Lyz Jaakola and Jackson Ripley’s COVID decision is now slinging lattes.

The drive-thru MiigWitches Brew coffee shop has been up and running for about a month right off of Big Lake Rd. on the Fond du Lac Reservation.

“You have to go into Cloquet or you have to go all the way up to Duluth to get really good coffee,” Ripley said.

Jaakola gets the credit for the name.

“So I’m a teacher. I’ve been teaching for 32 years now. And when I first started teaching, it was really trying to … get more use of language,” she said. “So I thought, well this would be a good opportunity to familiarize some people with the word ‘thank you,’ miigwech.”

They tossed around a few ideas but decided there was a lot they could do with MiigWitches Brew.

The maple latte is their specialty. It’s made with Spirit Lake Maple Syrup, another Native business.

“I’ve been watching YouTube videos, I’ve been watching about latte art and how to make the right amount, doses, all the stuff that goes along with making a good latte,” Ripley said. “And maple has always been the go-to for us.”

The Ripley-Jaakola kids work in the shop, and they’re looking forward to lots of traffic coming through for the Fond du Lac Veterans Powwow this weekend. It runs Friday and Saturday at the powwow grounds on Hwy 210 and Mission Rd.