Monday, December 13, 2010

What's the Buzz? HenriettaHaus Coffee Roasters


HenriettaHaus display at the Oakland County Farmers Market, Michigan

Some people’s idea of a fresh cup of coffee is being first in line at Starbucks. How about roasting the coffee beans yourself in your own home? That’s what Amy Duncan started doing several years ago using an ordinary stovetop popcorn popper.


One mean coffee bean roasting machine

Today, this 2-kg Ambex commercial roaster is a more sophisticated means to produce the beans for HenriettaHaus Coffee Roasters, Amy's brand-new Wyandotte, Michigan-based business. But quality is still the top priority, and each small batch gets all the care and personal attention as those first roasts on her kitchen stove. Food Comma got to see the process up close in a private demonstration of the Henriettahaus Coffee Roasters works during a recent visit to Mr. Comma's home state.


(Click to enlarge)

1. The Ambex is fired up. 2. A small batch of raw, organic coffee beans is carefully measured out. 3. Once the roaster reaches the proper temperature, the beans are fed in. 4. Periodically through the roasting process, Amy checks for color and aroma. 5. When ready, the batch is cooled and given a final inspection for any beans that have not achieved a perfect roast. 6. The freshly roasted coffee beans are ready to be weighed and packaged.


Each bag is hand stamped and labeled with the coffee's country of origin and date of roast

HenriettaHaus is just beginning to hit the market in the Detroit area, where it can be purchased at the Burton Theater in Cass Corridor, at the Oakland County Farmers Market in Waterford Township, and via direct, personal delivery around Detroit, Ann Arbor, and environs. But even outside Michigan, this handcrafted, small-batch coffee can be shipped right to your door, whole beans or ground. Makes an excellent stocking stuffer! Send an email to orders@henriettahauscoffee.com for all the details.



Read Food Comma's previous interview with Amy about her inspiration for HenriettaHaus and how she got started.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Bauer Pottery Holiday Sale

Fave local blog/daily read The Eastsider has a nice post about northeast LA's historic potteries, focusing on Bauer Pottery Company, established in the 1880s in Kentucky and relocated to Los Angeles in the early 1900s. Bauer's iconic Ring-Ware line, introduced in 1932, flourished during the arts and crafts movement with its vivid colors and often-imitated design.


Bauer and Russel Wright ceramics

Though Bauer's original operation shut down in the 1960s, the trademark was revived in 1998 with the aim of reproducing the pottery's classic wares. Today, the Bauer Pottery Company's showroom resides off of San Fernando Road at the edge of Forest Lawn Memorial Park, coincidentally where founder J.A. Bauer is buried, just a few miles from the historic studio.

And it just so happens that Bauer is having a holiday sale on seconds and clearance items. Food Comma visited last weekend and scored some great deals on gifts and even a little present or two for myself.


Bauer butter dish

A couple years ago I'd been close to getting the vintage version of this butter dish for $80, but just couldn't justify the expense (which Mr. Comma was going to spring for as a birthday present). Good thing I held out: we scored this one at the sale—same great looks, same color—for about $30. What will Mr. Comma buy me with the money he saved?

Incidentally, Bauer also produces the American Modern line of ceramics from Russel Wright, subject of my last post.

Bauer Pottery Holiday Sale, Dec. 11-12
3051 Rosslyn Street
Los Angeles, CA 90065
9am to 5pm
(818) 500-0666