The new Yellow Dog Coffee Roasters is a family business in Manahawkin. In fact, owner Dave Smithman roasts coffee out of his garage. He lives with his wife and his yellow Labrador, Oakley. “We decided to name the company after Oakley because he seemed to embody our message perfectly. Appreciate the little things, enjoy the company of family and friends, and love the outdoors.“
Prior to starting Yellow Dog Coffee Roasters, Dave practiced coffee roasting using a number of at-home setups. “What started as a pretty basic hobby turned into a serious investment when, earlier this summer, I pulled the trigger on a larger coffee roaster capable of supporting a business,” he says. By late June the business was up and running, offering coffee at both local events and online.
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The Roasting Process
Dave starts by selecting a coffee-growing region in the world that he personally wants to try. Then, he purchases unroasted (green) high-grade specialty coffee from those regions through a United States-based coffee importer. After receiving the coffee, he roasts it a few different ways to see what works best. Finally, after finding the perfect roasting process, Yellow Dog Coffee Roasters adds their new item to the menu.
At the moment, Dave has four roasts for sale. He has two single-origin options (Wooden Jetty and 1749) and two blends (Crooked Creek and Green Head). In particular, Green Head is a Costa Rican and African medium roast blend that has been a crowd favorite. Likewise, the Costa Rican coffee provides notes of chocolate with a heavy body; while the Ethiopian coffee adds a sweet dark fruit-flavor note. Patrons can even select their preferred grinding method. Options include whole bean, medium ground (for a drip coffee maker), coarse ground (for a French press), or fine ground. The latter works best for espresso.
Ordering from Yellow Dog Coffee Roasters
Dave offers free delivery to Manahawkin residents, inexpensive delivery fee for surrounding towns, and USPS shipping for everyone else. Yellow Dog Coffee Roasters also participates in local events like farmer’s markets whenever possible. “We believe that good coffee takes you good places,” Dave says. “A great cup in the morning can change your whole day.”
Yellow Dog Coffee Roasters is based in Manahawkin. Look for them online to learn more.
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All Photos: © Dave Smithman
