Class 2002
County Achievement Awards
Franklin County
Curtis Rich and Kathy Lytle,
Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters
Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters, located near the famous Bridge of Flowers, is a popular destination itself, providing great coffee in a casual and relaxing environment. The friendly atmosphere of the Shelburne Falls and other shops is a reflection of the owners, Kathy Lytle and Curtis Rich.
The couple launched their business in June of 1990 when they acquired a cappuccino machine and grinder and began selling fine coffee drinks at fair. Under the name Cappuccino Express, Kathy and Curtis sold coffee at venues ranging from the tiniest church fairs to the New York and Florida state fairs and the Eastern States Exposition. This was truly a business started from scratch, with very little money, and under frequently challenging circumstances. For example, one trip to Florida was made sleeping on a homemade bed in the back of a mini-van with a three-year-old along, and with Kathy five months pregnant!
In 1992, Kathy and Curtis considered buying a motor home and taking to the fair circuit full time, but instead they decided to open a tiny storefront coffeehouse in Shelburne Falls. In a space many said was too small to succeed in, they created a warm and charming â€" if snug â€" place to enjoy the world’s best coffees. Out of necessity, they soon began learning the fine art of baking, and managed to produce fresh pastries from scratch in their cramped quarters. As if things weren‘t crowded enough, they decided to start roasting their coffee beans themselves, which meant adding a stout little coffee roasting machine in the back room.
After a couple years of scratching by, Curtis and Kathy opened an even tinier shop in Northampton, located just off the campus of Smith College. A year later, they opened a shop in Easthampton, and the following year a shop on the Mohawk Trail in Shelburne. A few years ago, they moved the first tiny shop in Shelburne Falls a few doors down to more spacious quarters. Each of the Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters shops has earned a special niche in its community, as gathering places for folks from all walks of life, where one can dependably find something delicious to ear or drink in a friendly, comfortable, aesthetically pleasing atmosphere.
Kathy and Curtis have always sold coffee on a wholesale basis as well. They enjoy the patronage of numerous longtime customers such as grocery stores and specialty food shops. Currently, the company is launching a new line of coffee in tins for the specialty food trade.
From their beginnings as a mom and pop business on a shoestring, Kathy and Curtis have built Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters into a business that now employs over 30 people. It’s a business where something’s always brewing.