Greenwood Lake Roasters Craft Coffee

Many people parlay hobbies into successful businesses driven by a passion to share their creations. This is the story of Dave Kozuha, the owner and roastmaster of Greenwood Lake Roasters Craft Coffee. His journey began with roasting coffee in his kitchen, a passion that spilled out into smoke-filled driveway experiments.

The enticing aroma of freshly roasted beans wafting from his garage drew in passersby, sparking their desire for high-quality coffee. Fuelled by this desire to share his craft, Dave and his wife Yolanda purchased a roaster and set up shop in a commercial building, officially launching Greenwood Lake Roasters.

“It started as a passion project, and sharing that passion for coffee with the world is truly amazing. Our focus has always been on bringing high-quality coffees to the public in an affordable manner,” says Kozuha.

He delved into ‘roast theory’ to improve his coffee-making skills and learn more about the subtle differences in roasting while creating new coffee batches. However, Kozuha found that despite its revered status, the theory fell short in the practical realities of roasting.

He deviated from theoretical frameworks, focusing instead on his basic senses of sight, sound, and smell. This method, based on intuition and sensory perception, consistently produced better results than those based on sophisticated roast theories.

His experience allows him to evaluate beans and determine the roasting methods used just by looking at them, earning him the nickname ‘coffee wizard.’ His ability to redefine roasting theory and develop his own methodologies enables him to create some of the smoothest, richest, and most luscious coffees.

Today, Kozuha runs one of the top quality coffee roasters globally, a testament to his distinctive approach and dedication to solving roasting problems through trial and error.

Greenwood Lake Roasters goes beyond just coffee production. It strives to understand the ‘terroir’ and the origin and production methods of its beans. It delves into the coffee’s origin, growing conditions, species, varietals, mutations, and the human aspect present throughout the process, from cultivation to harvesting to processing. This approach reveals the unique characteristics inherent in each coffee bean.

The roastery values diverse coffee processing methods like natural, washed, honey, wet-hulled, and anaerobic. These methods impart distinct flavors and textures to its coffee. Its coffee bags highlight these processes to guide customers in understanding the special effects each brings. It offers various coffees under each process, allowing for exploration of different farm origins and handling approaches.

Greenwood Lake Roasters sources and processes only organic coffees, showcasing the quality of its products. Its focus on education and equality aligns with the principles of organic practices, offering traceability and a consistent quality check to deliver a high-quality product.

Greenwood Lake Roasters offers 34 coffee options, featuring five Honduran-origin coffees and four Ethiopian varieties. It has coffees from various regions, including South America, Central America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Its current featured coffee of the month hails from Congo, a newcomer to its lineup.

The roastery constantly explores new concepts, like the recent introduction of anaerobic processing from Honduras. It is open to sourcing coffees from emerging regions and experimenting with different processing techniques.

Greenwood Lake Roasters also participates in three farmers’ markets and aims to expand to more. This expansion would require hiring additional staff to meet the growing demand.

Greenwood Lake Roasters prioritizes offering experiences that resonate with its customers, always providing something new to learn and enjoy. It specializes in delivering moments of pure awesomeness, whether it’s sharing a cup of coffee with loved ones or simply basking in the joy of togetherness. Kozuha believes it’s not just about the products or services; it’s about building connections and creating memories that last a lifetime.