.
The result? Coffee that actually tastes like what it says on the bag. Hazelnut that tastes like hazelnut. Cinnamon roll that tastes like Sunday morning. You get the idea.
All of our coffee is sold ground and roasted fresh in small batches because to us, quality matters more than quantity.
We're Just Getting Started.
Our short-term goal is simple: get our 30 best flavors in front of as many coffee lovers as possible. But we're not stopping there. We're expanding our lineup with cold brew and alcohol-infused varieties, exploring wholesale opportunities with local businesses, and growing toward a future where Rumor Has It... Coffee is a household name across Iowa and beyond.
One bag at a time, one roast at a time. We're glad you're along for the ride.
