For nearly 15 years, Bonfire Coffee has stood as a place to gather on the north side of Main Street in Carbondale. The cafe has become a community treasure for its message board packed with event posters and social opportunities, for exhibiting local art on the walls and, most of all, for its delectable coffee. For owner Charlie Chacos, offering high-quality beverages has been important since the beginning.
Early in Bonfire’s existence, that meant a reliable espresso machine, roasted beans ordered from Seattle and well-trained baristas. But after a few years, Chacos turned to local roasting in partnership with a Glenwood Springs company called Defiant Bean. In 2013, the roaster and Bonfire Coffee merged to become a single entity, keeping the roasting facility in Glenwood and the cafe in downtown Carbondale.
This winter, the team at Bonfire has expanded offerings beyond its 15 craft coffee options, which include four single-origin roasts and 11 blends of beans combining flavors from different countries. The new products are two instant coffees, allowing Bonfire enthusiasts to take local coffee with them traveling and camping. Chacos shared more about instant coffee and his thoughts on cafes.
What inspired your team to branch into instant coffee options?
We have been impressed with the quality of the instant Swift Coffee for a while now. We are attracted by the shelf-stable aspect and the ability to hit different markets.
How did you select the roasts for Bonfire’s first two instant options?
We selected our two favorite coffees that worked with the instant production process. Smooth medium roasts translated better than our light roast coffee. Instant coffee options may expand depending upon how this is received by the market.
What has the process been to create instant coffee?
There are a few instant coffee producers; our partner, Swift Coffee, offers the best product and can work with small-batch production. We were able to test a few of the blends in small batches to determine which worked best.
What are some of your favorite things about coffee?
It’s a fascinating product with a blend of science and art that is endlessly enticing. It is a simple product that is surprisingly complex. We love the positive energy in this industry and the coffee community.
What is your favorite way to drink coffee — espresso, drip, French, mocha, instant?
My personal favorite brew method is a single-serve pour-over. A dynamic espresso can also make a magical drink.
Bonfire will hit its 15th anniversary this year. What are some highlights from over that timespan?
It has been a rollercoaster of experiences over the past 15 years. Opening day was a major highlight; installing our new cabinets in 2022 was another; and purchasing our modular patio space was another. Taking over roasting in 2017 was a fascinating challenge that opened up a whole new aspect to learn and master.
What would you say coffee shops like Bonfire offer communities as a type of third space?
We are honored that our community embraces our space as an extension of their own home — a sanctuary apart from work and home. Some people need that “other space” to fuel their day.
Anything else you’d like to share?
We are excited to announce that Bonfire Coffee Roastery will be moving to a new state-of-the-art facility in April, in west Glenwood Springs. This new location will offer a retail shop — whole bean and brewing supplies, not drinks; a dedicated space for espresso training; and coffee tastings. It will house a new, best-in-class coffee roaster and double the size of our current production facility.
The two roasts the Bonfire team chose for its initial instant coffee offerings are Central Scrutinizer and Colombia El Puente. The first is a medium roast blend of beans from Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, characterized by a chocolatey flavor and a hint of citrus. El Puente is a single-origin medium roast sourced from Huila, Colombia, with notes of fig and spices in addition to chocolate. El Puente beans are sourced from smallholder coffee producers with a focus on fair trade and ecofriendly harvest and processing.
Each package of Bonfire Instant coffee includes six single servings. Both new instant coffee offerings are available at Carbondale’s Main Street location and online at www.bonfirecoffee.com