Coffee shop and wholesaler goes far beyond compostable packaging and recycling

By Rebecca Toy

Breckenridge embodies mountain town dreams. Towering peaks, with almost 13,000 feet in elevation, spool out nearly 3,000 resort acres of skiing immediately outside town. One of the largest historic districts in Colorado houses hundreds of shops, restaurants and bars in the frontier

Victorian homes that still anchor downtown. It’s possible to ski or mountain bike in almost year-round sunshine, hike past old mines through re-emerging pine forests, catch a local art class, eat at an award- winning restaurant, and wrap up with live music in a single day.

It’s also quintessential Colorado to watch a barista pick up a reusable bucket of responsibly sourced roasted beans, strap it to his e-bike, and buzz back into town. Breckenridge Coffee Roasters (BCR) is in a narrow slice of an unassuming commercial strip south of town, but this wholesaler is an anchor in the valley’s sustainability community. Sure, they tick off all tangible boxes: compostable packaging, reduced production waste even with their suppliers, composting Summit County coffee house grounds, and socially responsible bean sourcing. However, the team has more of a story to tell: how their sustainable practices that start around the globe help change practices in their beloved home.

FUEL FOR CHANGE

While slurping brew from a spoon – the pro way to sample coffee – owner Justin Slezak helped me find the flavor of bananas, peaberries, chocolate and nuts, painting a picture of the coffee rows grown by partners from Ethiopia to Rwanda. For the first time, nuances in coffee came through, nuttier notes from sea-level farms and fruity hints grown in higher, misty elevations. With great brews and a worthy mission to take care of mountains and the planet, it’s easy to see why BRC is so popular.

Refillable buckets for beans and compostable packaging supply the network of sustainable partners. They include everyone from massive property management companies hosting thousands of vacationers each month to single businesses to buyers at the Farmers’ Market. This spring, the BRC is seeking to partner with local farmers to offer the leftover, nitrogen-rich bean shaft for livestock feed.

There was no other way to do business for a team full of avid fishermen, skiers, and fresh-air seekers of all kinds. “We take a little impact off the environment,” says Stephen Deptola, head roaster.

Successful sustainability efforts grow community roots, and you can find BRC’s touch around town. Breckenridge Distillery shares used barrels for a bourbon-barrel aged coffee. Last July, the Red, White, and Blue Blend supported the fire department. Even many cold brew pours and espresso martinis around town start at the roastery, which produces up to 50 gallons a week.

“We’re not just tapping into morning, but all aspects of life,” muses Deptola. You can hear the enthusiasm as the team also prepares to enter the Denver market. “Right now, the sky’s the limit. I really appreciate the artistic freedom Justin has given us. Raising up the community makes us all better.”

“BE LIKE BRECKENRIDGE”

In 2021, Breckenridge became only the third Mountain IDEAL-certified destination by Green Destinations, a program accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Yet the multi-partner movement started a decade before, when Breckenridge committed to smart living with the Sustainable Breck program. Policies since have informed green commuting, waste reduction, destination management, and sustainable businesses like the roastery.

Embrace Breckenridge by grabbing your favorite coffee and going carless to the mountain for skiing or snowboarding in the winter or alpine slides and the challenge course in the summer. Catch one of the buses or trolley to hike one of the 30 available trails. Or, take a fat tire bike tour with Ridden, starting downtown, going to Breckenridge Distillery, and right past BRC to finish at Broken Compass Brewing. Walkable downtown has locally sourced eats for every taste, like Rootstalk, Blue River Bistro, Twist, and Hearthstone.

And rest assured, even if you decide to top off your day with several BRC born-espresso martinis, its coffee has got you again in the morning.

Rebecca Toy is a freelance writer who covers wine, spirits, beer, travel, history – anything with passionate people doing inspiring things. She has contributed to National Geographic, Wine Enthusiast, Fodor’s Travel and others.

This story appeared in our January-February print issue of Thirst Colorado magazine. Flip through the full digital magazine here, or find a copy at one of these fine establishments around Colorado.