Bird Rock Coffee Roasters Nationally Recognized as Best Micro Roaster

Award is also a first time honor for the San Diego region.

 

La Jolla, CA: November 1, 2011

 

Bird Rock Coffee Roasters in La Jolla, CA won the 2012 Micro Roaster of the Year award in the annual national competition hosted by a panel of experts and two separate coffee labs administrated by the coffee trade magazine, Roast Magazine. This is the first time that Bird Rock Coffee Roasters has achieved this award, and the first time any roaster in the San Diego region has won this prestigious award.

 

The award was developed to inspire further excellence and success in the roasting industry.  Winners are chosen based on the company’s commitment to categories including sustainable practices, commitment to employees and educational practices, innovations in roasting, and of course, the excellence of the coffee.

 

In terms of quality and taste, coffees are judged blindly by two separate labs, Lab International in Vermont, and Atlas Coffee Importers in Seattle. Experts judge the coffee on aroma, color, imperfections, bean size and flavor profile. One notable coffee varietal that secured the award for Bird Rock Coffee Roasters was the Sumatra Lake Tawar. Unlike most coffee from that area, this varietal has been meticulously processed at origin. This unique effort produces a coffee that is intense, earthy yet clean, full-bodied and dense, and slightly sweet.

 

“Many roasters are sourcing directly from farmers and enhancing the coffee experience for their customers, elevating the experience to that of a high end wine bar…so to be recognized as the best, at a time when so many are doing incredible work, is a humbling honor,” says Chuck Patton, owner of Bird Rock Coffee Roasters. “We were competing against roasters from all over the nation and to be located in San Diego, which has never been known for its coffee like Seattle or Portland, is an added bonus.”

 

Bird Rock Coffee Roasters has consistently achieved 90+ scores (out of a scale of 100) from Coffee Review for many of their roasted varietals, but this is the first time it has outperformed national competitors based on several categories.

 
Read the full article in Roast Magazine: Micro Roaster of the Year – 2012.

 

Coffee is available for purchase on line and shipping is within 48 hours in the United States. To order, visit the Bird Rock Coffee Roasters COFFEES page.

 

About Bird Rock Coffee Roasters

 

In 2002, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters (BRCR) opened for business as a strictly grass-roots company. Coffee was roasted in a sublet restaurant kitchen using small one-pound capacity air roasters. At that time, BRCR coffee was sold at farmer’s markets and through home-delivery service. In 2006 the retail shop on La Jolla Boulevard in Bird Rock was opened directly across the street from a Starbucks. In 2008 BRCR expanded their retail location to increase seating, free wireless connection and a children’s play area. They also offer free coffee ‘cupping’ experiences and live music on weekends. Awards and recognition of BRCR to date include: 2012 Micro Roaster of the Year as well as 16 highly rated coffees in Coffee Review scoring 90 and above (out of a 100 point scale).  Locally, in San Diego, BRCR won Best Organic Coffee in 2008 San Diego Magazine and was rated Best Coffee Shop in 2010 in the La Jolla Light.

 

About Chuck Patton

 

Chuck Patton, owner and principle roaster of Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, describes his relationship with coffee beans as equal parts passion and obsession. Chuck started roasting in 2001 with a DIY home coffee roaster, a fateful gift from his wife, Elke. He quickly expanded his vision and became the first licensed wholesaler in San Diego selling 100% organic and fair trade coffee.

 

Chuck is a former community college English teacher (in San Diego, he taught at Grossmont and San Diego City Colleges), loves acoustic blues from the 20’s and 30’s. He acts humble, but plays a mean slide guitar. His involvement with the local community extends from helping improve traffic, aesthetics, business practices to non-profit fundraising in Bird Rock and other organizations in San Diego, Ca. In his spare time he loves to body surf, drink great beer and perfect the art of pork-smoking. He lives in La Jolla with his wife, Elke and their Australian Shepherd, Rosco.