Coffee roaster finds new home in Florence

Thanks to Shauna Steigerwald at the Enquirer for writing about our story! 

Here's her story: 

Justin and Emily Carabello started their not-for-profit coffee-roasting business, Carabello Coffee, two years ago, using a one-pound coffee roaster on their back porch.

Justin and Emily Carabello have installed their not-for-profit coffee roasting business in Velocity Bike & Bean in Florence. (Provided photo)

After spending the interim selling directly to customers online and around town, at places such as the Anderson Farmers’ Market, the couple acquired a 12.5-pound roaster. They recently installed it in Velocity Bike & Bean, the coffee shop/bicycle store that opened in Florence over the summer (here’s a link to my post about the opening).

“Our motto is ‘coffee and compassion in tandem,’” Justin Carabello said, noting that proceeds from their coffee sales are used to support “works of compassion” that improve the lives of people in coffee-producing communities in the third world. “People love the idea that their coffee dollars can actually do good.”

Carabello roasts specialty grade, sustainably grown and fairly traded coffee beans from places such as Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Colombia and Honduras, buying micro-lots of farm-direct coffee from small family farms whenever possible.

“We started out [the business] to help the orphans in Nicaragua, but after working directly with independent farmers in Central America, we realized that another part of our vision is to help people build and fund sustainable small businesses in impoverished areas,” Carabello said.

A grand opening celebration at Velocity Bike & Bean, 7560 Burlington Pike, will take place from 3-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. Roasting demonstrations (6 p.m.) and live music by Bellevue musician Samuel Lockridge (7-9 p.m.) will be offered.

In addtion to Velocity, Carabello Coffee is also sold at Keegan’s Specialty Seafood in Anderson Township and on the company’s website.

Info: www.carabellocoffee.com.