Made in the Bronx: Bronx Roasting Company brings locally roasted coffee to City Island
Peter Gennari said he started roasting his own beans because he wanted more control over the quality and flavor of the coffee served at the cafe. He partnered with a friend's organic coffee farm in Colombia to source the beans.
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A former Wall Street professional is bringing locally roasted coffee to the Bronx using a process designed to be more environmentally friendly.
Peter Gennari worked on Wall Street for 20 years before a cancer diagnosis prompted him to reconsider his career and spend more time with his family.
After moving to City Island, Gennari said he noticed the neighborhood did not have a coffee shop where residents could gather. He opened Clipper Coffee in 2018 and later expanded the business by launching the Bronx Roasting Company.
"I wanted to spend more time with family. I wanted to do my own business for the longest time," Gennari said. "When I moved to City Island here up in the Bronx, I noticed they didn't have a coffee shop. They didn't have any place for people to gather and to sit and to interact with their neighbors."
Gennari said he started roasting his own beans because he wanted more control over the quality and flavor of the coffee served at the cafe. He partnered with a friend's organic coffee farm in Colombia to source the beans.
"We wanted the coffee to taste the way we liked it and the way the people of the Bronx liked it," Gennari said. "We also wanted to bring the best bean we could to the people of the Bronx."
The Bronx Roasting Company uses a Bellwether electric coffee roaster that does not require gas. Gennari said the machine allows the company to roast its beans while reducing emissions associated with traditional roasting methods.
Before roasting, the coffee beans are green. They are placed inside the electric roaster for about 15 minutes, with the temperature adjusted depending on the desired flavor.
Gennari said lighter roasts can produce fruitier flavors, while higher temperatures create darker roasts with notes of chocolate.
After the beans are roasted, they are left to rest and release carbon dioxide before being ground and brewed into coffee and espresso drinks at Clipper Coffee on City Island.
