Always on the lookout for great roasters (I generally buy a bag of fresh roasted when I am visiting someplace). So who is your favorite local-ish (not necessarily around the corner, but at least within a reasonable driving distance) roaster?
For me:
- Virginia (northern): Cafe Kreyol
- Virginia (eastern shore): Eastern Shore Coastal Roasting Company
- Virginia (Hampton Roads): Pale Horse Coffee
Oslo: Tim Wendelboe and Fuglen coffee. When I used to live in Copenhagen: Prolog and Coffee Collective
I’d like to add Supreme Roastworks as well. And if we’re including Norway in general I’ve had some really good coffee from Langøra Kaffebrenneri
We’re going on a cruise next year from Reykjavik to London, with ports in Alesund, Geiranger, and Bergen. I’ll have to keep my eyes out for any of the above. Thanks!
I was just in Bergen and I had Langøra at a small, cosy café. “Det Lille Kaffekompaniet”. It’s close to Fløibanen, which is a sort of railway up to the top of Fløyen which has a beautiful of the city of Bergen. Also worth a visit of the weather is nice.
We’re from all over the world, here’s mine for Bulgaria. The top 5 largest cities are about 4-5 hours away from each other by car so it’s all “local”.
- Varna: Jasmin coffee. Three words: Yirgacheffe blueberry explosion!
- Sofia: Martines coffee. They seem to like spicy coffee if that makes sense.
- Sofia: Daboff. By fast the most popular in the country with a huge assortment. Too boogie for my tastes and their more affordable coffees didn’t exactly make me go wow. BUT, I had a Costa Rican coffee at 20€/200g that smelled of cocoa and chocolate, extremely light bodied, almost like tea so they deserved a mention.
Finland 🇫🇮
Helsinki
- Kaffa Roastery
- Holmen Coffee
Lappeentanta
- Lehmus Roastery
- Makea Coffee (sadly they have suspended the operation for now)
Turku
- Turun kahvipaahtimo
Shit dude, you get around!
I have visited most of them and fortunately all of them (and many more) have a roast to order service with one or two day delivery.
It’s fun to experience different roasters and beans as they are so easily accessible here.
Same. Stumptown
We also drink our coffee sideways up here in the upper left. The 45th parallel is crazy.
In Scotland that I’ve tried, Figment in Aberdeen, Glen Lyon in Aberfeldy, Roaring Stagg in Ballater, particularly love their Dark Lochnagar blend done to the second crack, great cup of coffee
All in the Sacramento California USA area more or less
- Mast Coffee Company
- Temple Coffee Roasters
- Drink Coffee Do Stuff
- Remedy Supply Co. (Shameless plug, this is me)
Im new to Chicago. Any recommendations here?
I recommended Metropolis. I’ve never actually had their roasted coffee, but when I was roasting somewhere that did regional exclusives on certain lots they would frequently be the ones with a lot I had but in the Midwest. So I can say for certain they’re at least buying really good coffee.
thanks!
Here’s some of my favorites in Massachusetts:
Rail Trail Roasters in Maynard (very small)
Broadsheet in Cambridge
New discovery from the Berkshires (western Mass): No. Six Depot
Dallas, TX area:
- Eiland Coffee Roasters (my personal favorite)
- Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters
- Ascension Coffee Roasters
Pretty sure all 3 have some kind of online shipping option too.
Bay Area:
- Mother Tongue
- Hydrangea
- Flower Child
Atlanta, GA: In order of preference
- Portrait Coffee
- Bellwood Coffee
- East Pole Coffee Co
I’ve never been to Atlanta so I can’t comment on the others, but I used to work with one of the East Pole founders back when I was roasting in Phoenix and I only have good things to say.
What a small world! The people at East Pole are super passionate about their coffee. Every time I go, I chat with the staff there and they always ask about my brewing setup, what ratios of coffee to water I’m using, etc. You can tell they all love what they do.
UK Midlands - Yellow Bourbon in Northampton, Outpost in Nottingham
Drive up a bit further on the eastern shore and check out Rise Up. They have a number of physical locations to go to. Great food at most of them too.
We head up via the Eastern Shore to Annapolis with our Motorhome all the time. I noticed they have two locations in Annapolis, and we’ll be there for Labor Day Weekend - so I will definitely check them out!
Their frozen hot chocolate is delicious too.
Thanks for the steer. They are now a go-to on our way back down to VA Beach when we camp in Annapolis.
You are welcome! What did you end up getting?
Vancouver, BC
Current favs:
House of Funk Also a pretty top notch brewery; lives up to the name (lots of funky/unusual flavours).
Rocanini Was recently wowed by their very lightly roasted fruit bomb from Burundi.
Minneapolis:
- True Stone Coffee Roasters
- Just Steve’s Bean Factory
- Dunn Bros
