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Village Roaster owners continue coffee history

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Contributed by: Rebecca Zimmerman/YourHub.com on 12/18/2007

Editor's note: Visit our Faces of Lakewood and Edgewater page, where YourHub.com staff and readers can introduce you to more people -- and a dog -- who make this part of the metro area what it is.

Jim Curtis leaned in close and pushed the crust of the fresh coffee grounds away as he inhaled deeply to catch the smells. He discarded some of the grounds into another cup and then used a spoon to take a big slurp.

"It's just like a wine tasting," Curtis said. "You let the coffee spray over your palette and tongue to let the flavors sink in - you don't even necessarily swallow it."

Cupping, as the taste test is called, is part of a typical work day for Curtis. He and his wife, Kathleen, own the Village Roaster, a coffee shop at 9255 W. Alameda Ave. The store has been at the same location since the doors first opened in 1979, when Kathleen's sister and brother-in-law, Maryellen and Gary Mencimer, decided to open the shop. The Curtises, who both worked at a bank at the time, would help out.

"It was truly the first specialty coffee shop in the Denver area," Curtis said. "Our jobs were going to move to Minneapolis ... at first we were both looking for jobs in our profession, but then we decided to buy the business when they decided to sell."

When the Curtises took over the business, there were 12 employees. There are now about 30 on staff. The Village Roaster also has expanded to a second location -- a more café-like store -- in Lakewood City Commons at 7978 W. Alameda Ave., and also has a small stand at the Belmar Library.

Curtis said they roast about 26 pounds of coffee at a time, starting around 6:30 a.m. The process takes about 18 minutes -- minus or plus a minute or two depending on the type of coffee -- and must be watched closely.

"Coffee roasting is what we do, not coffee baking," said Curtis.

Another part of his day is spent cupping samples of coffee he receives from coffee brokers and deciding what to order. Curtis said he's always looking for the best.

Kathleen handles more of the retail side of things -- including ordering merchandise, managing employees and overseeing accounting.

"I make sure the employees have what they need to do their job," said Kathleen.

Besides coffee, the store also offers some unique items, all mainly picked by Kathleen. She also said one of the store's efforts is to reach out to the community.

"We will provide gift cards to silent auctions or provide coffee and tea for local groups at their meeting," said Kathleen.

Kathleen said she tries to not duplicate what they do at the original store compared to the store in Lakewood City Commons.

Whichever store a customer chooses, many keep coming back.

One such customer is 78-year-old George Flanagan, of Green Mountain, who has been coming the Village Roaster since the early '80s and lately has been a regular at the City Commons location.

"They are the friendliest employees I've ever met -- I walk in the door and they start making my drink," Flanagan said.

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Submitted By: Steve Shultz

posted on 1/7/2008 @ 11:45:09 AM

Rated Story

Great story, Rebecca!

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