Happy mouth this week, thanks to kind Mark Newberry of CaffeMarco. This small Clark County company sells at a growing number of central Kentucky locations, including two I often visit: the Saturday Lexington Farmers Market downtown, and Good Foods Market.
Although I like to support local growers and processors all I can, I have not been a steady CaffeMarco customer because I like light roast beans (brewed strong, please), and most of Mark’s customers want dark or medium roast. Lovely, lovely to find Mark selling light roast Guatemala beans (organic, Fair Trade, shade grown) at the Saturday market last week. Mark roasted the beans Thursday, having learned that peak flavor comes three days post-roasting.
Mark comes early to the Saturday Farmers Market – in all weathers, as proven here — knowing the farmers like coffee as they set up in the chill and darkness, preparing to open at 7:00 AM. I am not reporting this first hand – I’m more a lazy urban 9:00 – 10:00 AM shopper. But I know faithfulness, thoughtfulness, dedication, and kindness when I see them. I see them all in Mark Newberry and CaffeMarco.
Although Mark says he does not need or want to grow beyond the Bluegrass, I am excited that customers and critics affirm the quality of his beans and how he treats them. In preparing for this post, I learned that Better Beans, an online best-of-coffee monthly club, chose CaffeMarco as its April, 2009 selection. Specifically, Better Beans customers will receive CaffeMarco’s Kentucky Cup medium roast blend, which Better Beans describes this way:
Created in honor of the horse race by the same name, and only offered a few times a year, it’s an exceptional blend. Medium roasted, and comprised of new crop Mexico Chiapas and Guatemala coffee beans, it’s worth the wait. The cup possesses a silky, smooth body and nuanced, earthy aromatics. There is also a definite milk chocolate quality in the finish. Perfect for breakfast and all day long. Certified Organic & FAIR TRADE.
Congratulations to Mark. I may have to alter my Saturday habits and get to the Market earlier if CaffeMarco demand keeps growing.
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