Flashback! It’s 2014. While skinny jeans, denim on denim and “Lisa or Lena” Youtube videos trend, Micah Svejda had just left his job as a barista and managing cafés around the Twin Cities to move forward and pursue what he really wanted: to start a coffee company.

Svejda started Bootstrap Coffee Roasters, a coffee company with clear goals of making “clean, sweet and impeccably roasted” coffee. The intention behind the name “Bootstrap Coffee Roasters” was a hint at his plan: Svejda wanted to “bootstrap” his way onto the coffee scene, with the intention of growing organically and over the necessary amount of time. This meant no investors, no pre-inherited company, just a few beans and a dream.

Almost a decade later, in 2022, after relocating their roastery location and introducing a coffee bar, Bootstrap Coffee Roasters released an official statement changing their name to Backstory Coffee Roasters, saying that, “After eight years we really weren’t that small, scrappy startup any longer.” Their new name was an homage to the patience and passion Svejda and his crew had dedicated to the company.

Now, with locations in North Loop Minneapolis, Downtown St. Paul and Bloomington Central Station, Backstory has expanded significantly. Svejda’s goal to organically expand Backstory Coffee Roasters had succeeded and now had spread across the Twin Cities. The North Loop location appears as if Hogwarts were transformed into a café-workspace. The coffee bar features clean yet warm, dim lighting that creates a calm feeling while ordering or sitting at the bar. The interior of the café is incredibly spacious; tall bookshelves and plants line the walls and lining the ceiling facing the street are windows, allowing for natural light to fill the space. Seating options include sofas, circular tables and a long work table located in the middle of the space.

A consistent personal favorite of Backstory’s menu selection is their iced chai latte, a classic that rarely disappoints, regardless of location. A good seasonal option is their “Pumpkin Patch Chai” latte, a unique spin on the classic pumpkin spice chai. This latte features other spices, ditching the sweet nature of pumpkin spice for a more earthy, gripping flavor.

Additionally, Backstory’s bakery selection is also extensive, featuring chocolate chip cookies, cake donuts, flaky hand pies and more. The brown butter blueberry muffin is a delightful choice for a breakfast on the go, pre-lunch snack, or an afternoon munch.

Backstory is a gorgeous location, reliable for any possible need. Three hours of homework due tomorrow? Go to Backstory. Meeting with a friend in town for the weekend? Go to Backstory. In search of a new niche drink? Go to Backstory. The surrounding area is full to the brim with a variety of restaurants and retail stores, offering the perfect afternoon excursion: coffee, lunch, or shopping.

From roasting downtown to storefronts around the Twin Cities, Backstory’s emergence as a local business has shown that when projects are started out of passion and love, they can’t help but succeed with time. Despite its slightly hidden location in North Loop on Washington Ave, Backstory is always full of warm faces and warmer coffee, ready to greet customers.

★★★★☆

Gallery • 2 Photos

Senetneb Theba

WARM WELCOME. Baristas are hard at work behind the bar, tinted by comforting warm yellow lighting.