One hot afternoon, Shane Bergmann stepped into the cool space of a downtown Chico cafe and ordered a cup of coffee-- Ethiopia Mocha Harrar. Accustomed to coffee measured from a can into an auto dripper and sipped in the wee hours of his shift as a donut maker, notes of chocolate with spice surprised him. Recounting that first drink of good coffee at age 14, he describes the experience as mind blowing. In the passing decades, Shane worked as a baker, brewer, and as a specialized finish contractor. In 2010, a Craigslist ad for a 1 pound San Franciscan roaster caught his eye. With the small red and gold SF1, he began exploring different coffees--discovering regions around the equator through the varietals that thrived in particular soils and at certain elevations.
In 2012 Shane purchased a second San Franciscan roaster, the Golden Gate, which could produce 25 pounds at a time or 100 pounds/hour. Shane and his wife Dolores expanded into coffee houses and grocery. During this time several signature roasts were developed that became the core of Rusty Roof offerings. The connection to place that delights us when drinking an exceptional single origin became the foundation of something superlative--a journey not only to places such as Ethiopia, Colombia, or East Timor, but somewhere intangible. This concept has inspired some of our proprietary blend names: Dark Side of the Moon, Karma, Bohemian, and Vaquero.
Our commitment to producing exceptional coffee is the core of everything we do. Our love of coffee keeps us exploring, learning, and discovering.