A while back, I was lucky enough to purchase Mr. Peet’s original 1905 Royal No.5 coffee roaster which had been stored upstairs at the original roasting plant. I was hired in the summer of 1980 and sometime during 1981, Mr. Peet caught me checking it out. He told me when he started his company that this was the machine he used, he then added "One day you should buy it from Sal and start your own business, become your own man".I finally took his advice and started my own company in Dec 2007 and today, I use a combination of the Royal and my vintage 45kg Probat.

By taking what we’ve learned over the last century since the Royal was first cast, I start with the right beans and roast only fifteen pounds per batch. I mentioned on our Weaver's site, that the drum of the Royal is small and perforated (shown in the some of the photos below), limiting capacity and allowing the flames to directly touch the beans. This ignites some of the chaff that flakes off the beans during the initial part of the roast, giving the coffee a wood-smoked flavor in the finish. From coffee roasted in the Probat, I extract a smooth, pleasant smokiness, combined with bright acidity, and complex flavor notes. The combination of the two, is a blend that features the best of both worlds – something that most coffee drinkers have never had the opportunity to experience with "modern" coffee.

My teachers mean a lot to me and played a big part in my decision to dedicating my life to this craft. There were two mentors in particular who changed my life: Mr. Sal Bonavita and Mr. Alfred Peet. I’m truly honored to continue in their footsteps by using what they’ve entrusted to me, together with my own creative style. Legacy Blend comes from my heart and I dedicate it to the teachers who taught me my craft. I hope this coffee gives you a glimpse into the past that I was fortunate enough to experience first-hand.