Our Story

District #124 Coffee was founded in 2024 in Gordon, Nebraska, on the edge of the Nebraska Sandhills. Created by Lori, a retired public school educator and lifelong learner, it grew from a simple question: What’s next?

After 39 rewarding years in education, Lori followed her curiosity to coffee school in Auburn, Washington, where she fell in love with the craft of coffee roasting. What began as an adventure quickly became a passion—and an unexpected answer to, “What do you do now that you’re retired?”

The name District #124 honors the one-room country school attended by Lori, her brothers, and their father—where education first took root as a lifelong value. Our roast and blend names represent everyday life in education.

Today, coffee is roasted in a converted shipping container perched on a hill overlooking the prairie, where big skies, beautiful sunsets, and carefully crafted coffee come together.

At District #124 Coffee our lesson plan is simple: roast a really good cup of coffee. With every smooth sip, we hope it reminds you of great teachers, good friends, and unforgettable school days.

As Aristotle said, "The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you."