Perk up: Specialty beans imported to Millersburg Coffee Co. from Colombian farms
MILLERSBURG − When Sebastian Sanchez of Pereira, Colombia, South America, first spoke to his future wife, Reena Arora, via Facebook on New Year’s Day 2015, he had no idea how much his relationship with the Northeast Ohio native would change his life.
After they married in 2018, Sanchez brought his father-in-law, Dr. Deepak Arora of Holmes County, to the world-famous Eje Cafetero, or “Coffee Axis,” in Sanchez’s native Colombia, where he shared his dream of bringing the culture of his home country to Holmes County. Unfortunately, the pandemic hit shortly after Sanchez earned his U.S. residency, and his dream was put on hold. Last year in May, he finally was ready to roll, and Millersburg Coffee Company opened.
Sanchez recently celebrated his first anniversary as a naturalized U.S. citizen. He has been active in the community, teaming with his father-in-law to develop and grow Millersburg Coffee Company.
Coffee beans and popcorn have something in common
Sanchez said the roasting process is similar to making popcorn, but on a bit larger scale.
Visitors are invited to watch and learn as Sanchez meticulously roasts his specialty Colombian coffee beans in the company’s roasting room at 4667 Township Road 312, Unit 1 (Port Washington Road). Millersburg Coffee offers 90-minute tours, sharing the history of the property, coffee trivia, a demonstration of the coffee roasting process and culminating with fresh cups of joe in the tasting room.
He explains what goes into choosing the perfect bean, from farm to roaster; the methods specialty coffee roasters use to bring out maximum flavor; and how to choose the right roast for taste.
"We bring green specialty coffee straight from in the skilled hands of the local farmers we know personally in Colombia to both our lab and workshop in Pereira, as well as our family-run roastery and global headquarters here in Amish Country," he said.
Last year, Millersburg Coffee imported a little more than 2 tons of green specialty coffee beans, but Sanchez is expecting 9 tons within the next couple of weeks. The beans are sent from Colombia to Ohio via Virginia.
“The operation is definitely growing,” he said.
Sanchez also does wholesale, providing Millersburg Coffee to businesses in the community such as Daybreak Bistro, which proudly serves a special blend of Millersburg Coffee to its patrons, as well as Rodhe's, New Towne Gallery, The Cider Press, Miller's Creamery of Millersburg, Pomerene Hospital, Holmes Custom Moulding and other businesses and cafes across the country, like Coffia Coffee Shop in Cincinnati.
Millersburg Coffee lab and workshop in Colombia
What makes Millersburg Coffee unique is its team in Pereira, Colombia, that sources high-quality specialty coffee beans directly from producers and exports them to Millersburg, where Sanchez roasts and serves them.
Colombia is one of the world's leading producers of coffee, alongside Brazil and Indonesia. The nation is becoming famous for developing new roasting styles and fermented flavors. Millersburg Coffee currently has four signature roasts but hopes to increase that in the near future.
Sanchez's sister serves as administrator in Pereira, where there also is a quality control person to ensure the quality of beans that are sent abroad. Sanchez often goes to Millersburg Coffee’s lab and workshop in Colombia to ensure every bean meets his standards before the team prepares a shipment.
At the lab in Colombia, Millersburg Coffee hosts coffee producers from around the world. It even hosted Lynn Coblentz of The Red Mug Coffee Company from Mount Hope and an associate from Michigan.
“By purchasing Millersburg Coffee, you’re supporting an entire ecosystem of growers and small business owners across the Americas who take pride in bringing some of the best specialty coffee in the world directly to you here in Holmes County,” Sanchez said. "We respect our specialty coffee producers and their land."
Millersburg Coffee is open to the public 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, and by appointment Tuesday-Thursday. Arrangements can be made at https://millersburgcoffee.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Millersburg Coffee Company shares roasting process, offers tours
