Meet Chris & Jamie

Experiencing the challenges of the pandemic had unique impacts on people all around the globe. The things we took for granted, like grabbing a cup of coffee at your favorite local coffee shop, became a near impossibility. Some people just sucked it up and learned to live with whatever coffee they could they could get their hands on. And some coffee lovers like myself and my partner Jamie, took things into our own hands. Our quest for percolated perfection began with a question- how to make great coffee at home the rule, not the exception?

A Long-Standing Relationship With Coffee

Growing up in New England, it's safe to say I've had a long-standing relationship with coffee. This is the land where the coffee pots run 24/7. I will confess that until semi-recently, the original chain coffee shop that started in New England was kind of my benchmark for decent coffee. But buy a bag of ground coffee there, try it at home and guess what? It's not the same, is it? That's because the big coffee makers roast thousands of pounds of coffee beans months before you buy them. Then they're nitrogen flushed (sounds healthy?) to give them a longer expiration date. And when you do finally put some in your "Mr. Coffee" the night before (we'll talk later about why you're not going to do that anymore another time) and let it sit out until the morning, it's at best hot, and most likely flat-tasting, uninspiring, dull and well, just bad coffee. But what are you gonna do, right? Wrong. Read on...

 Coffee Roasting

I'd been roasting my own coffee since before the pandemic and  Jamie can attest to having been there when I roasted my first highly questionable coffee beans. It smoked up the house something awful! We had a laugh but the taste even then was better than any drive-thru coffee we'd ever had. I was hooked. I began reading, researching, testing, trying every coffee shop and vendor we could find. Soon I was taking professional training from an accredited coffee-roasting facility and joining a mastermind roasting group co-hosted by Anne Cooper, one of the top coffee roasters in the world. Constant learning is a great way to use pandemic downtime to your advantage.

It wasn't long before my method of roasting coffee had become too limiting and lacked the control I wanted over the process. Jamie & I purchased equipment capable of roasting 4.5 pounds at a time. Shortly thereafter we started giving coffee to friends, and they told their friends, people started asking if they could buy some and next thing you know, we're in the coffee roasting business. Isn't that how it always begins?

Using our Backgrounds To Create Amazing Coffee

I'm blessed with a creative mind and able hands, coming from a family of artists, musicians, woodworkers and mechanics. The technical part of the roasting process appeals to my craftsman side, while the artistry of creating the perfect cup speaks directly to my fine art background as a nationally exhibited landscape painter.

Jamie is an accomplished and professionally-trained chef and baker, turning her knowledge of food into a successful health coaching career.  Jamie's tasting abilities from her culinary background has been indispensable when it comes to cupping our coffees and helping identify the flavor notes, hints and aromas of our freshly roasted coffees.

What "Roastwell" Represents to Us

Jamie and I wanted something we could build and enjoy together but just as importantly to share something we truly enjoy with like-minded coffee lovers like yourself. Roastwell Coffee Roasters believes fresh coffee roasted to its full potential should not only taste incredible but should leave an indelible mark on ALL your senses. Looking forward to that first cup of the morning, mid-morning break or after lunch with friends can be the just what your day needed. 

Thanks for reading our story, such as it is. We extend our sincerest gratitude to you for being a part of our journey through the amazing world of coffee. 

Warmest regards,

Chris & Jamie