One of the most rewarding facets of being in the food and beverage industry is the opportunity to form relationships with people making and producing high quality products. Sure, it’s more work and time consuming to search out and find such people but the reward is two-fold: obtaining a high quality product and the resulting relationship and camaraderie formed. The food and beverage scene in San Antonio is exploding with exciting new restaurants, concepts, and producers popping up daily (it seems, at times!).
In addition, “local” product and eating is certainly en vogue right now… worldwide! The benefits of eating local extend from sustainability to freshness of product and reasons in between, and if you haven’t found out yet allow me to let you in on a local treasure here in San Antonio. Coffee! Yes, that’s right… coffee! I’ve long been a coffee drinker. I started as a child due in large part to my fathers love of espresso and Cuban-style coffee. While in college I had a stint at that coffee shop that is on every corner these days, and then naturally as I entered the profession of cooking-for-a-living I gravitated to coffee for several reasons.
World of Coffee!
I have had the opportunity to cook in cities around the country including Austin, NYC, and Chicago. Along the way I have found some places pouring up some great coffee, but for my money I have found no one roasting and pouring better coffee than the Brown Coffee Company here in San Antonio, TX.
Espresso that will change your life
After hearing of a local coffee roaster in San Antonio, I made it in to the Brown Coffee Co one day on a whim. A whim is all it took because from the first cup of coffee that Aaron Blanco poured me, I experienced enlightenment. Since then I’ve been able to talk at length with Aaron about the coffee he sources, where it comes from, how it gets here, I’ve even sat in on a roast (or two), and of course consumed the finished product.
Coffee Whisperer, Aaron Blanco
It truly is an experience to have a coffee that is so clean you can pull out specific flavors and nuances… not just a smokey roasted explosion in your mouth that needs tempering with cream and sugar. From the fruity and deep earthy flavors of Finca San Luis (El Salvador) to the citrus, floral acidity of Gititu Estate (Kenya), Aaron is crafting coffee that most definitely has a unique and individual personality. Espresso… Americano… Pour-over… Cold brew… It needs no adornment at all, just a vessel to hold it. San Antonio should be bragging at the top of its lungs about the high quality coffee being churned out just northwest of downtown at the Brown Coffee Co.
Americano… proper
In our dedication to seek out the highest quality product possible, you can expect to see coffee from Brown on our menu as a beverage, in our beer from time to time, and incorporated into plated menu items. One thing San Antonio is no slouch in is coffee roasting… Brown Coffee Co is tearing it up and is now available for purchase at Whole Foods. Enjoy!- TR