Faire Commission

Coffee is traditionally grown 1,500 miles north and south of the equator between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This is known as the “Coffee Belt” or the “Bean Belt” and that is where Barrie House sources the finest, Fair Trade Organic coffee beans from around the world. Everything from the chemistry of the soil, the weather, the amount of rainfall and sunshine, and even the precise altitude at which the coffee grows can affect the taste of the final product. Like wine that can come from different varieties of grapes, coffee can come from different varieties of trees and cherries. Coffee that is grown higher and drier will taste more acidic while coffee grown lower, and wetter will be more earthy.

Because coffee can differ by variety, elevation, and processing, all coffee cannot be roasted the same. Because of this, the roast is the most important part of producing a really good coffee. Like all great family secrets, the art of roasting our specialty coffee has been passed down from one generation to the next. For over 80 years, we have carefully selected, blended, roasted, and packed what we believe is the world’s finest coffee. We roast our premium coffee beans in vintage roasters with a novel drum design. This allows for better airflow and reduces the risk of over-roasting, which can cause a burnt flavor. Different compounds are developed during this roasting process at different times. By controlling the chemical reactions taking place in the bean during the roast, we can change or determine the flavors in the final cup!