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ENTERTAINMENT: DINING
GOOD EATS: Warm up with a cup of joe from Old Village Roaster
The Old Village Roaster, located at 914 4th Ave., has been in business since May 1995.
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HUNTINGTON -- A favorite morning spot for many workers in downtown Huntington, the Old Village Roaster is nearing its 15th anniversary.
First opening its doors in May 1995, the Old Village Roaster started when owners Pete and Vicky Cooper acquired an antique roaster. The couple first sold roasted peanuts for the Huntington Cubs baseball team, as well as local fairs and festivals before selling them at Marshall University games for a few years. While coffee has become the Coopers' primary business, bags of fresh roasted peanuts and pecans are still sold each day.
"We learned to roast coffee through trial and error," Vicky Cooper said. "We knew these roasting machines were primarily used for coffee and that piqued (Pete's) interest to experiment. First and foremost, the fact that we do our own roasting is what sets us apart from any other coffee establishment in town. We get coffee beans in from all over the world, but we primarily use an importer from New York to get our green coffee beans. We also sell a wider assortment of decaffeinated coffees than most retailers."
The natural gas-powered roasters are just part of antiques collection that Pete Cooper has on full display.
Located along the walls are a series of antique coffee tins, including a few now-defunct local brands such as Guyandotte Club and Betsy Ross. A large brass antique coffee bean dispenser sits in front of the cash register.
Customers also can peruse old glass beverage dispensers, a classic cash register and even a "coffee stretcher," a product people rationing coffee during World War II would mix with the beverage to spread it out. Some items in the collection date back to World War I. The coffee roasters date to the turn of the 20th century.
The Old Village Roaster serves a wide assortment of coffees each day with eight fresh-brewed selections. A variety of hot beverages are available in 12-ounce and 16-ounce sizes with a fresh cup of brewed coffee selling for $1.75 to $2. Customers can also enjoy traditional coffeehouse favorites like a Caffe Latte ($2.50-$3), Chai Tea ($2.50-$4) and a Mexican-style hot chocolate made with cinnamon ($2.50-$3.50). A number of cold beverages also are available in 16-ounce cups such as Frozen Chai ($4) and Italian Cream Soda ($3)
"We probably have as many different flavored coffees," Vicky Cooper said. "We flavor our own coffees and combine flavors. Our most popular is Sinful Delight, a combination of chocolate, pecans, caramel and cream. Our second most popular is our Highlander Grogg, which is a butterscotch and rum flavor. We sell individual packets of flavored coffee for $1.25. ... You can also special order any flavored coffee you like by the pound."
Customers looking for unflavored coffees can choose from a wide assortment of beans ranging in price from $12.95 to $24.95, depending on the availability of the beans.
The Old Village Roaster also is a showcase of sorts for local brands. The coffee shop is the first distributor for Walter Lewis' premium Chiam Maya chocolate bars. Chili Willis salsa is available by the jar. Muffins and other pastries are delivered fresh each morning. There also is an assortment of premium brands such as Big Train Chai Tea, Harney & Sons teas and Schaffren Berger chocolate bars. The shop also sells premium chocolates from Asher chocolates from Philadelphia for $14.95 a pound.
The Old Village Roaster is open 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The shop is closed on Sundays. Cash and personal checks are the only means of payment accepted. No credit/debit cards are taken at this time. For more information or to place a special order, call 304-697-1944.
The Old Village Roaster
TYPE OF FOOD: Coffee and coffee beans, teas and hot chocolate, some cold beverages, freshly roasted nuts, premium chocolates, muffins and pastries
ADDRESS: 914 4th Ave., Huntington
PHONE NUMBER: 304-697-1944
PAYMENTS ACCEPTED: Cash and personal check only, no credit/debit
HOURS: 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, closed Sunday
