25 Years, No way!
My time has flown by. In January 1985 The Church Street store opened at 221 Church Street at the site of the former 19th century S.S. Stewart Banjo Factory.
It was a one-room operation with 2 café tables, roasting coffee on the premises using a Michael Sivetz fluidized bed coffee roaster. “Baked Goodies” were also baked on site with a seemingly easy bake oven! Times have changed-All coffee is now drum roasted in a antique cast iron roaster at the Reading Terminal Market location that opened in 1988. A European style “café” addition was added in 1990 to include 219 Church Street with 12 more tables.
Time has marched on. We have stayed committed to the same type of coffee and principles that we opened with: High altitude grown, arabican beans traditionally grown from heirloom cultivars. Tiny batch roasting, and informed graceful service. These virtues are delivered in its purest form from Independent operators, and a small dedicated Staff of coffee and tea lovers. We have resisted the trends of modernity to expand to a string of locations with a roasting factory, the coffee would suffer!
It is our customers, and our shared comradery that we appreciate so much,that have made for 25 great years, that have passed quickly. More to come!
To end on a light note:
Mikhail Yirgacheff
Frank Sumatra
Garry Mandhleng
What do they have in common? They all have Sunday brunch at Old City Coffee!