Daily offerings at Sparrows. Photo: Sparrows
[L]ori Slager Wenzel opened her coffee, tea, and newsstand in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2007. Over the years, she’s offered crafted coffee, an extensive selection of fair-trade organic teas, and an inviting space for community gatherings, but now she has one more stellar addition to her business—an all-star lineup of coffee experts.
The new Sparrows Coffee team members are Cody Gallagher (Head Roaster), who worked on the coffee program for the Chicago-based Michelin star restaurant, Alinea; Tim Novak (Head of Product Development and Quality Assurance), who has 20-plus years of experience in the industry and recently did an eight-year stint at Portland’s Stumptown Coffee Roasters; and David Pohl (Green Coffee Advisor), a licensed Q grader and former Head of Green Coffee for Equator Coffees. Sparrows is adding three new coffees, Burundi Kayanza, Honduras RAOS, and Colombia Cauca, to highlight the skill and passion of its new team members.
“This team naturally came together,” says Slager Wenzel in a release from the company. “We each share the same attention to detail and intense focus on product quality. These first three coffees showcase our collective experience and commitment to sourcing and roasting some of the best coffees in the world.”
