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Customers find coffee, community at Branch Street Coffee Roasters
By Kalea Hall
BOARDMAN
It’s about community and coffee at the new Branch Street Coffee Roasters on U.S. Route 224 in Boardman.
A coffee roaster, friendly environment and the guy who roasts the beans himself greet customers when they walk in.
“This is a community place,” said Matt Campbell, co-owner of the new coffee shop. “It’s your shop as much as it is ours.”
This coffee venture for Matt and his wife, Kristin, a Mahoning Valley native, began over a cup of coffee a few years back. Matt wanted a change from his day job. The couple lived in New Jersey at the time and stepped into a coffee shop to talk about what would be next for them. Both knew they wanted to go into business.
“We knew we wanted to do something,” Kristin said. “We had looked at a couple of different things.”
Matt said, “Why not coffee?”
Not long after, he was an apprentice at a local coffee shop near where they lived in New Jersey. It was there he learned the science behind a great cup of joe.
“We found out the real big difference is the fresh roast,” Matt said.
He learned how to roast to perfection, and he also learned how to be a barista. At first he thought he just wanted to have the drip coffee at his coffee shop and no espresso drinks, but the roast master where he apprenticed changed his mind.
“He taught me the science behind it and how to make all the drinks well,” Matt said.
His teacher also explained how customer service is essential to the entire experience for customers.
That customer experience is embraced at Branch Street and re-created for every customer.
Before the Campbells settled on their plaza location at 1393 Boardman-Canfield Road, they searched and searched for three years. This spot just seemed to fit their needs and wants.
“We designed this whole store around the roaster,” Matt said.
The store has both an industrial and intrinsic beauty to it. Art done by local artists lines the wall, candles made by a local candle maker are for sale, and records are up for sale. The Campbells don’t charge the vendors or artists to sell their goods; instead they ask them to donate 10 percent of their profits to The Butler Institute of American Art.
The freshly roasted coffee aroma is on high even before customers take a step inside. The aroma has drawn in a following in the 10 weeks since the store has been open.
“We have been well embraced,” Matt said.
Matt chats with his customers about what coffee they have enjoyed or are just trying out.
“That’s part of what he loves,” Kristin said. “Getting to know everyone.”
Outside of the coffee Matt roasts several times a week for five hours each time, the store also offers a wide selection of teas.
“Not everyone drinks coffee,” Matt said. “I just had a really great source for tea. He has been blending tea for 50 years.”
The coffee at Branch Street comes from all over the world. Some sources include South America, Africa and Indonesia.
“We embrace the fact that we are coffee nerds,” Matt said.
Branch Street is open from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday. The hours soon will expand to include Sunday.