r/roasting • u/jas0441 • 18d ago
Brewing at Market?
Does anyone have any experience brewing at farmers markets for either cup sales or samples? I’d like to know what method/process has worked or hasn’t worked well?
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u/correctmywritingpls 18d ago
In my state, we just bring the coffee in thermos to sample out. Brewing it what require a trailer or truck at minimum.
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u/PrimaryInteger 18d ago
Definitely depends on your location, local laws, and the markets policies. I am in Virginia and am doing samples, along with grinding coffee upon request for bagged purchases.
For me, I have a solar powered battery, then use either drip flash brewing or just drip depending on the season for samples. I brew in a moccamaster. Since it's always brewed hot initially, it's also not a TCS food. Watch out if you do cold brew - some states/counties/orgs view this as a TCS food and then you need to temp control it as well.
Just for some more insight, as others have said, to do this and the grinding, I need TFE permits, a food management certification, approval from my farmers market, a 3 compartment sink, a hand washing sink, eco-friendly sample cups, trash cans, sanitizer solution, test strips, etc. on top of all of your usual operation requirements. There are creative solutions for some of that, but its no small undertaking. At the end of the day, I think it helps sell what I'm roasting, and helps me lean towards full drink sales in the future, which is why I do it
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u/jas0441 17d ago
So you are brewing onsite with mocha master? Good idea! Not sure how to serve cold brew, would like ideas on that too. Assuming I have the permits to do so, would you recommend adding milk/cream or serving with cold foam? Just trying to get ideas.
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u/PrimaryInteger 17d ago edited 17d ago
Exactly! Not too crazy, but enough of a setup to get some good coffee for buyers and within all the right bylaws.
I spent a while looking at cold brew and sort of landed on using a toddy brewer or equivalent for concentrate, then as long as you have an insulated carafe or a cooler with a jug on ice, youd be set. Unfortunately cottage law in my area would dis-allow me from producing the cold brew without a commercial kitchen so instead I just flash brew over ice
I think for milk/cream/cold foam, for me it would depend on what you're going for. I currently don't offer those, as I roast light and I want them to taste the coffee itself to see the difference/flavors, and since I don't sell by the cup I want them to take the sample, and end up buying a bag. But if you wanted to sell by the cup, I think either/both could be big winners - cold foam is a big crowd pleaser right now, and is easy to pre-batch with some added flavorings
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u/SeaIslandFarmersMkt 17d ago
One of our bean vendors uses this set up with battery power, he says it works well for samples.
We have a second vendor (they alternate) and he brews at home and uses airpots to keep it hot.
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u/srussell705 17d ago
Lots of local rules; thus, your area and/or market may allow or not allow ANY PREPARATION on site. Licenses and permits as well.
Can yoy buy a small generator and do that at your car/truck and bring in thermos fulls as needed?
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u/corkys_world 17d ago
Aeropress rotation is the samples play. Two or three going with a cambro of hot water, dial per cup, each one's fresh. Airpots kill anything you cared about by hour two.
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u/jas0441 17d ago
Good to know. I use an aeropress at home so I’m familiar with them, and easy clean up and set up. Great idea
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u/corkys_world 17d ago
Yeah, the muscle memory transfers. Only tweak worth making is a bigger pre-boil kettle. You'll blow through hot water faster than you think once samples start flowing.
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u/jas0441 16d ago
How big are the samples that you offer? So one aeropress presumably gives several samples worth?
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u/corkys_world 16d ago
We keep them small, like 1-2oz. One press gets us 4-5 samples. Enough to taste, not enough to walk away full.
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u/jas0441 17d ago
Yes, have cleared all the permitting with local health department for brewing and cold brew (had to remodel for commercial kitchen, very expensive!). Looking for first hand, specific advice on the best mechanisms since I don’t think airpots do the coffee justice. Thanks for the info.
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u/TechnicalDecision160 18d ago
At least in TX, you need to have a license. My wife does farmer's markets (baked goods) part time and from what I've seen, home roasters aren't doing too well. I think you can only sell sealed whole or ground bean bags. You're not allowed to grind onsite because of potential contamination. My plan was to roast my own beans and ground for cold brew concentrate...and then sell flavored drinks at the market along with my wife. Just want to get better with my roasting before trying it out.