Sip like Rip
Yellowstone cowboy Cole Hauser rustles up new coffee brand made in Texas
![Cole Hauser, Free Rein coffee](https://austin.culturemap.com/media-library/cole-hauser-free-rein-coffee.jpg?id=49462974&width=2000&height=1500&quality=65&coordinates=100%2C0%2C18%2C0)
Coffee in the barn, why not?
It's not quite the same as waking up to coffee with Rip Wheeler in the morning, but Yellowstone'sCole Hauser has launched a new coffee line that pays tribute to cowboys like his character on the hit show. Called Free Rein Coffee Company, the brand is a partnership among Hauser and three friends, and is made in Texas.
According to a release, in 2022, Hauser and his friends Karl Pfluger, Aron Marquez, and Paul Anderson purchased a small-batch roasting facility in San Angelo to craft their coffee.
"Together they searched for a roaster who embodied the pioneer's spirit, and eventually found the Deckers, a family that had been roasting coffee in San Angelo, Texas for over 25 years," the release says. "The four friends decided to bring the family's West Texas heritage and know-how, and run with it, to wherever dreams are being chased."
Free Rein launches with six different blends:
- Heavy Spur — a high caffeine blend
- Branded — a "fiery blend" of cayenne and cinnamon
- American Dirt — Hauser's signature dark roast blend
- Homestead — "a balanced, comfortable coffee to relax by the fire with"
- Prospect —a light roast that's smooth but still full-flavored
- Mesteño— meaning "wild horse," a bold and balanced blend
Each is available in whole beans, ground beans, and single-serve pod formats. Twelve-ounce bags sell for $15.99 on the Free Rein website. (Inquiries about local retailers have not yet been answered as of press time.)
In addition to coffee, Free Rein also sells a line of drinkware and apparel including hats, shirts, and more.
A portion of sales will go to the nonprofit Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which empowers families of fallen and severely wounded Special Operations warriors. Hauser is a longtime patron and board member.
Hauser has portrayed heartthrob Rip Wheeler (aka Beth Dutton's hubby) on Yellowstone since 2018. While Hauser doesn't live in Texas, he's made a couple of sold-out appearances at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, and one of his sons attends TCU.
"With Free Rein, we're not only crafting a premium coffee experience, but also paying a heartfelt homage to the American Dream," Hauser says in the release. "As a nation built on dreams and aspirations, we want to inspire the go-getters, the dreamers, and the believers to fuel their pursuits.
"Just as the American Dream knows no boundaries, we aim to exceed expectations and create a legacy of our own — one that is deeply connected to our roots and the core values that shaped us. I am so excited for everyone to finally have their hands on this coffee."