Brooklyn Park Entrepreneur Blends Coffee with CrossFit

The best part of waking up has a new foothold in Brooklyn Park — and it’s inextricably linked with fitness and its owner, Jesse Hill.

“Honestly, roasting [coffee] is kind of peaceful,” Hill told CCX News.

Hill has two big passions in life: CrossFit and coffee. He says exercise and coffee are a natural pairing.

“I think people who work out tend to like caffeine, whether it’s preworkout or so on,” he said. “So I think a lot of people in the gym space are coffee drinkers.”

One day, Hill thought he could combine his twin passions into a side business. But how?

The idea started with a name: Training Grounds.

“I mean obviously the name Training Grounds is a word play on coffee and fitness, like a platform to train and coffee grounds,” Hill said.

After developing the brand, he met another coffee roaster with equipment and a willingness to teach.

Jesse Hill labels a bag of coffee. He started the Brooklyn Park-based coffee brand Training Grounds.

“I reached out to him and I said, ‘hey, I want to learn more about what you’re doing, can I help you at a farmer’s market or any upcoming events,'” Hill said. “I just want to learn more about this space. And then he invited me over and basically showed me and taught me the roasting process.”

With a concept in place, he just needed customers. That’s where his friends and comrades in the CrossFit community come in.

“It’s just been a very natural place for me to share the product because a lot of people are looking for, whether it’s just a daily drinker or a pick-me-up before they go train,” he said.

Now, with a final logo shaped like a sideways kettle bell, Hill’s monthly subscription service is buzzing.

And while he hopes to grow it in the future, he still finds satisfaction in serving a great cup of joe.

“It gives me something that I can give to someone else, and I love that piece of it,” he said. “Especially when I give something to someone and then they enjoy it and are like, man I really enjoyed that cup of coffee. It’s energizing.”

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