Friday Forum Takes a Road Trip



Taking a picture for the blog.

Our Christmas trip to Wisconsin provided a super opportunity for this coffee lover.  On a previous Friday Forum it was suggested we try Berres Brothers Coffee Roasters in Watertown, Wisconsin.  A quick visit to the website and it would be easy to order their popular Highlander Grogg online but with a northern Christmas planned, and Watertown just down the road, a visit was put on the schedule.

As I was posing in front of the sign, D preparing to take my photo, a couple crossing the parking lot asked, "Are you from out of town?" 

I explain I've come all the way from Texas to visit this particular roaster.  They offer to take our picture but D declines, explaining the picture is for my coffee blog and he doesn't need to be in it.  She answers, "Then you might want this man in your picture because he is the owner."  My surprise and delight are evident as I immediately pull Pete Barres into the picture.

Pete Berres Owner

Berres roasting team.

Pete, and his lovely wife Julie, were so gracious to a gushing coffee fan.  They invited me onto the roasting floor.

I was introduced to the Berres roasters who explained the roasting process, showed the diffference of the beans pre and post roasting, demonstrated the roaster, which operates in the same fashion as a hot air popcorn machine, and we witnessed their flavoring method.

The selections were endless, I was in a coffee lovers candy land.  We left with two packages of Highlander Grogg, an explosion of butterscotch, caramel and hazelnut, fresh from the roaster.  Packer Perc, buttery hazelnut with a kick of Irish creme, was the additional choice for a regional flare. 

Everyone at Berres Brothers was helpful and friendly.  It was wonderful to stand and sniff the wonderful aroma that filled the shop.  The sandwich bar was worth the visit as well.  Thank you to Pete and Julie Barres and the whole Barres Coffee team for the informational visit, it was so much more than I expected and great fun! 

The particular insights of the Forum will follow soon.  In the meantime, readers, any other coffee suggestions?