Coffee lovers can try new blend today
Fire & Stone can be purchased through food hub co-op
A Cape Bretoner and her husband will fulfil a longstanding goal today as they begin to sell their roasted coffee beans for the first time.
Fire & Stone Coffee Roasters, a coffee bean roasting business located in St. Peter’s, Richmond County, is a new business that is owned and operated by Melanie Gielen, 36, who is originally from Millville, and her husband, Chad Keen, 43, originally from Florida.
The couple lived in Alberta for the last several years and were both interested in coffee and the process that goes into owning a small business.
In June, Gielen moved back to Cape Breton and — with the encouragement of Keen, who was finishing work in Alberta — started their business of roasting coffee beans for Cape Bretoners. Keen moved to Cape Breton as well in August.
Gielen said the couple wanted to get involved with a local coffee bean business and spent a long time picking the perfect spot.
“We selected our location because we wanted to have a home business and that was a
big factor. We’ve actually been looking for a spot for about a year, until we found our place in St. Peter’s,” said Gielen, who believes the company has what it needs to be sustainable and versatile.
“We purchased a drum roaster that (handles) about eight pounds (of coffee beans). It’s easily moved so we can roast indoors or move it into our wood fire oven. We decided that’s how we wanted to start our business,” said Gielen.
Their product will be sold for the first time today, via the Pan Cape Breton Food Hub co-op, which is a multi-stakeholder, non-profit co-op that distributes local food across Cape Breton. The food hub uses its website as a distribution chain to connect consumers and businesses that produce food products in Cape Breton.
Gielen said the company is excited to be a part of the network that the food hub has created and enjoys the idea of people shopping local — as she does.
“I think it’s a really great way for local products to get a (longer) reach. When I saw it I thought that it was a really great way to start and get your product out there,” said Gielen.
“You’re supporting a local business and an idea. Supporting local is really important to me — I was raised that way. Everywhere I’ve gone I always try to seek out the local products — it’s great that it’s coming from someone who is right where you’re at.”
Fire & Stone Coffee Roasters does not currently have a storefront but today their two types of coffee beans — Mexican fair trade organic beans and beans from Bali — will be available on the website capebreton.localfoodmarketplace.com and items for sale are posted every Friday.