Coffee Is So Very Tony

This is about one of the people who offer Pat's Granola in their business. I am so grateful for the outpouring of support and advocacy for small local brands in our community. Every leaf helps the tree, especially as so many of food businesses across the country, especially restaurants are struggling to survive the pandemic.

Tony DiCorpo, owner of Troubadour Coffee Roasters in Fairview Park messaged me more than a year ago with the following note: "Hey Pat!! Love your journey! I'd be interested in sourcing from you for the shop! We have stuck to baked goods since forever for bkfst, but I'd love to branch out into better offerings, so I'd start with Pat's Granola!

I first met Tony in 2017 at a coffee class he teaches at Troubadour. It was an eye opening experience learning how coffee is grown, harvested and roasted. You can actually smell the coffee beans roasting from outside the shop on roasting days! So much work goes into making good coffee.

Coffee dates back quite a ways in my memory banks. My Mom used to brew Maxwell House coffee in a percolator every morning for my Dad and herself. She'd make enough for both of them to have coffee packed in thermos bottles to enjoy throughout their work days. I remember how much they enjoyed those first uninterrupted sips in the early morning...just the two of them at the kitchen table before waking up the rest of our household.

People like Tony are invaluable to me and my brand. Through Tony I have attended a wonderfully informative “meet the grower” gathering at Troubadour with Miguel Medina of Finca El Platanar, Antigua, Guatemala. Taste tested coffee from the farms of Santa Clara and El Balsamo Acatenango. Smooth brews. Perfect way of introducing us to the art, science and growers who produce excellent coffees.

There’s always a table near the window at Troubadour with a hot cup of coffee waiting for me. Being a part of the greater northeast Ohio food community is a privilege. Tony and Troubadour are a gift 🎁 . 

You can read more about Troubadour on the company website (link below). And Tony ships coffee!

Pat Bennett is the founder and President of Pat's Granola, a Cleveland based food company. Pat's Granola is sold online at www.patsgranola.com and is also available at several Northeast Ohio businesses including:

Troubadour Coffee Roasters www.troubadourcoffeeroasters.com

Sports and Spine Physical Therapy www.sportspine.com

Local Flavors Shoppe www.localflavors.net

Rittman Orchards and Farm Market www.rittmanorchards.com

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport www.clevelandairport.com

Locle Box www.loclebox.com

Good Foods Brands www.goodfoodbrands.org

Market Wagon Northeast Ohio www.marketwagon.com

Made Cleveland www.madecleveland.com