I certainly took notice about a month ago when it was first announced that The North Market would host the first ever Coffee Roast. They had me at "coff" and I've been counting down the days ever since. The event did not disappoint. Over 2,000 caffeine-starved people showed up for a showcase of 12 local Columbus (or close by) micro-roasters and 2 local dairies. The day also promised several demonstrations about the various aspects of the coffee business from seed to final product. What it turned out to be was a mob of folks with their souvenir mugs waiting as long as 1/2 hour at each table for an opportunity to sip on each roaster's offering for the day. At first it was a bit frustrating, as I though..."there are 12 roasters here, I just want a cup of coffee"! But I soon had my first taste and all the tension just drifts away. Coffee has that power. Most roasters prepared pour over coffee, although some featured a "cold toddy", strongly brewed iced coffee, which were a nice break from the steaming cups made fresh for each person. I can't really complain with that. Each roaster featured one or two coffees mostly fair trade and organic from around the world. African and Latin American varieties stole the show. What did this event really mean though? Why did so many folks smash into the tiny 2nd floor of the North Market and spend several hours drinking way too much coffee than any normal human should in a short span? And here again lies what is I have found to be beautiful about Columbus.
Twelve local roasters?! For a city of our size, that's pretty damn impressive. I didn't realize until when sharing with my sister, she was shocked to hear that all the coffees were locally produced. It just seemed normal though because I think that is the culture and identity that Columbus is slowly crafting and becoming right now. People who care about quality, community and what they stand for are getting stuff done.
Take for example, One Line Coffee. A new roaster and soon to be coffee shop in Short North, when we stopped at this table, the three very passionate and down-to-earth proprietors presented personally to each group of 8 people in line their focus on sourcing a single coffee bean from a single farm for each brew. They have personally traveled to or interacted and developed a relationship with each producer they source from to ensure that the quality of the coffee and the life of those producing it is held to the highest standards and never overlooked. No pretentiousness in this mission, just pure passion. And there were 11 more equally passionate micro-roaster owners and 2 beloved dairies that have taken over the scene sharing their craft and purpose. A woman who lost her job and took over her husbands hobby to start a business? Local, female owned and delicious Silverbridge Coffee which is now sold throughout Columbus, even in our big box Kroger across the street! Milk that is from happy grass fed cows that reduces our carbon footprint? Snowville Creamery, who's energetic and enigmatic owner is running for congress this year! I could not have felt more connected to the fabric of our community. It could not be more apparent why in the middle of America, this place is thriving.
Sufficiently jittery and a wee bit dehydrated, I moved on to phase two of a truly great Saturday. Ohio State's basketball team in the Final Four! Surely not everyone is a sports fan, but who doesn't love a team of nearly all Ohio players of all shapes, sizes and colors (not like those godly human specimens that seem to populate the other Final Four teams) and bursting with personality. You just want to love them! And it's been such a fun run watching them succeed with poise and pure enjoyment for the game in my opinion (unbiased? not really I guess). Well...this story doesn't end so well.
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| Pat's Pesto Pizza Perfection |
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| Tracey's Breakfast Bean Bonanza |
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| Allie's Greek Goddess |
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| Happy Place |
