By Jed Vaughn
Doma Coffee Roasting Company was founded in 2000 with the goal of roasting great coffee in an environmentally sustainable way. Starting from their garage, Rebecca and Terry Patano, founders of Doma, have grown their coffee company to a facility in Post Falls in the North Idaho Panhandle.
Using an eco-friendly “Lucky 13” Loring smart roaster that uses 80% less natural gas than traditional roasters, their path has evolved to include recycled paper, vegetable-based inks, ultra-high-efficiency lighting and 100% toxin-free cleaning products.
Doma prides themselves in purchasing only organic certified coffee through fair trade and direct relationships. They buy from organic farmers all over the world, in countries including Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama and Ethiopia. “Summer Lovin” from Ethiopia is their latest release.
As members of Cooperative Coffees, a fair trade coffee cooperative, full disclosure of their farmers’ identity and products is important to the Doma team. Rebecca and Terry want customers to know where and who their coffee is coming from. Before launching, they traveled to many destinations looking for the right fits and relationships. Chiapas coffee was one of the selections that fit the bill.
The carbon footprint produced by their facility is something they watch closely. Using a carbon footprint calculator from Avista, the local hydro-electric power company, Rebecca and Terry have determined the CO2 emissions of their building and facility. Doma Coffee Roasting Company produces 211 tons less per year than a similar size building would – 18 metric tons compared to 229 metric tons. And by using only recycled paper, they figure they save 31 trees a year relative to the alternative.
Doma also offers a manual brewing class covering methods that include Chemex, Kalita, Aeropress, Melita, and French press. The class lasts about 2 hours and includes ½ pound of coffee, discounts on various brewing equipment, and recipes to try at home and on other coffee brewers. The class costs $40.00 and is held several times throughout the year.
Latte art classes covering milk science and latte art techniques such as Tulip, Rosetta, Monk’s Head and heart are available and recommended for those already having a basic understanding of the concepts. The class and workshop are $60.00.
Doma is a retailer, wholesaler, roaster, and distributor to outlets primarily here in the Northwest. They also do private labeling and have their own printing presses. The facility in Post Falls is most impressive and has a great coffee atmosphere.
Rebecca Patano, one of the two owners of Doma, is responsible for much of the interior design of Doma. She added beautiful wood decor and unique leather countertops. Free roastery tours are available by appointment only. The company even throws in a discount for your whole bean coffee purchase.
I recommend a visit to Doma. Stop in for a cup and get a pound or two of their roasted coffee if you find yourself in the area.
For more information visit Doma Coffee’s website.
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