A desire to take a more hands-on approach with the beans they roast led North Fork Roasting Co. owners Jennilee Morris and Jess Dunne to create a working relationship with a coffee farm in Guatemala this year.
This past March the two traveled the San Miguel Escobar Cooperative, which is located just outside of Antigua Guatemala, to help with the harvest.
And now coffee brewed from the beans they helped pick is ready to be served at their business.
“It was an unforgettable experience to pick the beans and see how much work goes into what we see more as an end product,” Morris said. “We know exactly where our coffee’s coming from and we met the people who picked it.”
To celebrate this new working relationship, North Fork Roasting Co. will host a Guatemalan-style fiesta on Wednesday, July 13 from 6 to 10 p.m. The party will include authentic Guatemalan food, a mariachi band, an open bar with specialty cocktails, and local beer and wine.
Ms. Morris’ catering company, Grace & Grit, will prepare the food, which will include authentic handmade tortillas, a full taco bar and frozen chocolate-covered bananas.
“We want to showcase a little bit of what we got to see on a daily basis,” Morris said. “A little bit of everyday life and food in Guatemala.”
Tickets to the NoFoRoCo fiesta are $50 per person and must be purchased in advance online at eventbrite.com or at the café in Southold.
Guests who come dressed in Guatemalan attire will receive a free pound of the San Miguel Escobar coffee beans.
NoFoRoCo fans who can’t make the party won’t have to wait long to sample the beans. Ten bags arrived on Thursday, June 30, with each containing 150 pounds of coffee beans.
“It’s going to be part of our house roast,” Morris said. “So everybody’s going to get to enjoy it.”
Being back on the North Fork does not mean the end of NoFoRoCo’s relationship with San Miguel Escobar. They plan to do more direct trade with the farm and they hope to return for next winter’s harvest.
“We made some really great relationships,” Morris said.
For more information about the fiesta call (631) 876-5450 or visit noforoastingco.com. North Fork Roasting Company is located at 55795 Main Road in Southold.
