Barista Magazine

JUN-JUL 2016

Serving People Serving Coffee Since 2005

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23 www.baristamagazine.com hundreds of people responding would eventually become their third business partner, Brock Kehoe. The Waking Life fallout became a catalyst for positive social change, leading to the grand opening of Trade & Lore Coffee six months later. Nestled in the lively and iconic location of Wall Street, the building itself has a story to tell. Formerly a tattoo parlor, then a bead shop, the space also housed a legendary dance studio in its early days, once filled with actors choreographing scenes from Last of the Mohicans when the movie was filmed in the Appalachian Mountains during 1992. Simply put, the vibe at Trade & Lore Coffee is one of wellness: Apothecary bottles filled with fresh herbs artfully tucked into place serve as a reminder that coffee is a seasonal, agricultural crop that fosters openness and cultivates community. The menu, handwritten on a discarded door originally found in the basement of the building, hangs above an open bar made from a single tree. Rustic reclaimed-wood shelving, handcrafted by Brock, floats behind the counter, displaying brass and copper brewing devices and a library of inspirational coffee literature easily accessible to baristas and customers. What also makes Trade & Lore Coffee unique is, well, the coffee. Sarah and Lindsey decided they wanted to highlight single-origin coffees from Asheville-based roaster Mountain Air Roasting; Onyx Coffee Lab out of Fayetteville, Ark.; and several rotating guest roasters including Stumptown Coffee from Portland, Ore. They've partnered with numerous local businesses such as Farm to Home Milk, Buchi Kombucha, Dobra Tea, the Asheville Bee Charmer, and beloved pastry chef Samantha Stumpf of Cucina 24, to offer only the highest-quality ingredients on their thoughtfully curated menu. "Asheville is a city full of talented, passionate people dedicated to their craft, ranging from beer, food, coffee, the arts, and so much more," says Sarah. "The community members are huge advocates for local businesses, which is one of the many [things] that makes Asheville unique—our skyline is made up of individually owned small businesses with owners that are eager to support one another." This translates off-menu, as well. Local artist Lydia See is in the process of a progressive installation that will take place over the next several months, including a range of weavings using natural fibers and textiles. Her work is both approachable and relatable, a grounding force of evolving beauty. Additionally, Sarah, Lindsey, and Brock aspire to grow their business in a way that offers more than just a superb cup of coffee and comfortable space to their customers. They foresee classes of all types in the near future, including art workshops, palate-development classes, public cuppings, and eventually a full beer and wine program. Undoubtedly, Sarah and Lindsey are cultivating a space that will lead to individual and communal growth, using coffee as the medium by which one arrives through the door. Each carefully considered detail at Trade & Lore expresses the curative intention Lindsay and Sarah decided upon at their first meeting. From bar layout and customer navigational flow, to specialty beverages infused with edible flowers and local honey, to natural fibers and plants displayed in shadow boxes along the exposed-brick walls, Trade & Lore Coffee assuages and restores the senses, offering a personal haven to relax and enjoy one of the best cups of coffee in Blue Ridge Mountains. —Sarah Richmond Lindsey Pitman (le ) and Sarah Winkler—who co-own Trade & Lore Coff ee with Brock Kehoe—have a lot to celebrate.

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