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• Where
Topeka, KS
• Founders
Jeff Taylor and Fred Polzin
• The Story
Prior to PT's, Jeff was a photojournalist by trade, working for
the Topeka Capital Journal and many other publications, including
Sports Illustrated, the New York Times, USA Today and ESPN The Magazine.
Jeff has won many photography awards from the Associated Press,
Inland Press, and the National Press Photographers Association,
including "Region 9 Photographer of the Year in 1990."
After traveling the country in search of the perfect photograph,
Jeff moved back to Topeka. On the road, he had developed a taste
for good coffee, but he could not find any decent coffee shops in
Topeka, so he decided to open one.
His roommate at the time was Fred. Fred had food service experience
managing a number of fast food restaurants, including Burger King
and Schlotzsky's, so Jeff figured he could open the shop and Jeff
had the know-how to run it.
Jeff and Fred opened their first coffeehouse in 1993, and it was
an immediate success. When their second location proved to be a
success, as well, Fred left his job with Schlotzsky's Corp. to manage
their fledgling enterprise. In 1997, Jeff made the jump from award-winning
photojournalist to eventual award-winning coffee roaster and Master
Barista.
They were able to expand and add a few more coffeehouses to their
line-up, and they began to roast for other coffee shops. In 1999,
Fred led the charge to form PT's Coffee Co., a wholesale company
and supplier of micro-roasted coffee to the Midwest.
Jeff is now an SCAA Board member, World Barista Champion, as well
as a World Barista Competition Judge and United States Barista Competition
Judge.
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• Locations
Overland Park and Topeka, KS, plus numerous wholesale accounts
• Passions
Attention to quality and consistency, working directly with farmers
and visiting them often, obtaining the best coffee available regardless
of price.
PT's offers many trips to origin for their customers so that they
can also meet the farmers.
Working with Allegro Coffee to dig wells for coffee farmers in
Tanzania so that they can wet process their coffee. This would keep
the farmers growing coffee instead of less sustainable crops and
help to make them profitable.
PT's has recently partnered with the media company Gizmo in the
production of a documentary chronicling their efforts, in conjunction
with the efforts of Sustainable Harvest and several other roasters,
to help the coffee farmers of the Kanyovu Coop in Tanzania to become
more sustainable. Of course, some great coffee has also been a result
of this effort.
• Awards
2009 Roast Magazine - Macro Roaster of the Year
Numerous Regional and USA Barista Championships
Food & Wine Magazine: 2006 Top 10 Best Boutique Roaster
• Quote
"In the next 10 years, you'll see coffee being sold by the
origin, by the farm, by the region in the country where it's grown.
It will be known by the name. It will be a Colombian Huila Finca
El Palacio, and people will begin to look for those certain origins,
much like wine is sold today."
Search for the Best Mocha Latte in the World podcast, October 25,
2007
• Web Site
www.ptscoffee.com
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