Move over Madison and Milwaukee: Ruby titled ‘Best Roaster in Wisconsin’
By Taylor J. Hale
Reporter
STEVENS POINT — Ruby Coffee Roasters in Amherst has an extensive list of international and national awards for their masterfully crafted java, and that list just grew even longer.
The coveted team received the title of 2019 Best Roaster in the State by Food & Wine Magazine, the acclaimed culinary publication. Food & Wine praised Ruby for their unique Mendosayoc and Peruvian roasts and their commitment to the county. Owner of Ruby Coffee Jared Linzmeier and his team were excited about the new title but stayed modest in the afterglow of the bestowment.
“I don’t see making lists as a goal or competition,” Linzmeier said in an exclusive interview with the Gazette. “Nonetheless, the nod really does mean a lot to us, our friends and family, and our customers that support us. It shows us that we’re making waves far beyond Central Wisconsin, which I believe is more motivation to be the best we can be.”
When Food & Wine published the list of best roasters on Mar. 28, Linzmeier and his family were hiking and didn’t find out about the viral news of their new national title.
“When I turned my phone on toward the end of the day on Friday I saw a bunch of social media mentions and internal celebration on our Slack channels,” Linzmeier explained. “It was a great surprise!”
While many may have expected the 2019 list to contain roasters in more widely-known metropolitan areas of Wisconsin like Madison or Milwaukee, Linzmeier feels Portage County is the perfect space for his business. He feels the picturesque mosaics of Wisconsin’s rivers, trees and wildlife provide the ideal environment to create artisan coffee.
“I’ve always felt that we can focus our energy better where we are,” Linzmeier said endearingly about the county. “We also have great and easy access to the outdoors here, with a river literally running through our property, and adjacent to the new spot in Point. These things help us find balance outside of work, which makes us all happier and more excited to do what we do.”
Ruby staff sees the new title as motivation during their Stevens Point cafe expansion. Some roasters may stop once they have an established list of awards and enjoy their time in the spotlight, but Ruby’s team is already working on honing in on their current upcoming ventures.
“The cafe is a big step because we’ll basically be doubling our staff,” Linzmeier said. We’re also looking into some more responsible packaging — generally just lots of fine-tuning behind the scenes.”
Since its inception in 2014, Ruby has entrenched itself in the area’s quaint landscape. As their name grows in popularity, they stay true to their roots of craftsmanship and look forward to a long future in Portage County.
“We are really excited to contribute to the food and beverage culture in Point and to see how our new space can become an integral part of the community,” Linzmeier said.
To read the Food & Wine article visit: https://amp.foodandwine.com/travel/united-states/best-coffee-every-state-america-2019?fbclid=I wAR1L8S4q41ebla17IwFlknQweEX0m1KGkQOEriOVGyoEgYwcx_vbK9alL3g.
Contact Taylor J. Hale at [email protected] with Portage County news and information.