Sports, politics, and religion are topics on which everyone has an opinion. In Olympia, there’s a fourth entry into this hot-button arena: coffee. Everyone has their favorite blend of beans, roast, brewing method, and retailer.
Like many passions, coffee even has its own language to learn. Who could have known that the patois of the twenty-first century would include such phrases as “I’d like a triple, venti, soy, no foam latte” or “Make that a grande, quad, non-fat, one-pump, no-whip mocha to go, please.”
For those of us who prefer fewer steps to our morning (noon, and night) mug o’ joy, the savvy buyers at Ralph’s and Bayview Thriftway carry our region’s pride and joy: Heavenly-smelling, locally crafted beans from downtown Olympia’s Batdorf and Bronson Coffee Roasters.
Kevin Stormans, president of Stormans Inc, the locally-owned parent company behind Ralph’s and Bayview Thriftways, is himself a huge Batdorf fan. He explains that they began selling the freshly-roasted beans more than 10 years ago. Their Bayview location was remodeled to repair damage sustained in the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, and that’s when bulk coffee was added and became one of the company’s most popular items.
Stormans sought out Batdorf coffee as part of his mission to “support local businesses in every area of the store.” He chose them because they offer a premier, well-known product which compliments a successful, community-focused corporate mindset. Stormans and his team love this coffee so much that it is the brand brewed and served in their Fourth Avenue company offices.
The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reports that 54% of Americans over 18 drink coffee every day, with average consumption being three cups daily. As a nation, it’s estimated that we spend $40 billion on coffee annually.
With that level of devotion to our daily pick-me-up, roasters like Batdorf and Bronson are an ideal choice. Not only do they “put immense effort into sourcing and roasting fresh beans for coffee and espresso enthusiasts who crave quality and consistency” but “our pursuit of excellence extends to the way we conduct business. We strive to meet the challenge of sustainability with every decision we make. We offer Certified Organic, Fair Trade Certified, Bird-Friendly and Shade Grown coffees. We continuously work to lighten our environmental footprint through recycling and the purchase of 100% renewable energy.”
This echoes the Stormans mission to “fulfill our customers’ needs, and exceed their expectations” and “provide our customers a wide selection of fresh, high quality products with exceptional service and value.”
Try to imagine any event, from church social to business meeting, without the humble presence of coffee. Whether you measure out your life with coffee spoons or appreciate the cheerful delights of a coffee klatch, few things so color our days.
Next time you’re at Bayview or Ralph’s Thriftway stores picking up the necessities or creating a personalized, online shopping list, don’t forget to bring home a supply of Batdorf and Bronson’s finest. Your friends, family, and anyone downwind will surely thank you for it.
Visit Bayview Thriftway at 516 West 4th or Ralph’s Thriftway at 1908 East 4th in Olympia.
