BY Stephanie Bernaba
Most gas stations have their regulars, but few inspire the kind of loyalty The Filling Station Coffee Haus in Berne has earned since its opening seven years ago.
When Mike and Lara Collette opened the shop along U.S. 27 North in the fall of 2019, they traded petroleum for pour-overs and turned a roadside relic into a local gathering place. Five years and one ownership change later, their community has only grown.
Since the current owners, Eric, Logan, and Brad Jutte, took over in May 2025, the shop has maintained its original spirit while quietly expanding its offerings. The core menu remains, but the Jutte’s team has added monthly featured drinks, dirty sodas, cheeseburgers, and a more extensive selection of
baked goods.
“We make all our food as it’s ordered, so it’s fresh for everybody,” said Manager Dinelle Crous.
A range of flavors
The Filling Station’s coffee is sourced exclusively from Hemisphere Coffee Roasters in Mechanicsburg, Ohio. The shop carries a house roast along with flavored beans. Blueberry, a customer favorite, is served on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and bags of patrons’ favorite blends are available for purchase to brew at home. Bestselling drinks include the Mocha Miracle and Chai Latte.
Featured drinks rotate monthly and are developed in conjunction with the cafe’s staff.
“We get a lot of employee input on what they think would work as well as our customers,” Crous said. “If they come through and say, ‘I want to try these flavors together,’ and we make it, and it’s good, we put it on the menu.”
Food for everyone
The Filling Station also serves Lotus Energy drinks, a plant-based energy syrup mixed with club soda and flavoring of the customer’s choice. For those with dietary restrictions, the shop offers gluten-free buns, a gluten-free snickerdoodle cookie, and
dairy-free milk alternatives, including almond, oat, and coconut. The shop is also working to add gluten-free wraps.
The chicken bacon ranch wrap, chicken salad croissant, and strawberry chicken salad are consistent bestsellers. Parties of all ages, from students to seniors to church groups, gather regularly at The Filling Station. The cafe is busiest daily between 11 a.m. and
2 p.m.
Online and phone-in ordering are both available, and DoorDash delivery will be available soon.
The Filling Station Coffee Haus
524 U.S. Highway 27 N., Berne, IN 46711
260-223-4885
thefillingstationcoffeehaus.com
Open Monday through Friday,
6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to
4 p.m. (The kitchen closes at 2 p.m.)
