I’m thrilled to announce that our newest piece of coffee machinery arrived earlier this week.  It’s an infrared roaster that will allow me to roast 35lbs per batch.  This will be a dramatic improvement over the current production capacity and I’m excited to start roasting on this beauty!

New Blacksmith Coffee Roaster

Of course, before that’s possible we have to install it.  It’s relatively heavy.  The combined shipping weight for both pieces was over 1600 pounds.  So, if you’re downtown today and are looking for a way to get your Greco-Roman deadlifting muscles some action, come on by.  I’m going to brew up some new Colombian I just roasted for samples.

Other newsworthy items

• The website is coming along but has been a minor source of frustration.  I’m determined to have something at least semicomplete by the end of the weekend.

• The Kiwanis pancake feed was a fun event for everyone last Saturday.  The pancakes and sausage were excellent and I was happy to provide some Guatemala for the giant percolators to work their…….hmmh, magic?  As you know, I’m not a fan of brewing via the percolator method, but to their credit – and the coffee’s credit, it was some of the best percolated coffee I’ve tasted!

• Scott’s Hometown Foods has more Guatemala in stock now if you’re looking for some.  I delivered more whole bean and ground varieties on Tuesday.  In the next couple weeks we’re going to set up a fun sampling event at Scott’s.  More news on that event is forthcoming.

• Jim Prugh, the owner of the blacksmith shop, emailed with the news that the building is now officially on the National Register of Historic Places.  So congratulations, Jim!

Thanks to all of you who have been so very supportive and encouraging!  The feedback has been wonderful and it’s really rewarding to hear people tell me that one of the Blacksmith Coffees is the “best cup of coffee I’ve ever had!”  It’s what makes it all worthwhile.   

Have a great weekend!

Mark