Fresh Art: New bag design print ! - Friday, July 18th

Roos Roast will be releasing it's latest Linoleum block cut bag print "Shadow Brew" at the 2008 Summer Shadow Art Fair and guess what it's free with every bag of Roos Roast! Check it out and hope to see you there!
Roos Over and Out!

Posted by John at 12:45pm :: 0 comments
 

Roos News - Thursday, July 17th

This Saturday Visit me and the rest of the gang at Shadow Art Fair in Ypsilanti at the Corner Brewery. I will Return to the the Ann Arbor Farmers Market on Wednesday July 23rd where the Vibers meet get good eats. (Dude, I have been eating so well this summer!) Super shout out to my fellow Vibers at Tantre Framers! Richard, David and Greg! Vibe on Brothers! Broccoli is the highest source of vegetable protein. Garlic is better 10 mothers, what's better than 10 mothers? Garlic!

When the weather gets this hot slow down, don't over book, relax and listen to some Chet Baker, Miles Davis, or any other cool jazz. Avoid driving when every possible the pot holes have teeth!

The Art Fair is on! If your strolling and searching on North University check out The U of M School of Art and Design's
The Playnation Anmiation Station Make your own Animation!


This week Roos Roast is hosting the University of Michigan Business School's LEAD Program with a coffee class and a lecture on Monday the 21st

Lobster Butter Love to all!

Your faithful Roaster
John Roos

Posted by John at 11:12am :: 2 comments
 

Wild Week of Roasting - Tuesday, July 1st

No, the roaster didn’t catch on fire. The exact opposite actually. And by roaster, I mean me, not the machine. I got drenched twice on the bike while delivering coffee, and we all got slammed at the farmers market on Saturday during a huge downpour. Sweaty, hot, and humid! But I’ve got to give it up to the hardcore Ann Arborites who are just that dedicated to buying local… the rain didn’t stop the sales or the excellent vibe. The market is a true microcosm of this town… a really great group of people selling to an even greater community.

Speaking of great people at the market, come on down and pick yourself up some of Grandma’s killer baked goods! My own Grandma passed in 1997 at the age of 93. We were very close and used to correspond by mail… I miss her. For whatever reason, if your own Granny isn’t able to serve up the cookies and milk, you’ve got a Grandma at the market every Wednesday and Saturday. Rain or shine, hot or cold, she’s there with homemade cookies, pies, and eggs. Check her out.

The latest development at Roosroast is the all new: "Starbucks De-programming Center" available on request at the market during slow times. (Please be ready to step aside when someone actually needs coffee with a quickness.) This re-programming/de-programming is based on a teaching technique developed back in the early 1990’s during my stint as a snowboard instructor in Breck and Vail, Colorado. (Summers were spent in the Columbia Gorge windsurfing and running my burrito truck, The Killer Take out Stand. Rough life, eh?) We often had to de-program people who had wild misconceptions about boarding, and used a combination of crude yoga moves, ecstatic dance, and two Jungle Brothers tunes to release our students from the inner boundaries of their office cubicle-filled minds. By the end of their all day lesson they were usually rocking down the entire mountain.

I realized the need for the Starbuck's De-programming Center today when someone at the market and ordered a “whole milk, extra hot, vanilla latte with 5 pumps and whipped cream.” I actually reached for the porta-filter and started making their drink, then realized I didn’t have an espresso machine, or any such mechanism to pump 5 times, nor whipped cream! Though I’m not going to be putting anyone in a yoga pose anytime soon, we can certainly talk about your coffee habit while I get you some simple but beautiful fresh roast.

Looking forward to more fresh veggies and all the fresh writing going on in the blog-o-sphere. Check out all the foodies by searching roos roast on the web.(for some reason the web address I tried to write a link to for Dianna Dyer didn't work?)

Posted by John at 10:07am :: 5 comments
 

From the post office to the roast office - Tuesday, June 24th

I just received shipment of two great coffees!

Here is word from my broker Andrew Blyth at Royal Coffee about these beans:

"The arrival of the Organic Ethiopian Korate Natural Sidamo Rain forest Alliance Coffee has produced a record-breaking day in Royal NY’s cupping room! Our graders’ cupping notes were perfect 10’s across the board for this outstanding coffee. With a sweet berry aroma, this cup is a dream from start to finish. Starting with strong citrus tones, accompanied with a floral, berry-like flavor, and wrapped up with a cinnamon finish – this coffee can be compared to the Fruit Loops cereal – it will leave you wanting more, more, more!

Also the 2008 crop of The Salvador SHG Cerro Las Ranas Pulped Natural Rain Forest Alliance – This is our first new crop delivery of last year’s biggest hit and the 2008 crop is just as amazing! The cup lives up to the Cerro tradition, with a creamy break followed by caramel and lemony notes. The lively acidity, smooth body, and creamy, chocolate taste definitely make us realize how much we’ve missed this coffee."

See you tomorrow at the Farmer's Market--I'll bringing these new coffees!

Posted by John at 11:24am :: 4 comments
 

Sand Lot Situation - Tuesday, June 17th

If you're familiar with the Saturday version of the Ann Arbor Farmer's market, you know the dirt lot in the middle of the market as a "no man's land" where no farmer would ever set foot. It was never really clear if that space was for parking, a possible petting zoo, or where the horses used to be tied up. I'm here to let you know this area is The Sand Lot and where Roos Roast set up shop this past Saturday. (Now remember, this is only for the Saturday Market. On Wednesdays you'll find me under the actual market area because it's not as busy.)



With the help of gas prices, folks are making big changes. Driving less, walking more, being local, eating locally grown food and reusing their shopping bag for as long as possible.
This new awareness has changed the perception of space at the market too. It's simple gentrification at work right inside the universe of our very own deep local tradition of the market.

Under the direction of Molly Notarianni, the market is able to handle the overflow of vendors in an organized and easy going fashion. The Sand Lot is still slightly ghetto, but is home to a good many great vendors--Roos Roast included.

We've all heard people talking about market strategies--not the New York Stock Exchange, I'm talking about how people plan their course through what can appear to be an overwhelming, experience which requires a planned route. Here is another tradition in action, and many times for good reason. People want to be sure they get Shannon Brines' spinach and mixed greens before he runs out. Or pick up on the veggie vibe from Richard and his crew of followers of Tantre Farms. He vibed Katherine and me with what Katherine called "Olympic spinach" because it was so robust and huge. (We made this spinach pesto that was out of this world!) Or people are in a hurry and don't want to get bogged down in long conversation about the same old, same old, and just want to get home and start cooking. I've heard people passing by say "I never even stop at this part of the market" on their way to bigger and better things.


Hey it's summer, I'm thinking take a chance, change your course, look around and see what's out there!

See you at the Market this Wednesday and Saturday. I have no idea where I'll be set up but I know I'll be there somewhere, so come and find me.
John Roos

Posted by John at 8:17pm :: 0 comments
 

Ann Arbor Farmer's Market + Roos Roast = perfect fit! - Thursday, June 12th

Wake up time for market 5:00 AM; Here is what I saw:

Cool calm with much to be done! I joined other early risers taking in the dawn light, blooming summer, drunken robin song, traffic lights flashing yellow and the beginnings of driver madness brewing in tail-gater freedom with room to speed.

The Market is calm at 6:00AM as farmers and vendors set up, but time moves swiftly from there on.

I have a new respect for those who've made the market possible all these years and the ones making it now. This is one of the oldest "Deep Local" experiences still experience-able here in A-squared.

Molly Notarianni has really done a great job establishing herself in the tough position of market manager.

People are proud to be living local, walking local, buying local, supporting local, shopping with the same bag over and over locally and basically releasing themselves from that rubber hitting the road everyday grind.
The food aware are there getting excited about food from seed to stomach.
Here are some snap shots from this great day!

Posted by John at 8:29am :: 4 comments
 

For Quality Assurance Purposes - Monday, June 9th

Roos Roast will be available at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market in Kerry town beginning this Wednesday from 6 AM till 3 PM.
Get local, be local, see you at the market with fresh brew and fresh roast.
Hope to see you there.

Posted by John at 8:21pm :: 4 comments
 

Please Note: - Wednesday, June 4th

I will be out of town this weekend.
Orders received after noon on Thursday 6/5/08 will be roast and shipped Monday 6/9/08.

You can find Roos Roast at The People Food Co-op Cafe Verde, and the latest sweet place to get Roos Roast is Ride custom bicycle builders.

I met Ryan and Jed and explained to them since they're located between where I roast coffee and were I live and I'm always passing by, on bike delivering coffee, what better place to have Roos Roast for people on bikes and they said YES! Their brick and mortar location is at 924 North Main.

Here is a shot of me delivering coffee to Charlie and Jeff long time scientists who drink Roos Roast.
I started off riding at night and arrived the next morning on North Campus for the delivery. (notice I changed hats during the ride) I ride really slow.
I hope to be making many trips to North Campus for all the Coffee Geeks working there.

Posted by John at 10:08am :: 1 comments
 

Coffee Camp Follow up. - Monday, June 2nd

Sunday's Coffee Camp included a field trip to Roos Roast headquarters in lower town where coffee was roasted and Liz Goodenough made a public confession that she drinks Taster's Choice and is now born again. I want to plant her in every class because it was so classic the way she came out with this fact in the presence of some serious coffee people.

The tasting took place with brunch back at the destination space on Felch Steet. My house is now the last bohemian adventure. So contrary to what many of you may have thought I'm not home-less and I do not live in a barn.

The great mix of people was in my opinion the glue that creates community and Quiche. I would like to thank everyone for coming and making camp what it was.

I'm here to report, real men do eat quiche, I saw them.

I pulled out a quiche recipe from Le Crab Catcher restaurant in La Jolla California. (I worked there in 1984 and started each day with a bike ride from Mission Beach and a swim to rinse off at "The Cove." and was ready to start work at 7:00 AM under the most severe conditions.) I took advantage of the incredible local asparagus that is so abundant right now. "The people they love!" Another hit was a mousse of roasted red peppers, smoked salmon and cream cheese for the fresh bagels.

Amy Meyers purchased a 5 person group pass to this camp at a silent auction for Project Grow spreading roots of Roos further into the weave of this life we call Michigan.
Some of the interesting characters were Homeless Dave, who hosts Teeter Talk, and Michael Flynn, who is known for bio diesel cars and fur covered bicycles and Liz Goodenough who has been converted from The instant coffee realm of Taster's Choice to the fresh roast coffee of Roos Roast. By the way Lisa Waud is now doing Liz's garden with her business Pot and Box

The African and more specifically the Ethiopian Sidamo was the preferred profile.

Finally I will leave you with this great comment from Ava Butz which I just got this morning and have permission to pass on:

Now I have to get roasting coffee!

John Roos

"We had a dinner party for 24 people tonight and served your coffee. We received so many unsolicited compliments about how wonderful the coffee was, and I was able to pass on your postcards and stickers to many people. Thank you for making us look good! Thank you for making the coolest coffee around these here parts.

Cheers,

Ava"

Posted by John at 4:56pm :: 2 comments
 

What: Coffee Class - Friday, May 30th

Where: 517 Felch Street (between Spring and Fountain)

When: Sunday June, 1st 2008 10:45 AM

Deep, local Ann Arbor without the hassle of traffic, parking or lines of people.

Come as you are or dress up. It doesn't matter.
This is Grass Roots, word of mouth at its finest.

What does this all mean?

It means fresh roast coffee, learning and interesting people to share a gourmet breakfast/brunch with.

It's a neighborhood experience you won't want to miss For more info go to
Coffee Class

Posted by John at 1:14pm :: 0 comments