Westside Perks

There are coffee drinkers. Coffee fanatics. And then there is Steve Pastoor. The man drinks so much bean water that he actually gauges his selection of flavor to the time of day. Ethiopian Sidamo in the morning. Calabria Blend in the afternoon. Matagalpa Nicaragua in the evening. The roasts literally go from light to dark and Pastoor regularly intakes as many as 15 cups a day.

So where in Grand Rapids does the connoisseur get his brew? Ferris Coffee and Nut Company located across the street from the downtown YMCA. Of course Pastoor is a little bias. As the general manager of the business he's in charge of importing the green coffee beans from around the world. He also oversees the roasting, grinding, blending, packaging, and selling to a nationwide clientele.

Pastoor, in other words, can pour a cup of just about any kind of coffee he likes whenever the urge strikes. Or, as the Grand Rapids native puts it, "it's a business you can get real passionate about."

If the revitalization of Grand Rapids has accomplished anything, it's made coffee omnipresent. While the corporate chains like Starbucks, It's a Grind, and Beaner's set up shop seemingly on every corner, locally owned cafes like the Bitter End, Common Ground, and Stray Dog are perking up neighborhood business districts throughout the city.

Ferris might be the best kept secret of them all. The company originally started in Grand Rapids in 1924, and there's a retail store open to the public attached to the processing plant. But Ferris doesn't necessarily promote it. And with 4,000 wholesale customers and an industrial-looking building located off the beaten path, people tend to think of the place as just a big distributor rather than a local roaster.

Those who do are missing out. The company's core products, obviously, are coffee and nuts. And the showcase store is a connoisseur's paradise. It offers café-styled seating, treats in what seem to be every niche of the room, and an entire wall loaded with nothing but beans.

A Secret Worth Keeping
Ferris offers gourmet blends, fair trade coffees, decaffeinated gourmets, several flavored gourmet coffees, as well as a variety of organic coffee selections, including shade grown varieties. In all, Ferris imports coffee from 35 different countries. The selection of brews is one of the most extensive in the city. They also make more than 20 different recipes of trail- and snack-mixes and feature gourmet teas, espresso, chocolates, and fine candies.

Production takes place right on site, so customers can expect fresh, high-quality product. But word-of-mouth and the sweet nutty aroma hovering over the Westside neighborhood is the only real advertising tactic.

“Our retail is there for the public to buy our product direct," Pastoor says. "But 95 percent of the business is wholesale so we have to be careful not to compete on the retail level with the customers we’re selling the products to. That's why we haven’t put signs up everywhere to promote it."

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Pastoor took a job with Ferris Coffee after graduating with an accounting degree from Grand Valley State University 12 years ago. As general manager, Pastoor runs the company along with owner John Van Tongeren and oversees a total of 52 employees.

Ferris 101
Despite Michigan's economic trouble, Pastoor says the coffee business is good. He also credits the construction of the new YMCA, and the expansion of Grand Valley State's campus in downtown Grand Rapids, with the ongoing success of his business.

"We continue to grow our sales every year," Pastoor says. "It's a fun industry to be a part of."

Ferris sells to coffee shops, distributors, the general public, grocery stores, offices and restaurants in West Michigan and surrounding states. And, in what seems like a determined effort to ensure no one ever brews a bad cup of coffee again, the company also offers specialized tutoring sessions on the history of coffee, brewing unique blends, and extracting espresso.

Ferris actually has an in-house coffee and espresso training facility complete with everything a café owner requires. If an entrepreneur or company commits to use them as a vender, Ferris offers to train their staff on both the products and the equipment to brew it. They are also open to touring groups through the facility to educate people about specialty coffee.

But check out the retail store if you're just in the mood for a good cup of coffee, a gourmet bag of beans, or tasty snacks. The popular Ferris Nuthouse Latte is a signature drink and the California Mix makes a healthy treat. The retail store is open Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 5 PM; and Saturdays 9 AM to noon.