From a Popcorn Popper to Main Street: Twin Valley Coffee History

Twenty years ago, Twin Valley Coffee looked very different from what it does today. In fact, it was more of a hidden gem that started without the bells and whistles.

There were no cafes. No drive-thrus. There was nothing beyond a dream and an incredible curiosity for what could be.

How a Popcorn Popper Produced Gold

In August of 2005, Lynn began roasting coffee in small batches at home. Armed with bulldog determination, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a desire to create something that held value to people, he spent his free time experimenting with coffee (with the help of an unconventional tool- a popcorn popper) and dreaming. Alongside his wife Lynne, he held on to the faith that something incredible was brewing just beneath the surface.

Then came a small but significant moment.

In October 2005, Twin Valley Coffee received its first paid order: one pound of coffee. To many, that might not sound like much, but to the Burkholders, it changed everything. It was a clear sign that people genuinely enjoyed what was being created. What began as a hobby suddenly felt like the beginning of something much more.

Just a few months later, in February 2006, the first coffee roaster was fabricated, marking the beginning of what would eventually become Twin Valley Coffee.

Serving A Blossoming Community

As the years passed, Twin Valley Coffee continued to grow. Slow and steady was the goal.

By 2010, roasting coffee beans had evolved into serving coffee directly to customers at the local farmers’ market. Every cup created an opportunity for conversation, connection, and community.

Then, on September 1, 2010, the very first roadside stand opened.

Simple in appearance but full of possibility, the stand represented a new chapter. It was proof that coffee could be more than a product—it could become a gathering place.

The Beautiful Gazebo Years

In 2012, the famous gazebo was built.

It was a practical solution for serving customers quickly, but it also became something much more meaningful. The gazebo became a place for genuine community.

It was where students stopped after school. Where friends met for coffee dates. Where conversations lingered and changed topics many times over. Where concerts filled the evening air like cicadas in summer. Where countless memories were made over countless cups of coffee.

The growing community also brought another milestone: the hiring of Twin Valley Coffee’s first non-family employee, Hayley.

The gazebo may have started as a structure, but it quickly became the heart of a community.

Growing Beyond the Gazebo

Small beginnings grew into a place filled with familiar faces, traditions, music nights, and a sense of community. The gazebo days were full from start to finish.

However, in 2020, due to COVID, the gazebo had to close. While the closure began as temporary, it became clear that the space could no longer support the business's growing needs — particularly in parking and accessibility.

But the vision never stopped. Behind the scenes, planning for the future began and has simply never stopped. Conversations, sketches, construction plans, and dreaming continued long before the doors reopened.

The goal was never to replace the gazebo but to honor it while building something lasting for the future.

Expanding the Story

Along the way, Twin Valley Coffee continued to grow.

New cafes opened at Shady Maple, Eagleview, West Chester, and River Station. Each location brought its own personality while remaining rooted in the same values that shaped the company from the beginning: excellent coffee and community beyond the cup.

For Twin Valley Coffee, growth was never about moving away from its roots.

It was about creating more places where people could gather, connect, and belong.

Coming Home

And now, twenty years later, we find ourselves back where it all began.

The opening of Main Street is more than just a new cafe. It’s a homecoming!

What started with a popcorn popper, a dream, and a small gazebo has become something so much grander than we could’ve imagined, not because of coffee alone, but because of the people who supported us every step of the way.

To every customer who stopped by for a morning coffee before work, thank you.

To every employee who helped carry the vision forward and invested themselves to make this the beautiful place it is today, thank you.

To every friend, family member, neighbor, and community supporter who believed in us and continues to show up, thank you.

Main Street represents both a return home and the beginning of a brand-new chapter of possibility. We are honored to continue serving coffee we’re proud of and building community with the people who made this story possible.

Twenty years in, we’re so excited about what comes next.

Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that the best chapters are still waiting to be written.