Olympia Coffee Roasting Company has developed direct trade partnerships with coffee farmers in eight countries across three continents. But they began in 2005 as a wholesale coffee roaster, housed in an unmarked downtown Olympia warehouse. Sam Schroeder was the first employee to do production and make deliveries; he’s now a co-owner with Oliver Stormshak. In 2007, Olympia Coffee opened a coffee bar two blocks away from the original location. The store had just four tables, and showcased the roasting process through windows into the roastery.

In 2009, Oliver Stormshak came on board, and organized a direct trade project with Costa Rica. Direct trade allows Olympia Coffee to have unprecedented control over the coffee flavors through varietal selection, day lot separation and experimental processing. Olympia Coffee has gained increased understanding of the science behind roasting. Their detailed approach to coffee selection and processing had led to their success.

Sam and Oliver say that, “Success and recognition feels great but what we really love is for creating and sharing extraordinary coffee with our community in the Pacific Northwest and with our friends throughout the world.”

This fortnight, the Olympia Food Co-op is excited to offer fifty cents off any purchase of Olympia Coffee Roasting Company coffees, Big Truck, San Fermin, and Morning Sun, with the coupon in this issue of the Co-op Spoonful!