Author’s Note: Happy Sno-vember! Yes, the pre-Halloween snowfall in much of the northeast has me dreaming for an early winter wonderland. My passion for winter is baked into skiing, which can be understood by listening to my skiing podcast, Powder Hounds Podcast, featuring mostly northeast ski areas, with a particular interest in the smaller, family and independently run hills. It can also be read in a previous post talking about skiing on Cape Cod!
While the cold days and early darkness of winter can be tough for continuing to enjoy the outdoors; layer up and get the gear to explore (snowshoes, skis, skins, etc). It also may be helpful to get your mind thinking of the “cozy” aspects of winter; hot chocolate, crackling fireplaces, warm blankets and the simple joys of tastes, smells and sights of the holidays. Another hot beverage – coffee – is a must for many on a wintery morning. Opt for locally roasted Beanstock for that next cup ‘o joe!
Beanstock Coffee, Eastham
As I happily admitted previously, I’m a little picky when it comes to coffee. I don’t mean to be, but I’ve tasted the highest of highs; coffee roasted perfectly, steaming with flavor, served immediately; to the lowest of the lows, lukewarm diner slop brewed hours ago, left on a low heat burner. Like many things in life, once you experience the best, it’s hard to go back to anything less. That brings me to our featured local business and their product – Beanstock Coffee. Full disclosure, I am a happy repeat customer with a recurring subscription.
But before going full-on auto-renew subscription, I discovered Beanstock by visiting local cafes for “joe to go” and scanning shelves while waiting. In an earlier post, Coffee on Cape Cod, I mentioned Beth’s Bakery (Sandwich), Chatham Cookware & Cafe (Chatham) and Savory & Sweet Escape (Truro), and inadvertently referenced just three of at least three dozen restaurants and cafes spanning not just Cape Cod, but the continental United States, that feature Beanstock Coffee. (You read that right; thanks L.A.!)
For the customer, the reason is obvious, the coffee tastes great and the seemingly endless range of blends and flavors (light-decaf gamit), types (organic, fair trade, cold brew, etc) and grinds (whole bean, drip grind, fine grind, etc) are available. Indeed, at twenty-three blends available for purchase online, it’s an impressive portfolio. Even the merchandise is fun; “Ommph.”
Beanstock Coffee was born in 1996 as a small coffee shop tucked into the Inn at Duck Creek on Main St. in Wellfleet. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and freshly baked goods wafting through the air attracted the first customers. Since those early days, Beanstock has grown not just as a specialty coffee roaster, but as an internet retailer and coffee wholesaler. They roast their coffee locally, in small batches, to guarantee maximum freshness. Their commitment to top quality, fair trade and organically grown beans is evident in their messaging. In non-pandemic times, you can tour their roasting facility in Eastham.
Each package of coffee is brimming with good vibes; both the beans inside and the advice on the outside. The team at Beanstock “is always curious and ever-evolving with the beautiful and fascinating world of coffee.” On the side panel of their packaging, you’ll find Beanstock’s signature tagline, “Coffee is Personal” with some suggestions to brewing your best cup at home. One line that stays with me, “Buy in small batches, and only what you’ll use in a week or two [to maximize freshness]. They rather you buy less coffee per transaction, to prevent multiple packages of beans/ground from getting stale in the cupboard. I like that.
If you have not yet had Beanstock Coffee, you must give it a try. After all, it’s easy to find.