Page 14 - Harnett Life Spring 2022

Cotton.

Coastal Plains region.

Campbell University.

Civil War History.

Countrysides.

Coffee.

By Crissy Neville

Where Cs are not the best mark to get a report card, the Cs have
it in Harnett County — from cotton to coffee. Yes, coffee!

In reciting the playlist of Harnett County’s greatest hits, did
coffee come to mind? Probably not. Afterall, you won’t find a
coffee plant in every yard or java in every cup. But while you 129 Coffee Roasters use unique and visually appealing ways
can’t change the climate or growing region in which you live, to advertise their coffee. This photo was taken last year in
you can change the culture. the sunflower field provided by the city of Dunn.

Coffee culture? Yes, it’s real, and why not? Motorcyclists have grinder, auto drip machine, moka pot, espresso maker and on
dream bikes and joy rides. Soccer players have specialty cleats and on. You can buy whole beans or ground coffee — fine,
and cool jargon. For fitness fans, it’s health clubs, heart rates medium, or coarse and more settings in between. Don’t forget
and personal records. Excitement for coffee drinkers delves to buy the milk, creamer, half-and-half, sugar, artificial sweet-
into the realm of coffee shops, special pours, and the pursuit ener, cinnamon, honey and whipped cream. Most people doc-
of a great cup. tor up their drinks, but some usually the hard-core consumers
— add ne’er a thing.
Coffee culture is the set of traditions and social behaviors that
surround the consumption of coffee, particularly in social set- The term coffee culture is also used in popular business media
tings. In the U.S. this describes the spread of all things coffee, to describe the economic impact of coffee commerce which
from espresso stands and coffee shops to massive chains such is big business in the U.S. Here in Harnett, some locals are
as Starbucks. These days, coffee and technology go together, finding success in this competitive market by being themselves
particularly in today’s remote-work environment where busi- and presenting the small-town, mom-and-pop produced, lo-
ness is often conducted in coffee-serving establishments — cally owned, know-where-the-product comes philosophy this
cafes, bookstores, co-working spaces. Such places offer the part of the world is known for.
perk of free wireless internet to encourage customers to come
hang out and take care of business, whether work or personal. Quoted in an Eater.com article “America’s Coffee Got Bad —
Coffee shops and colleges are practically synonymous; you’d and Then Got Great,” George Howell, coffee aficionado and
be hard pressed to find a campus or college town without one founder of Boston’s the Coffee Connection said, “Today, the
or several. true coffee lovers want to taste the craft and the art of the farm-
er, right? And the processor, that’s sometimes one and the same,
A lovely lexicon is devoted to the craft beverage in its many or the processors are next door, working with the farmer.”
forms: espresso, café au lait, cappuccino, frappe, mocha, and
other interesting words. Some drink it steaming hot and black This article introduces two such crafters who live right here,
while others take it iced down and milky cold. When making practically right next door. They are two local couples - coffee
coffee at home, there’s an array of accoutrements: coffee drinkers turned coffee merchants - impacting Harnett County’s
Page 14 coffee culture.