This week we turn our attention to a big roaster in a small townโDynamite Roasting Co. out of Black Mountain, North Carolina. Earlier this year Dynamite Roasting turned an old furniture factory into their brand new state-of-the-art roasting and production facility. We were taken by the company’s bold branding and just had to find out more, so we reached out to co-founder Andy Gibbon.
Tell us about Dynamite Roasting!
I founded Dynamite Roasting Co. in 2008 with my friend and band-mate Josh Gibbs in Black Mountain, NC. A conversation one tired morning after a late night gig turned in to a business plan that matched my coffee experience with Josh’s marketing background. After roasting coffee for a number of years in our original cafe space and then an old furniture factory, we moved this past January in to our newly constructed 8,000-square-foot roasting headquarters. Dynamite roasts a wide range of certified organic and Fair Trade coffees with a focus on sustainability, farmer relationships, and not taking ourselves too seriously.
Where did the name come from?
We wanted a name that expressed our approach to coffeeโbold, dynamic, and fun. At the time, my brother had a business making silk-screened concert posters for local bands called Dynamite Printworks. The name was exactly what we were looking for and he was kind enough to share.
Who designed your branding?
Our logo was designed by Addie Calloway, a design student at the local community college. It was her first professional design job and she did a fantastic job. Our packaging was designed by Atlas Branding, an innovative creative studio based in Asheville, NC.
Tell us about some of the design elements you use.
We wanted our brand to stand out on retail shelves. The bright colors and bold graphics such as dynamite stick on the side panels help catch your attention in a crowded market. The inspiration for our packaging comes from some of our favorite poster designers such as Saul Bass and Hatch Show Print, as well as classic comic books. One of my favorite design elements is the subtle spot varnish waves that remind me of fingerprints from a spy movie or the poster for Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo.
What are some coffee offerings coming up you’re excited about?
We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of microlots from COMSA, an innovative organization of organic farmers in Marcala, Honduras. We have been traveling to Honduras for nine years to taste and purchase these outstanding farmer-specific lots and over time we have developed close personal relationships with the growers and the community.
Where is your coffee available?
Dynamite Roasting coffee is available at our Black Mountain coffee bar, online, and at markets, restaurants, and cafes in Western NC and throughout the Southeast.
Tell us how to spend a perfect day in Black Mountain.
Black Mountain is a quaint mountain town of about 8000 people located a few miles east of Asheville. I love to spend a day hiking to waterfalls in Pisgah National Forest or the ridge-line in Montreat. The mountain biking here is also fantastic. Downtown Black Mountain is full of cute shops, galleries, and restaurants, and our local breweries have live music most nights of the week.
Thank you!
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Zachary Carlsen is a co-founder at Sprudge Media Network. Read more Zachary Carlsen on Sprudge.ย
