Dana Borque, Roasting Apprentice, Triumphs in US Roasters Competition Prelims
Dana Borque, a coffee roasting apprentice at J.René Coffee Roasters, the beloved and celebrated coffee roastery located in West Hartford, CT, earned first place at the highly-competitive US Roasters Championship Preliminary Round this past weekend in Kansas City, MO.
West Hartford, CT – October 2, 2023 – Dana Borque, a coffee roasting apprentice at J.René Coffee Roasters, the beloved and celebrated coffee roastery located in West Hartford, CT, earned first place at the highly-competitive US Roasters Championship Preliminary Round this past weekend in Kansas City, MO.
The US Coffee Championships Roaster Competition is renowned for its rigorous standards and fierce competition, attracting the most skilled roasters from across the nation. Roasters receive a green (unroasted) coffee and submit two pounds of roasted coffee for judging. Competitors must also prepare and deliver a presentation detailing their approach to roasting that particular coffee.
This was the first round of the 2024 Roasters Competition. Dana's impressive performance secured his position in the qualifying round of the competition to be held in early 2024, where he will compete for a spot in the finals.
Dana’s achievement is a testament to J.René Coffee Roasters’ commitment to coffee excellence. Dana has been training under José René Martínez, one of Connecticut’s most credentialed coffee roasters and owner of J.René Coffee Roasters. The company takes great pride in nurturing talents like Dana, who contribute to the elevation of the coffee industry as a whole.
“It has been a great joy to mentor Dana. His natural talent for roasting coffee is evident, but what is equally important is his commitment to the craft,” says Martínez. “Dana is constantly experimenting with new roasting techniques, challenging industry standards, and working to ensure our coffee remains remarkable. His performance at the USRC Preliminary Round is a reflection of his ongoing dedication and roasting skills.”
Before joining the J.René Coffee Roasters team, Dana leveraged his 13 years of craft brewing experience as an owner at Firefly Brewing, previously located in Bristol, CT. As a graduate of UCONN’s Nutrition & Food Science program and the American Brewers Guild Apprenticeship Program, Dana possesses an extensive sensory knowledge and skillset, all of which apply to roasting coffee. Additionally, Dana continues to teach as an adjunct professor for Sacred Heart University's Brewing Science Program.
"Changing careers is never an easy thing, so I couldn't be more grateful to the team at J.René for such a warm welcome. I think it says a lot about their dedication to quality and teamwork that we were able to guide this process to ultimately produce a competition-winning coffee,” says Borque. “Though I've only been roasting for a few months, J.René Coffee is founded on the concept of excellence, and has the years of experience and talent to back it up."
Dana’s accomplishment is a triumph for the entire J.René Coffee Roasters team. To prepare for the competition, Dana relied on the talents of the company’s specialty coffee professionals including Marie Engel, Anne Mercer, Taki Tanaka, and Allan Flores, as well as Rob Rybick, President of Geissler’s Supermarkets and professional Q-grader, for roasting feedback, sensory perceptions, and competition advice.
J.René Coffee Roasters has been a cornerstone of specialty coffee in the region for nearly two decades. This award not only highlights Dana's talent but also reinforces J.René Coffee Roasters' unwavering passion for specialty coffee in Connecticut and beyond. It marks a moment of great pride for the entire J.René Coffee Roasters family and the coffee community in Connecticut.
For media inquiries, please email anne@jrenecoffee.com. To learn more about J.René Coffee Roasters, visit www.jrenecoffee.com.
J.René Coffee Roasters Launches New Food Menu in West Hartford, CT
J.Rene Coffee Roasters has long been a pinnacle of coffee excellence in Connecticut and beyond. With 15+ years of coffee roasting experience under his belt, owner Jose Rene Martinez refuses to compromise quality in any aspect of the customer experience, from the coffee to the shop environment.
With this ethos in mind, the J.Rene Coffee Roasters team set out to develop an elevated food menu that highlights their coffee offerings and inspires guests to relax and enjoy their experience. In May 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic, J.Rene Coffee Roasters launched a brand new food menu at their Park Road location to rave reviews from customers.
J.René Coffee Roasters has long been a pinnacle of coffee excellence in Connecticut and beyond. With 15+ years of coffee roasting experience under his belt, owner José René Martinez refuses to compromise quality in any aspect of the customer experience, from the coffee to the shop environment.
With this ethos in mind, the J.René Coffee Roasters team set out to develop an elevated food menu that highlights their coffee offerings and inspires guests to relax and enjoy their experience. In May 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic, J.René Coffee Roasters launched a brand new food menu at their Park Road location to rave reviews from customers.
Marie and Olivia Engel lead the new J.René Coffee Roasters food program.
A Mother-Daughter Duo at the Helm
Spearheading the coffee shop’s new food program are co-owner Marie Engel and her daughter, Olivia Engel. The pair worked in tandem to create a menu that appeals to the West Hartford community and highlights local flavors.
With a focus on accessibility and a touch of old-world flare, the menu features an assortment of savory sandwiches featuring local ingredients from around Connecticut.
“We’re excited about the new menu!” Marie exclaimed. “Customers have loved our assortment of pastries and baked goods for years, so it was time to expand on that and provide another element to the J.René Coffee experience.”
Olivia added, “I’ve watched this shop grow over the years and I’m thrilled to join the team. We’re extremely proud of this menu and cannot wait to see the response.”
Donut Sandwich
Savory, Sweet, and Absolutely Delectable
As the food program develops and grows, Marie and Olivia plan to roll out additional menu items and weekly specials. Currently, the menu features the following sandwiches:
PIADINA
Egg, Roasted Peppers, Provolone Cheese, Prosciutto, Arugula, Pesto Aioli.
DONUT SANDWICH
Egg, Bacon & Muenster Cheese on a Grilled Glazed Donut.
B.E.A. WAFFLE SANDWICH
Bacon, Egg, Avocado, Cheddar Cheese with Maple Syrup Drizzle.
MONTE CRISTO WAFFLE SANDWICH
Egg, Muenster Cheese, Ham & Raspberry Preserves.
TURKEY WAFFLE SANDWICH
Turkey, Avocado, Bacon, Maple Sriracha, Dijonnaise, Cheddar Cheese.
VEGGIE SANDWICH
Grilled Seasonal Veggies, Provolone, Pesto Aioli, Arugula.
CHOCOLATE CROISSANT
Sliced Strawberries, Homemade Mascarpone Spread.
B.E.A. Sandwich
Uplifting the Community through Coffee and Sandwiches
The J.René Coffee team had been developing the foundation of a food program long before the global pandemic hit the United States in March 2020. The team refused to let this setback ruin their hard work and worked diligently to prepare a menu for May.
José René explained, “It was important to us to accomplish this for our customers. We wanted to give them yet another high-quality, artisan culinary experience, even if it came in a to-go box. Their loyalty and support mean the world to us, especially over the past two months.”
During the first weekend, the crew handed out free samples to customers dropping by for take-out coffee and bean purchases. As customers tasted each new sandwich, the reviews rolled in online and in-store:
“The new sandwiches are so tasty. Great additions to the menu.” - Chris B., Facebook
“They’re all fantastic!” - Monte H., J.Rene Coffee regular.
The next time you find yourself hungry and under-caffeinated in West Hartford, CT, J.René Coffee Roasters has you covered.
Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwich