Business & Tech

Coffee's No Grind for Trumbull Roasting Business

Ed Freedman of Fairfield always drank coffee, but when he started roasting his own blends, he found he had a knack.

He started roasting coffee for friends, and soon they encouraged him to start his own business.

So he did. He started getting plans together in January and now has a business on 100 Corporate Drive (Unit B106), called Shearwater Coffee Roasters, LLC.

Freedman said he does not run a cafe but can do small orders for "anyone that brews coffee and needs to buy by the pound." He's also marketing his own brand of coffee to area stores.

Freedman, who is a member of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, said there several differences between his coffee and others. He uses "only organic USDA-certified coffee." He grinds the beans and sells them more quickly, so the coffee is fresher.

Ordering and receiving specialty coffee from other sources could take at least a week, he added.

"It's stale by the time they get it," Freedman said. "It's not as fresh. They're paying for transportation."

What also makes his coffee special is that Freedman uses a customized machine to grind his beans.

The roasting process is not simple. Depending on how long the beans are heated, the flavor varies. Time, temperature and moisture are all variables, and Freedman is always playing with the settings.

He charts his results on a chalkboard wall in the store. "I'm spending a lot of time trying to get that optimal profile," the owner said.

He already has samples. Beans such as ones used by Starbucks are usually darker while lighter beans have a different flavor. Heating them properly is like making good popcorn: you need to time it just right.

To get a lighter colored bean, Freedman waits for the "first crack" but doesn't go as far as the second crack. The crack is the water in the coffee bean escaping.

His goals are to make the business profitable enough for him to live on, and to become a major source of specialty coffee for the area. Freedman said as far as he knows, he is the only artisan roaster who uses USDA-certified beans.

The store is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but Freedman says to call first at 203-292-0848.


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