By LUISA LOI
Special to the News-Times
A Navy veteran who has been pouring sweet brews for the soul is ready to serve the greater Whidbey population, with a prayer on the side upon request.
After nine months of operating outside the Navy Exchange on the Seaplane Base, Koehler (pronounced like “Taylor,” but with a K) Stephens’s coffee shop on wheels is finally hitting the road, headed to Mailliard’s Landing Nursery in Oak Harbor.
Surrounded by peaceful greenery, Sons of Neptune Espresso will make its debut this Saturday, welcoming new and familiar faces to a grand opening ceremony at 9 a.m. that will include a ribbon cutting, a raffle and a specialty drink, the Iced Coconut Creme Brulee Americano.
Other offerings include the Siren’s Song (a mix of Italian soda, blue raspberry and pineapple flavors topped with whipped cream), the Sakura Matcha Latte (made with espresso, steamed milk, matcha and a hint of cherry blossom), the Wave Runner (red bull mixed with coconut and pineapple juice), the Deck Ape Latte (flavored with peanut butter syrup and white chocolate) and more caffeinated and uncaffeinated options.
The best seller is the Kraken Mocha Madness, flavored with dark chocolate and blackberry syrup. For a light snack, one can choose between blueberry muffins, banana nut muffins and churro bites, among a few other options.
Stephens, 28, had long dreamed of owning her own coffee shop. Growing up in San Diego, she could not find a job as a barista due to her lack of experience, but this rejection would strengthen her determination to start her own business venture and hire herself.
She later joined the Navy, eventually serving as the boatswain’s mate on the USS Abraham Lincoln, where she met her husband Isaiah in 2019.
On this ship, while sailing across the ocean, the concept of Sons of Neptune Espresso was born, though it would take four more years to finally bring it to fruition as the couple welcomed four children and waited for a global pandemic to subside.
By August 2024, Stephens was taking orders from inside the three-horse trailer her husband renovated, making drinks inspired by her own imagination and the experience she got while working at a coffee shop following her detachment from the Navy.
For months, she struggled to get approval to operate in the county due to her refrigerator, which she had to replace twice before finally passing the inspection.
From now on, the coffee shop will operate Monday through Thursday at the plant nursery while continuing to serve the Navy community at the Seaplane Base on Fridays and Saturdays.
As Stephens prepared an Aviator Latte — a mix of marshmallow and cocoa — one could spot some military patches attached to the wall, as well as the sea- and military-inspired drink names.
Customers with a military background who bring patches or stickers can get a discount on their treats, she said. If they bring a challenge coin, they can get up to six free drinks depending on their rank and the story behind the coin.
“We love the Navy and that’s where our heart is,” she said, proudly showing the crossed anchors tattooed on her hand — a traditional marking for those who served as boatswain’s mates.
On top of serving quality drinks and boosting the morale of military members, Stephens’ mission is to “spread the gospel of Jesus Christ,” she said. No matter how long the line is, she is happy to take a moment to pray with customers if they wish.
While it took some saving and hard work to build her business up, Stephens believes she was able to kickstart it with the help of God.
One day, her husband asked her how much she would need to get started, and she jokingly said $10,000. A week later, the VA increased her disability rating and deposited that sum into her bank account.
To her, it was nothing short of a miracle.
For more information about Sons of Neptune Espresso, visit sonsofneptuneespresso.com.
Koehler Stephens serves an Aviator Latte to a freelance reporter. The anchors tattooed on her hand represent the time she served as boatswain’s mate on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
