Frontside Coffee Roasters

Frontside Coffee Roasters is a long-standing fixture in the specialty coffee scene of North Conway, New Hampshire. Established in 1998, the company has spent over two decades evolving from a local coffee destination into a multifaceted operation that includes a roastery, a café, an online retail store, and a wholesale program. The business is currently owned and operated by Laura Denis and Austin Orth, who have guided its growth while maintaining a focus on the intersection of mountain culture and craft coffee.

The company’s operations are centered in the heart of North Conway Village, where they maintain a café that serves as a gathering space for both locals and visitors. The physical location is known for its south-facing patio and its proximity to the White Mountains, reflecting the owners' deep connection to the regional outdoor lifestyle. Beyond the café, the company operates a dedicated roasting facility where they process coffee in small batches to ensure quality control and the development of specific flavor profiles.

At the core of Frontside’s sourcing philosophy is a commitment to specialty-grade coffee. The owners emphasize the importance of working with small farms that prioritize fair wages and sustainable practices for their employees. By maintaining direct oversight of the roasting process—controlling variables such as temperature, airflow, and roast duration—the team aims to honor the labor-intensive work performed by coffee producers, particularly the hand-picking of coffee cherries.

Frontside is known for its technical approach to coffee preparation, which extends to its educational initiatives. The company provides training programs for both café staff and home brewers, covering essential skills like espresso extraction and brewing techniques. This focus on education is intended to help customers better understand the nuances of the coffee they consume, from the origin of the bean to the final cup.

In practice, the roastery offers a diverse range of products, including single-origin coffees, signature blends, and decaffeinated options. They are particularly noted for their attention to the post-roast development cycle, advocating for a resting period of 7-14 days to allow for optimal degassing and flavor maturation. This technical rigor is applied to both their in-store service and their national shipping operations, which deliver fresh-roasted beans to customers across the United States.

The company’s longevity in the competitive specialty coffee market is often attributed to its consistent focus on community and craftsmanship. By balancing the demands of a retail café with the technical requirements of a wholesale roastery, Frontside has established itself as a significant contributor to the coffee culture of the Mount Washington Valley. Their ongoing operations continue to emphasize the importance of transparency in the supply chain and the value of small-batch production in maintaining high standards for specialty coffee.