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Permalink Reply by Spencer on May 9, 2008 at 11:41am

Denise -

The best option would be to get coffee from all the roasters you are considering and taste the coffee to make your own decision:

Dillanos and Dancing Goats (Batdorf&Bronson) are fine suppliers.
You may also wish to consider:

Zoka
CounterCulture
Stone Cup
Thomas Hammer
Alterra
Barefoot Coffee
Thanksgiving Coffee Co.
Urban City
Paradise Roasters
Coffee Klatch

There are many, many more top-tier coffee roasters who should be happy to sell specialty coffee to you.

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Permalink Reply by Denise Smith on May 9, 2008 at 12:31pm

Of all those you mentioned I only know Dillanos, Dancing Goats and Zoka. We enjoyed Chaos Coffee as much for it's attitude as for the flavor. I've tried Park Side but was not impressed... it could have been that their beans were a bit old by the time we had a chance to sample them. We were only able to run taste tests on brewed coffees as we do not own nor have access to an espresso machine right now (thus my questions about order of equipment). We did enjoy Dillanos at Atlanta Coffee Fest. It was the best espresso I had at the fest. We also tried Java Estates, they had some good coffees and I know they can supply some of our other needs as well. (nice, light in flavor, peaberry).
I just think it really stinks that we hired a consultant to help with all of these details and now we have to do it on our own. I even have to rework our equipment list, layout, and elevations.

Thank you for the new names I'll check them out and see if they can send samples for us to test. I'm trying to keep notes because it is taking so long.
"I'm as green as a pre-roasted bean". But I'm willing to learn!

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Permalink Reply by Spencer on May 10, 2008 at 3:43pm

Java Estate and Chaos Roasters are very respectable and worthy of a second look.

Please consider the roasters based on their individual merit: cup the coffee blind, or brew/extract anonymous and make your quality decisions without knowing the roasters. Rank the coffees in order of preference. Then purchase the best coffee that you can afford.


Do you have connections with another espresso bar locally, one who would let you pull a few shots to test your coffee? If not, you best option is to french press the coffees and judge on sweetness, acidity, body, and aftertaste.

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Permalink Reply by Matt Milletto on May 11, 2008 at 5:09pm

Denise,

Seems like Dancing Goats would be a great choice given your proximity to Atlanta. If you want to give me a call I can make an introduction there for you. I have been very impressed with their coffee lately.

- Matt

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Permalink Reply by Denise Smith on May 11, 2008 at 5:48pm

Thank you Matt. How far out from opening should I make that contact? We haven't broken ground yet but I am plotting everything out on a time line. We are making some decisions about products and suppliers so that when the building is ready so are we. The coffee house about thirty minutes away sells Dancing Goats in one pound retail bags. I'm not sure who they use for the house.

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Permalink Reply by Denise Smith on May 28, 2008 at 3:00pm

So, no one here has tried or uses Steaming Bean out of Telluride, Colorado?
Not having the ability to do a cupping here I was hoping some one might have already tried it. If anyone is interested you can contact Mick Hill and see if he will send you some samples... I'd love to get some feedback on it. Like I stated before one of the blends we are considering is Velvet Hammer.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Haeger on May 28, 2008 at 3:49pm

Forget what other people think.

What do YOU think?

But don't limit yourself to just one roaster when considering a roaster for your shop.

Hiring a consultant is smart, however, they will not make your decisions for you. They will guide you through the process to ensure you come out with a successful model.

I do think, though, that if they are worth their salt, they should be able to at least give you a list of roasters to consider sampling, as well as to discuss the sampling afterward.

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Permalink Reply by Spencer on June 7, 2008 at 7:13pm

Also I suggest that you consider: Carrboro Coffee Company in North Carolina.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Givens on June 13, 2008 at 5:10am

Hi Denise. I grew up in Tullahoma, so it's encouraging to see a quality-minded person planning a shop there. Have you looked at Stone Cup in Chattanooga? Rarecoffee.com, the roasting side of Greyfrier's in Chattanooga does a really good job also.

For me, having a local roaster is important, since it not only reduces your shipping charges, but also the amount of time that your coffee has to sit in the UPS truck in 90 degree heat in July. Being able to stop in and make that personal connection is important too.

Good luck and the next time I'm in town, I'll check out your shop when you're up and running!

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Permalink Reply by Chad Maslanka on June 13, 2008 at 5:39am

I would def suggest someone in close proximity to your new shop. You do not need a 4 day fedex ride for your coffee to get to you. There are some really great choices here in the southeast, but what matters most is what you enjoy and what you can afford. I have to also give my company, Dilworth Coffee a shout out too, because we are right there in the southeast too.

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Permalink Reply by Denise Smith on June 13, 2008 at 6:59pm

Thanks Jeff,
I found Greyfrier's of Chattanooga on the web before but I didn't understand the two names and who was who.
Is Grayfier's the coffee and tea shop and Rare Coffee the roaster's brand name? I'll check them out again and plan a visit the next time I'm down there. I love to go to Rembrandt's cafe on the hill near the museum. They have a chocolate house and fresh pastries that are amazing! Add art galleries, museums, wonderful restaurants, and a coffee roaster. It's truly an experience!
Now I just have to find Grayfrier's.

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Permalink Reply by Denise Smith on June 13, 2008 at 7:04pm

Chad, when we are ready can we contact you about receiving a few samples so we can try your roasts?

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