Close-up of a perfectly poured caffe latte with delicate leaf latte art in a white ceramic mug on a warm wooden table

Artisanal Espresso · Slow-Brew

Where the morning unfolds, slowly

A Parisian-inspired espresso bar and slow-brew coffee house in Prior Lake, crafting micro-batch cold brew and golden, flaky pastries.

  • Locally Roasted Beans
  • Slow-Steeped 24 Hours
  • Apple Pay & Major Cards
24-Hour SteepedLaminated CroissantsSingle-Origin BeansPrior Lake FavoriteArtisanal Micro-RoastsParisian Atmosphere

Our Story

Bringing the slow rhythm of Parisian mornings to Minnesota

LoadTest Cold Brew 8 started with a simple, stubborn belief: that coffee shouldn’t be a rushed commodity. Inspired by the lingering afternoons we spent in quiet Parisian bistros, we set out to build a space where time slows down the moment you cross the threshold.

We source our beans from small-scale local roasters, selecting single-origin crops that tell a story of soil and season. Our signature cold brew is steeped patiently for twenty-four hours, extracting a deep, complex sweetness that needs no masking, while our pastry chef laminates dough daily using traditional French methods.

  • 24 Hours
    Cold brew steep time
  • 3 Days
    To laminate our croissants
  • 100%
    Locally sourced beans
  • Fresh Daily
    Baked in small batches
The warm, inviting interior of our rustic café with wooden tables, soft lighting, and a cozy corner setup
LoadTest Cold Brew 8 started with a simple, stubborn belief: that coffee shouldn’t be a rushed commodity.
LoadTest Cold Brew 8

How we do it

A few things we hold to.

  • Locally Roasted Beans

  • Slow-Steeped 24 Hours

  • Apple Pay & Major Cards

Café Voices

Loved by our regulars

  • "The cold brew is shockingly smooth—no bitterness, just clean blueberry and cacao notes. It has completely ruined standard coffee for me."
    Elena R.
    Prior Lake
  • "Their croissants shatter when you bite into them, exactly like the ones I had in Montmartre. A true neighborhood treasure."
    Marcus T.
    Savage
  • "I sit here every Thursday morning with a cortado and a book. The soft light, the quiet jazz, the aroma—it's my weekly sanctuary."
    Sophia K.
    Shakopee

Get fresh-out-of-the-oven updates