When Black Coffee owner Mia Moss drinks a cup of cold brew, she’s reading the taste like a sommelier. Just like with wine, she said coffee drinkers can tell when it’s been a good year for the beans – where it was grown, the weather conditions, the elevation – it’s all in the flavor.
“I’m really into the notes. … I’m looking for something that’s a little lighter, not too heavy, not the usual Colombian,” she said.
Moss is one of several coffee lovers in Fort Worth to specialize in the art of coffee brewing – and it is an art, according to Moss.
While Black Coffee must compete with larger coffee chains like Starbucks and Dutch Bros, Moss said her shop has something special – a comforting personal touch to each customer’s experience.
“I also feel our coffee is really good. I specifically chose beans from Africa to anchor our Espresso and Daily Blend because they are well balanced,” she said.
Another cold brew aficionado is Tweety Angwenyi, co-owner of Hustle Blendz, a storefront and wholesale coffee seller. At Hustle Blendz, even the pastries are infused with coffee, and Angwenyi sources beans directly from his grandfather’s coffee bean farm in Kenya.
Among his popular blends is a combination of East Kenyan and South Kenyan varieties, which have a chocolate and walnut flavors respectively. Together, he said they complement each other well while still tasting unique.
“Those two together really bring out the flavor,” he said.
He remembers growing up in Kenya and visiting his grandfather’s farm and watching him harvest the beans and tea leaves. Though he didn’t initially have a plan to go into the coffee business, Angwenyi made the switch after he met his wife, Patrice, who convinced him to learn more about his grandfather’s work. After researching how the beans are processed, as well as the unique tastes of different coffees, they co-founded Hustle Blendz in 2019.
Meanwhile, just north of downtown Fort Worth, Casa Azul opened its doors in spring 2021 and has a steady stream of customers – even during the July slowdown. Owner Joseph Landeros estimates that about 80 percent of customers are regulars, which he takes as a good sign.
“Ultimately, coffee is rooted in American culture and people like the experience of coffee shops, and I wanted to offer this community somewhere that people can come and have a sense of communion with their fellow man,” he said.
This is only a short portion of the story…to read the full story, click on the cover of the August 2023 issue of the magazine.
**Please also note that corrections will be made to Mia Moss’s story in the October 2023 issue.
