Enter the Dragon Eye... Did you know you can buy coffee beans from us right here at our Rosewood facility? The RoosRoast Coffee Works is showing signs of life, 1155 Rosewood, Suite B. We're here Monday to Friday from roughly ten am to five-ish pm (on occasion, we're out delivering mid-day). Call ahead 734-709-9565 if in doubt!
Sometimes it's the simple things that are the best. We have been listening to A World of Jazz on Blue Note featuring Jazz greats like Horace Silver, Stanley Turrentine, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Henderson and Donald Byrd. They're like flavor notes in a cup of joe.
Great Ideas and People: There is going to be a feature in next month's Current by Nick Roumel on Friday Mornings at SELMA. He sent a message out on Facebook asking for stories about Selma. I had this one but he'd already submitted his story. I was crushed, but then I remembered I had my own media outlet with my five readers at this blog so here it is for you!
When Jeff (ManHug) McCabe called me last year with this idea of cooking breakfast at his house on Friday mornings from 6:30-10:00 for 100 people, I agreed to meet with him and Lisa and further discuss the idea. He had the chickens, so he had some eggs; Lisa had the waffles and mad skills in the kitchen (and they have the most amazing kitchen). Jeff really wanted to put it all into numbers and spread sheets. He asked me "How do you know you're ready?" and I said. "You just prep and cook." I remember him asking me over and over "How many eggs can you cook in an hour?" While he was working out the technical logistics, I captured the McCabe intensity and have it here to share with you. (see journal page above)
That was 2/15/09, and now they have turned this thing into a breakfast salon second-to-none. It's been a great year of ideas, connections, relationships and community knowledge. People rave about Fridays at Selma. Its pure genius and simplicity demonstrate that all you need is a good idea and community drive. Fresh food, coffee, and tea, freshly prepared, and actual people sitting around actually talking to one another - in person! Selma is living the life and walking the walk in such a valuable part of this community. Thank you Jeff, Lisa and Nevon for giving up your house and allowing everyone a chance to play.
Thanks go out Brian T. Barch rhymes with March, Michelle, Joanna, Becky, Bob, Matt Spears, Rob Daily, Recycle Reuse, the Sparrow Crew, the Produce Station (where Lobster Butter Love was voted Product of the Year!), Durham's Tracklements and all the others who are drinking RoosRoast.
I'm about to blog about a great friend and coffee customer, my hair stylist, Chris Donnelly.
He actually came up with the name RoosRoast on a bike ride down Huron River Drive while singing our favorite song (which we made up) called "Huron River Rider"
an ode to all the men with silver beards an $10, 000.00 bikes.
Chris has been known and loved here in Ann Arbor from back in the day when he was known as Batman as on WCBN . He's still working the angles all the while drinking RoosRoast.
If Chris cuts your hair you already know that he is offically moving back to Berkley, supposedly for good, and not going to be returning to Orbit Hair on State street every 5 weeks to give you a hair cut. (Who want's to cut my hair now?)
If your reading this blog (your one of 5 people thanks) and you are lucky enough to live in Berkeley Califorina then you can hook up with Chris at Panache on College and get a hair cut from the Man!
Chris is such are great hair person because he is a sculptor and painter.
Carol Banker and I call him "Carvey" because he carves people out of wood.
I wanted to share this Video of an art show he had in Portland Oregon in August of 2009 at Nemo Studios. The Show is called "Portland looking up."
See you at the Farmers Market Saturday if you want to meet Chris he'll be at the RoosRoast booth from 8:00 AM tp 8:30 to give you a hair consultation.
And don't forget were pulling crazy shots from the La Marzocco G B 5 All day long on Rooswood.
3:30 AM. It's a cold windy night and I can't sleep. Here's the low-down on the new RoosRoast Coffee Works.
It's a very busy January as we set up the new space. It's basically 2 rooms. One is an office-spacey lobby, with two more small office-spacey roomicals (cross a room and a cubical and you basically end up with what a manager gets in a car dealership) off to the side. This is the home of retail. In the back is room number two, a large high-ceilinged studio with a garage door opening out onto the parking lot. This is the home of the roaster. And hey, this is Ann Arbor, so take note: if you come to visit us, the parking is free back there.
The place screams corporate abundance of the late 1980's in Michigan, and we know we're a long way from that now! (I don't know exactly when the building was built but that's what I hear when I listen closely. If you drive south down S. Industrial you'll see what was once corporate pride is now empty buildings.)
We're styling the place out by recycling and reusing (Habitat for Humanity ReStore on Aprill Drive off Jackson Road and the ReUse Center just down the road from us) with very little impact, lots of good smells, great vibes, and amazing coffee. RoosRoast has had several homes but at this one, we can finally do it all under one roof.
I have been painting and organizing the space with the help of artist Joanna Farnum and our January intern Becky Wurwarg from Oberlin College, while Brian handles the roasting, graphics and logistics (and editing your post, John. -brian).
People, it's coming together!
Retail in the front. Roaster in the back. Ann Arbor loves its retail and it loves its coffee and that's what we're here to provide.
The RoosRoast Coffee Works address is 1155 Rosewood, Suite B (running between South Industrial and Packard, with speed bumps on the Packard end for the people who like to cut through). We're on the South Industrial end, right in the heart of the thrift store zone. Our immediate neighbors, Pride Ride and Harve's Electronics are very cool. We already knocked out Pride Ride's power, unintentionally. But we drank coffee together, and that was an unusual, but effective ice-breaker, once we got the power back on. TGI Direct in the building next door is filled with wonderful people. They helped us out when our latest shipment of green beans arrived.
I'm discovering that all around here are great local businesses worth supporting. ShanaLogic runs her web based art gallery out of a building near us, near Woman in the Shoe consignment shop, and Fringes Hair Salon. Affordable Computers is right across the street, and thanks to them this computer is working right now!
Welcome to the New Year and our own brick and mortar location on Rosewood street here in Ann Arbor. The address is 1155 Rosewood Suite B 48104
Jose of San Rafael fame decided to close his doors and head back to Guatemala so we bought the Diedrich IR-12 (just as it roast it's 1000th batch of fine coffee.) Now that were no longer sharing the roaster it's time to get down to business.
Brian and I are cleaning, painting and setting up a small retail area where you can re-fill your bags check out our other merch.
It's terribly exciting for me so I have to watch my coffee consumption. Power tools and major caffeine can be productive but also harmful.
Trust me were doing our best in converting the place in to a roos-venture rather then the drab industrial setting it seems to be.
We have more sinks then any man ever seen. And they're all hooked up with plans for several more. There is even 2 toilets one hooked and one un-hooked as a back up in case some thing happens to the primary one.
Thanks for reading the blog o matic and stay tuned for some pictures which I will post tomorrow.
Here's to all you Hard Core Fans who support us in this freaking COLD weather at the Farmer Market every Saturday Thank You! See you soon.
Some storm seems to be brewing because the wind chimes outside are moving to the sound of night. Check the weather channel
After a day of roasting and making final deliveries (Sparrow Market and the Ypsi Food Coop) it's time for 4 days off.
For me it's more work to take time off because I love working on the Roos and the Roast.
Even more so now that I've bought the beloved Diedrich IR-12 roaster from Jose and San Rafael Coffee Company is closed.
Jose is going back to Guatemala and the family coffee farm and I'm going to crank the old school hip hop (Del the funky Homosapin) and clean up and paint the place. All the elements are there it just needs some Lobster Butter Love!
We'll be the only roaster at 1155 Rosewood suite B and soon the sign outside will read: RoosRoast Coffee Works.
Stay tuned for the installation of the La Marzocco G-5 and killer grinders from the Mercury Coffee Bar.
I want to thank everyone for making RoosRoast their coffee choice, and the coffee to share as a gift in 2009 and I'll keep up the killer coffee in 2010!
Another thank you post! Roos Roast is you go to gift for giving the Ann Arbor vibe. Here are some of the blocks I've carved which we use to print every single bage of Roos Roast coffee. Photos by: Mark Bialek
I'm here right now roasting Rich French Neighbor , Lobster Butter Love , Mexican Chiapas in the Blue Bicycle Bag, and Cowboy Blend and they're selling off the shelves of the great stores who carry Roos Roast.
Thank you too for all the web sales.
Please note: We will be closed from 12/25/09 till 12/29/09 returning to roast and send out orders on the 30th. This coming Wednesday December 23 will be the last Wednesday farmers market of 2009 and our last framers market of 2009 so get on down and share the love. The Lobster Butter Love.
Kath and I will be posting hotel, bar and cafe reviews from Montreal.
All internet orders from Christmas Day till the 29th will be filled and sent out on the 30th of December.
Be prepared for more awesome coffee tastings in 2010 and have a great new year!
The holiday orders are coming in, and I looked out the window tonight and saw the first fluffy Michigan snowflakes floating down. Wow! Transition time baby.
Roos Roast, Ann Arbor's freshest coffee, has been at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market every Market Day so far in 2009. We celebrated a whole season of local food! photo by Mark Bialek
The whole time we remained true to our mission, which is to be there for COFFEE with all of You. And it was a performance every time. Now it's December and though the ground is freezing over, we're still showing up every Wednesday and Saturday with the hot brew.
Many thanks to my lovely wife for putting up with me at all hours all wired on coffee, Brian T. Barch (rhymes with March), Meghan Cleary, Michelle Medley, T.R. and the crew at Tracklements Smokery, all of our fellow vendors and shops who carry Roos Roast, especially Sparrow Market, Cafe Verde everyone at eve and grange kitchen and bar, Chelsea Gallery, , Cafe Japon, A bar A Ranch , Produce Station and All the out standing others We really love what we do, and we couldn't do it with out all of you!
Many thanks to all our fans who are too numerous to mention!
This whole website is an easy shopping guide for giving the gift of Roos Roast. BUY
We roast and ship out coffee everyday in December but if you want your Roos Roast order to make it under the tree in time for the 25th your online order has to be in by Sunday December 20th, 2009. You can still order after that but I'm just saying...
The bags pile up on the drying table and are ready for the beans
This is the bicycle block I carved last summer. After making a reverse of the image I draw the design on the block and begin carving. One slip and the design is altered.
Pillar's has added a brick and mortar store serving up her famous tamales and many other traditional foods. We blended a special Roos Roast Central American Blend for them and they're brewing and selling pounds and half pounds of this blend and Lobster Butter Love on their retail shelves.
Also available are Maite's amazing chocolates and Tasty Bakery's gluten free baked goods.
Pillar's new location across from Convenience Auto and next to Hello Faz Pizza on West Liberty and a great place to pick up Tamales for a snack or to feed the whole family.
Congratulation on your opening and thank you for brewing and supporting Roos Roast.
It's time to "main line" check out my latest post on the well traveled roads of annarbor.com
Have a great Thanksgiving from Roos Roast and see you at the market on Wednesday!
