Part One of Three in a short series looking at products available for sale on So AZ Made, a new directory of locally-made food and beverage products created through a partnership between Startup Tucson, Visit Tucson, and Tucson City of Gastronomy (TCoG).
Two years ago, Ombre Coffee Roasters did something unusual: It joined a local accelerator program that helps new companies launch and grow.
Why would Ombre — an already successful and locally loved company — join such a program? The answer? Owner Terry Kyte is humble enough to admit that he doesn’t know everything.
Kyte used the program Startup Tucson’s Food Forward accelerator to learn how to launch a new product he’d always wanted to try: canned cold brew coffee. The result? Ombre’s No Magic Cold Brew can now be purchased at Ombre Coffee and all Bisbee Breakfast Clubs across Tucson.
Below is my interview with Kyte about their new product No Magic Cold Brew, his experience in the Food Forward accelerator program, and what else is going on at Ombre.
Me: First, tell me about No Magic Cold Brew. What’s with the name No Magic?
Kyte: The industry would have you believe you need a lot of special equipment to produce quality cold brew coffee. That’s just not the case. All you need is good coffee, water, and time. We took a very simple approach. There’s no magic. We even tell you on the can how you can make it yourself at home.
Me: Why did you decide to get into the canned product space?
Kyte: We listened to our customers. During COVID, we started offering extra-large (64-ounce) take-home lattes. The response was huge. People wanted grab-and-go products. Now, with No Magic Cold Brew, you can keep a taste of Ombre in your refrigerator. We sell single cans or four packs.
Me: Tell me about Startup Tucson’s Food Forward program. Why did you do it? What did you get out of it?
Kyte: We’d never done a canned product before. I didn’t know where to start. Startup Tucson helped us with everything from nutritional labels to finding a canner to branding. The program brought in guest speakers and panelists who were very helpful, from the founders of Tucson Tamale to the head of operations at Eegee’s and a food scientist at the University of Arizona.
I also got a lot out of learning from other brands and companies in the program, including the Arizona Baking Company, Sunora Bacanora, and Spencer’s Shroomery. By the end of the program, I had the can and everything ready to go. It just took me a few more months to figure out how to actually make 300 gallons of cold brew.
We launched it in December of 2022 and it’s been selling well.
Me: Thanks, Terry. Congratulations on the launch.
Kyte: Thanks, man. Are you going to be at the next Tucson Originals meeting?
Me: Wouldn’t miss it!
To get a taste of No Magic Cold Brew, stop by Ombre Coffee at 2936 E. Broadway Blvd. The cold brew is made with Ombre’s coffee beans, which are available via wholesale (local restaurants that serve Ombre coffee include Tumerico, Gourmet Girls, Locale, and more), on shelves across Tucson in places like Tohono Chul, or online at ombrecoffee.com. They also offer coffee via a subscription delivery to local Tucson residents.
