A Coffee Advent Calendar From Gallipolis: Silver Bridge Coffee's Holiday Tradition

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GALLIPOLIS — Lorraine Walker started Silver Bridge Coffee in 2008, roasting beans in a popcorn popper in her kitchen while her youngest started kindergarten and her oldest headed to college. Nearly 18 years later, her Gallipolis roastery is shipping a Christmas tradition all its own: a 24-day coffee Advent Calendar.

There are three versions. The Single Origins and Blends Calendar includes a day of 100 percent Kona coffee and, new this year, a Rwandan coffee produced by women-owned farms. The Flavored Coffee Calendar includes an unreleased flavor customers can try before anyone else. The Ultimate Advent Calendar combines both, Kona and the unreleased flavor included. Each day brews a full pot.

A Coffee Advent Calendar From Gallipolis: Silver Bridge Coffee’s Holiday Tradition

From 40 bags at a farmers market

“I still remember my very first market, when I sold 40 bags of coffee,” Walker said. “That might not sound like much today, but to me, it was huge.” She built the business without unnecessary debt, earning first and reinvesting, and farmers markets are still part of the routine: Silver Bridge is at the Worthington and Clintonville markets every weekend.

What to look for in a holiday coffee

Walker is a Level 2 Certified Roaster, and her advice is to trust your own taste. “No two people’s palates are exactly alike,” she said. “I always encourage people to be adventurous with coffee. Sometimes a coffee you never would have picked off the shelf ends up becoming your new favorite.”

Highlander Grogg, with butterscotch and rum flavor, is the company’s best seller year-round. Snow Angel, a blend of coconut, vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut, is in retail stores November through April.

Giving back where the coffee grows

Silver Bridge helps fund 13 early childhood education centers in rural Peru, providing school supplies, supporting teachers, and helping children meet nutritional goals. Walker has traveled to Peru in December for the Chocolatada tradition, distributing hot chocolate and panettone in rural communities.

“When they purchase coffee from Silver Bridge Coffee, they’re doing more than supporting a small, woman-owned business in Ohio,” she said. “They’re also helping us continue to support children, families, and coffee-growing communities thousands of miles away.”

Silver Bridge Coffee Company is based in Gallipolis. The Advent Calendars are available through the company’s website and retail partners.

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