FAYETTEVILLE — In a word, the one thing that Terry Smith and several of his friends had in commonwas this: coffee.
Not that the friends didn't have anything else to talk about or do. It's just that coffee always seemed to be around.
And, as Smith says, "If there is something as indispensable, shouldn't it be great?"
That's the general premise behind Silver Joe's Coffee Co., a relatively new firm that was founded in Northwest Arkansas and just recently opened its first North American cafe with a facility on Pinnacle Hills Parkway in Rogers.
Silver Joe's has been around since 2006 and quickly expanded. As a company that markets itself to the outdoor crowd, it was first sold in high-end outdoor stores and is currently available in 400 such locations throughout the country. Locally,it can also be purchased at Harp's stores and at Ozark Natural Foods in Fayetteville.
As sales began growing in both in stores and online, the ownership group decided to open its first local cafe.
"That was always part of the plan," Smith said.
After a soft opening late last week, the restaurant is offering a line of eight coffees, several teas and a selection of locally bakedpastries.
It starts, just like the company did, with a cup of joe.
The company, from a list of about 40 different trial blends, now features eight: espresso roast, French roast, hazelnut, house blend, Kona blend, mocha java, organic decaf and vanilla cream.
The blends are all fair-trade certified and, whenever possible, organic as well, Smith said.
All the beans are roasted in Washington using a process called fluid bed roasting, which injects hot air into the beans.
Because the beans do not touch a heated surface, there is less byproduct from the roasting process - less char, basically - which results in a cleaner taste, Smith said.
Standard cups of coffee are served in three sizes: 12 ounces, 16 ounces and 20 ounces for $1.30, $1.50 and $1.65, respectively.
The store also sells, in the same sizes, cappuccinos ($2.50, $3.05, $3.35), lattes ($2.50, $3.05, $3.35), mochas ($3.15, $3.70, $3.95) and more.
Although the primary focus of Silver Joe's is coffee, company founders have placed several teas on the menu, including a black tea blend featuring citrus flavors that is exclusive to Silver Joe's ($1.35, $1.65, $1.95). The same blend is also used in the Silver Joe's iced tea ($1.95/20-ounce, $2.45/32-ounce).
Other teas include a green and mint-flavored tea (both $1.35, $1.65, $1.95).
Hot chocolate is also available ($2.15, $2.40, $2.65).
Smoothies, developed for the retail cafes, are available in 20-ounce varieties. Options include the Wayfarer Smoothie, a concoction made with raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and strawberries and vanilla yogurt.
Those looking for something a little more substantive can order from the bakery menu, which includes the locally made treats of Bea McChristian, the pastry chef at Jack's Java and Cakes, also in Rogers. Prior to her employment in Northwest Arkansas, McChristian spent eight years working in a German pastry shop.
Offerings include muffins, scones, croissants, danishes and quiches.
The flavors of the muffins and scones will rotate often, Smith said.
The restaurant also sells coffee by the pound and would like to begin offering live entertainment in the near future.
Plans are to open several more cafes in Northwest Arkansas in the near future, Smith said. The next opening will be on Mission Boulevard in Fayetteville near the retailer's corporate office some-
Entertainment, Pages 22, 27 on 09/25/2009