Photo courtesy of Sue Casey
Welcome to
The Roasting Room by Northern Grounds
The Roasting Room by Northern Grounds, is our satellite storefront located at 34 West Sheridan Street in Ely, three doors down from our main shop. Along with our six classic varieties of fresh-roasted Northern Grounds whole bean coffee (including our latest House Blend), we also offer a rotating selection of three varieties of fresh-brewed coffee exclusive to The Roasting Room as well as a variety of coffee accoutrements sure to appeal to both the novice and the seasoned coffee enthusiast. We also provide the opportunity to see and learn about the coffee roasting process as well as different coffee brewing techniques.
The Roasting Room serves as the quintessential workspace for Northern Grounds. It is where we roast and package our coffees. Our roasting team is committed to the craft of specialty coffee roasting in order to bring the best possible coffee to your table. We do this through a balance of consistency and innovation, diligently cupping our current coffees for quality assurance, as well as establishing roasting profiles for exciting new varieties. We also gladly talk “coffee” and answer any coffee questions you may have (we do what we love, after all).
Specialty Coffees
Northern Grounds Single Origin Coffee
Northern Grounds Coffee is freshly-roasted in small batches. We take special care to insure that you are getting the best cup possible, whether by the bag or out of the coffee pot at our shop!
The Serra Negra (“Black Mountain”) coffee growing region of Brazil
at approximately 750-1100 MASL.
Photo courtesy of Café Imports
Brazil: Serra Negra
Our dark roast Brazilian coffee originates in the Minas Gerais region of Brazil. Translated as “Black Mountain,”Serra Negra coffee beans are grown at altitudes from 2,950 to 3,937 feet above sea level.
It is a natural-processed coffee consisting of Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, and Catuai Arabica varietals, and rides the fine line between a Viennese Roast and a French Roast with notes mahogany, dark chocolate, and carmelized bitters. It has a heavy, smooth mouth feel that has succumbed to the dark side, developed into the second crack of the roasting process.
Colombian Coffee Farm
Photo courtesy of Café Imports
Colombia: Excelso
Our Colombian is a multi-farm, varietal blend of washed process Castile, Caturra, and Colombia Arabica varietals. “Excelso” refers to the grade of beans, which are grown at altitudes from 4,593 to 6,562 feet above sea level.
This Full City roast sits comfortably in middle ground of the development of the roasting process with notes of nougat, milk chocolate and peanuts.
Many washing stations are cooperatives of multiple farms in Ethiopia
Photo courtesy of Café Imports
Ethiopia: Yirgacheffe
From where coffee began its journey so many years ago, this light-roasted coffee of washed process Heirloom Arabica varietals has tasteful notes of wildberry, floral and vanilla captured during the roasting process. Grown at the Idido farm at an elevation of 6070-6168 feet above sea level in the Yirgacheffe growing region, this coffee dances on select palates.
El Triunfo Biosphere Seedlings
Photo courtesy of Café Imports
Mexican Decaf
We tip our hats to decaf drinkers that have come to the cupping table for flavor alone in a world of caffeine. Our this light-roast decaf coffee holds notes of cinnamon, wheat, and cardamom. This coffee comes from the CESMACH Cooperative of the El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve grown of Bourbon, Typica, and Mundo Novo varietals. The coffee cherries are depulped and go through a washed process, and then are naturally decaffeinated in a mountain water process. Both Fair Trade and Organic, this coffee is grown at an elevation of 3280-5906 feet above sea level in southern Mexico, and is roasted fresh right here, up near the Canadian Border in downtown Ely, MN.
Northern Grounds Espresso Blend
Slightly dark and wonderfully devasting, our Espresso Blend is crafted to be a fully developed Vienna roast to take a reservation of tart cherry and bittersweet chocolate in your cup. A combination of washed and natural process coffees of Heirloom, Caturra, and Bourbon varietals from three different regions of the world, this coffee is a brilliant 1-2-3; Paper Filter, Drip, or French Press.
Northern Grounds House Blend
Our COOPAC Fair Trade Organic Washed Bourbon varietal coffee of Rwanda is teamed with varietals from Central Valley of Costa Rica offered through Oxcart Coffee of Latin America to create a roast that is nutty, savory, and a subtly sweet berry cup. This medium roast staple coffee is used for Northern Ground’s signature Cold Press, yet is our best middle-ground coffee for any of your home brewing needs.
