Why we roast twenty miles down the coast in Biddeford

Every bag of coffee at Ashgrove starts twenty miles down the coast, at a small roastery in Biddeford called Marram. We collect from them every Tuesday, which is part of why the coffee on our shelf is never more than ten days old.

Who roasts the coffee at Ashgrove?

Marram, a roaster in Biddeford, Maine, about twenty miles down the coast from Portland. We are not a roastery ourselves — we buy in small batches from people who do nothing else, so the coffee is their full focus, not a side project.

Why does roast date matter so much?

Coffee is at its best in the first couple of weeks after roasting, then it slowly loses the aromas that make it interesting. Buying from twenty miles away instead of importing from a warehouse means our coffee is fresher when it reaches the bag, and fresher again when it reaches your cup.

How often is the coffee restocked?

We collect from Marram every Tuesday and sell every bag within ten days of roasting. The roast date is written on every bag we sell, whether you are buying it at the counter or taking one home.

Can I visit the roastery myself?

Marram is not set up for drop-in visitors, but ask at the counter and we are happy to point you toward Biddeford and tell you more about them. In the meantime, the freshest way to taste their work is still a cup at Ashgrove.

The freshest way to taste it is a cup at the counter, or a bag to take home.