Heartland View

Media Credit: Cody Ward

Media Credit: Cody Ward

Media Credit: Cody Ward

Media Credit: Cody Ward

Coffee. The second largest traded commodity in the world. First discovered in Ethiopia about 1,500 years ago, two billion cups of coffee are consumed daily by people across the globe. One Kansas City, Mo. company uniquely brews and distributes this booming beverage.

Have a seat in a square royal blue chair at equally square tables. With single-bulb lights hanging above your head, set down your cup of coffee created in its purest form and relax at The Roasterie Café.

Founded in owner Danny O'Neill's basement in the Brookside neighborhood in 1993, The Roasterie has grown from a small hobby to an expanding business.

As a senior foreign exchange student in high school, O'Neill picked his first coffee bean and immediately fell in love with the area and the coffee. His relationship with coffee helped drive The Roasterie into a profitable multinational corporation, importing from more than twenty countries.

Exceptional techniques make The Roasterie beverages extraordinary. Employees operate machinery that air roasts rather than the standard drum roasting that 90% of coffee companies use.

During air roasting, a vortex of hot air powered by a forty horsepower blower circulates coffee beans within a bin. This process brings consistency to drying the beans, contrary to typical drum roasting.

"Much like a clothes dryer drying clothes, drum roasters tumble the beans around a bin," Dave Hermann, Chief Coffee Officer and tour guide said. "A dryer can often leave some clothes still wet and dry the rest. A drum roaster can bring the same results to drying coffee beans."

O'Neill claims The Roasterie is all about quality production. Never compromise quality for price. That part of the company's mission statement rings true in the company's practices.

While some coffee companies pay about 60 to 80 cents per pound for imported coffee beans, The Roasterie can pay $2 to $4 per pound for coffee beans.

"My favorite blend of The Roasterie coffee would have to be the Costa Rican Don Quijote green coffee," Bryan Maddy, avid coffee drinker said. "I can definitely taste the quality difference and I have to have a cup every morning."

Try some of The Roasterie's quality air roasted coffee blends for a change. They won't compromise the quality of your coffee for a heavier chunk of change.

For more information visit www.theroasterie.com.

Article Tools