Photos courtesy of Matt Peirson and Simple Roast Coffee (Facebook)
It has been a busy year for Matt Peirson. In the last couple months alone, he purchased a business property in Auburn, married the love of his life and said so long to his job in "corporate America."
In the next week or two, he will take Simple Roast Coffee Company to the next level, opening a double-window, drive-thru "coffee hut" on Grant Avenue (Route 5), in Auburn, near the Movieplex Theaters and Tractor Supply Co. The small building, which now wears a fresh coat of green paint, was formerly Nana's Cafe. You'll be able to pull in and order a Simple Roast espresso, cappuccino or cold brew (and more) for the road.
"The building was pre-existing and actually perfect for setting up a double drive-thru,'' Peirson notes. He says he took some inspiration from Coffee Mania, a roaster with two drive-thrus in Cortland and a coffee cafe (Origins) in Homer owned by his friends Craig and Michelle Brooks.
"It all happened very fast,'' Peirson adds. "Auburn doesn't have its own coffee roaster, to my knowledge. And there are thousands of vehicles on that road every day.''
Peirson will continue to roast his fair trade, certified organic coffee beans in small batches in Manlius and set up shop each Saturday at the Central New York Regional Market and Cazenovia Farmers Market. Simple Roast beans are available at Green Planet Grocery (Fairmount and Cicero), the Syracuse Real Food Co-Op, Lune Chocolat in Manlius, Half Moon Bakery & Bistro in Jamesville and 20/East in Cazenovia.
At the Simple Roast hut, Peirson plans to offer a selection of baked goods from Half Moon Bakery and possibly other bakers in the region, depending on demand. Hours will be 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday and will be adjusted as needed as business moves forward and he gets to know his customer base.
"It all happened very fast,'' Peirson adds. "Auburn doesn't have its own coffee roaster, to my knowledge. And there are thousands of vehicles on that road every day.''
Peirson will continue to roast his fair trade, certified organic coffee beans in small batches in Manlius and set up shop each Saturday at the Central New York Regional Market and Cazenovia Farmers Market. Simple Roast beans are available at Green Planet Grocery (Fairmount and Cicero), the Syracuse Real Food Co-Op, Lune Chocolat in Manlius, Half Moon Bakery & Bistro in Jamesville and 20/East in Cazenovia.
At the Simple Roast hut, Peirson plans to offer a selection of baked goods from Half Moon Bakery and possibly other bakers in the region, depending on demand. Hours will be 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday and will be adjusted as needed as business moves forward and he gets to know his customer base.
For more information, visit the Simple Roast Coffee website and Facebook page.
