Meet Sharon
Founder | QC | Educator
I love nature whether walks on Florida's beaches, tropical hammocks or hiking in the mountains. I also, love getting my feet dirty. I mow my own lawn. I pick weeds and ponder. I see beauty and learning in everything. I get pleasure from it. And then there's coffee, which I absolutely LOVE (especially over great conversations with family and friends) and the entire coffee process. I am always learning; my favorite brew method is Aeropress because it makes a great cup of coffee, simple and easy while traveling.
More than just coffee
Honestly, I wasn't sure starting a coffee roasting company would happen. I knew the dream was bigger than roasting coffee. Something was missing - a purpose beyond coffee. Rick and I did not want to simply offer freshly roasted coffee but we wanted to impart value and impact lives in a place that cultivated belonging with a community that would also give of their gifts and talents.
Purpose happened
In 2010, I attended a release of Nefarious - Merchant of Souls, a documentary exposing the nightmare of sex slavery as experienced by hundreds of thousands daily, through the eyes of both the enslaved and their traffickers.* Someone asked the filmmaker, "How can we help them?" His response wrecked me, "Look in your own backyard." The audience fell silent and then you could hear the quiet sounds as tears fell. He was right. It doesn't happen just "over there" but also here, where we all live. In 2014, we started Blooming Bean Coffee Roasters to bring awareness in green markets, fund-raising & athletic events.
More than just coffee
Honestly, I wasn't sure starting a coffee roasting company would happen. I knew the dream was bigger than roasting coffee. Something was missing - a purpose beyond coffee. Rick and I did not want to simply offer freshly roasted coffee but we wanted to impart value and impact lives in a place that cultivated belonging with a community that would also give of their gifts and talents.
Purpose happened
In 2010, I attended a release of Nefarious - Merchant of Souls, a documentary exposing the nightmare of sex slavery as experienced by hundreds of thousands daily, through the eyes of both the enslaved and their traffickers.* Someone asked the filmmaker, "How can we help them?" His response wrecked me, "Look in your own backyard." The audience fell silent and then you could hear the quiet sounds as tears fell. He was right. It doesn't happen just "over there" but also here, where we all live. In 2014, we started Blooming Bean Coffee Roasters to bring awareness in green markets, fund-raising & athletic events.
Meet Rick
Founder | Roaster |Trainer
Rick, grew up on the Eastern Shores of Maryland. His is a true water-man. In 1993, he moved to South Florida, to aid in Hurricane Andrew's clean-up efforts.
He has said the best way to describe him is to listen to his favorite song, Simple Man, by Lynyrd Skynyrd. When you meet him, you quickly see that he is comfortable being behind the scenes. Everyone who knows him, knows his heart is huge.
He loves to work with his hands and has a love for science; so, of course, he enjoys roasting. He has used sensory roasting from the beginning and says, "It keeps me familiar and close to the roasting process."
Rick is a natural teacher. He has the ability to breakdown complex ideas into simple, understandable steps for people to understand. One of Rick's passions include working with system; it's no surprise he designed a aquaponic system for The Fruitful Fields - a local urban garden that teaches and trains urban youth sustainable farming skills. I think he enjoys problem solving process and teaching! He also loves escaping into "the woods" capturing creation's beauty. We'll have to share some of his photography in our blog real soon.
He has said the best way to describe him is to listen to his favorite song, Simple Man, by Lynyrd Skynyrd. When you meet him, you quickly see that he is comfortable being behind the scenes. Everyone who knows him, knows his heart is huge.
He loves to work with his hands and has a love for science; so, of course, he enjoys roasting. He has used sensory roasting from the beginning and says, "It keeps me familiar and close to the roasting process."
Rick is a natural teacher. He has the ability to breakdown complex ideas into simple, understandable steps for people to understand. One of Rick's passions include working with system; it's no surprise he designed a aquaponic system for The Fruitful Fields - a local urban garden that teaches and trains urban youth sustainable farming skills. I think he enjoys problem solving process and teaching! He also loves escaping into "the woods" capturing creation's beauty. We'll have to share some of his photography in our blog real soon.
Rick teaching Aquaponic System at The Fruitful Fields
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I prefer sensory roasting; it keeps me familiar and close to the roasting process.
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His sweet spot!
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Every Bloom Matters
Just as a coffee bean needs time to BLOOM after the roasting process to allow the aroma and true notes to fully be released, we believe that when a person is saved from trafficking can also Bud & Bloom into what they were created to become. So we are intentional in making a difference in their lives; we partner with organizations that are putting "skin into the game".
With our non-proft Bud & Bloom, we partner and invest time to mentor, provide work-base job /trade skills, internships and financial support to local organizations, like EMA Ministries, Purpose Academy and Grace Place School who advocate, educate and provide job readiness skills to At-Risk urban youth in South Florida. We're passionate about it.
Just as a coffee bean needs time to BLOOM after the roasting process to allow the aroma and true notes to fully be released, we believe that when a person is saved from trafficking can also Bud & Bloom into what they were created to become. So we are intentional in making a difference in their lives; we partner with organizations that are putting "skin into the game".
With our non-proft Bud & Bloom, we partner and invest time to mentor, provide work-base job /trade skills, internships and financial support to local organizations, like EMA Ministries, Purpose Academy and Grace Place School who advocate, educate and provide job readiness skills to At-Risk urban youth in South Florida. We're passionate about it.
It's becuase of your generous donations, that we are making a difference in our youth's life. Thank you!
