Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Denny Robbins in person knows that he is a curious, yet harmonious, mix of Chuck Yeager, Mark Twain, and Andy Rooney - all wrapped in a coffee connoisseur's body. Priscilla on the other hand is the sweet, yet delightfullly firm, Queen Bee that never takes her eye off the ball - unless, of course, Burundi Bourbon is in the room.

These two people are the reason The Captain's Coffee exists. It was their idea, their dream, and they have worked hard and long to make it work.

Today, August 27, 2012, they officially handed that dream off to me and my wife Heather. As Isaac Newton famously said, "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Heather and I are sincerely grateful to Denny and Priscilla for teaching us so much about life and coffee, not to mention this fortuitous opportunity. If we take this company further, it is only because we stand on their shoulders.

What I know of coffee, began with Denny Robbins. His affection for the drink, the industry, and the history is contagious and I have certainly caught the disease. But life is more than coffee (don't tell) and so I am all the more grateful for the conversations over a fine cup of joe while pretending to bag and ship orders in the mornings. As we all know, the work goes by faster, but progress is slower, when you are working with friends. Priscilla, I'm sorry that every time you walked in the room little progress was evident. (It was Denny's fault, I swear. I also blame the Yemen.)

To our customers, please know that the heart and soul of The Captain's Coffee will not change. We will continue to stubbornly only sell the stuff we love, and we will always keep our misfit band of customers the highest priority. We think that's just the right thing to do.

If you have any questions, concerns, worries, etc please feel free to contact us.

In addition, if you feel like doing so, feel free to leave a comment below or on our Facebook Page.

Warmest Regards,

Ben & Heather Cotten

Comments

# jcotten 2012-08-27 17:28

Congratulations , all! D&P, I hope you enjoy your retirement IMMENSELY. You've certainly handed things off to capable hands. B&H, I'm excited to see where things go!

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote

# Danielle B. 2012-08-27 17:42

So, so excited for you guys!!! Congratulations to you both!! Well-written BC (as usual)! So neat to see this happen for you all! Lots of love!! Have fun! :)

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote

# Michael Cotten 2012-08-27 18:00

The question is, can you drink coffee and surf fish at the same time?

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote

# Denny 2012-08-28 18:44

Yes you can, actually. I once watched Susan S. catch 2 blues at once while texting. A cup of joe and a nice drum should be no problem at all! :)

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote

# Mary Patterson 2012-08-27 18:08

Denny and Priscilla,
Even though I've never met you in person, you have guided me via email and comments through the wonderful world of coffee roasting with kindness and patience. Thank-you, and enjoy your retirement. Ben and Heather, I am looking forward to corresponding with you as I continue this fun hobby. Oh how I love my coffee!!

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote

# Denny 2012-08-28 18:45

Thanks, Mary. You'll like Ben and Heather even more. They're a lot nicer than I am! Shoot, most of what they tell you might even be true! :)

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote

# Daniel DeBruler 2012-08-28 05:53

The Captain's Coffee is partially responsible for thousands of cups of coffee in my home and workplace.

I've learned plenty over the past several years, and continue to learn from the descriptions and articles on the website.

Thanks for being picky. Thanks for introducing us to your favorites. And thanks for passing the dream along.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote

# Denny 2012-08-28 18:47

Thanks, Daniel. Being picky and cranky are two things that just come naturally to me. Ben and Heather are picky without the cranky part. They'll do you right. Meanwhile, keep experimenting, keep learning!

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote

# Guest 2012-08-28 08:08

My friends,
I'm so sorry for this, but everyone else seems so happy and positive and I'm just sad. No offense B and H, but with D and P the amazing coffee that flows in my veins came secondary. They will be sorely missed. I do look forward to getting to know B and H, I'm just not ready.
Be blessed and loved,
Kevin

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote

# Denny 2012-08-28 18:51

Thanks, Kevin. There is a season for everything, and ours in the coffee world is over. It's not a cause for sadness. Just the opposite. New doors, opportunities, and friendships are opening up--not just for us, but for you as well. Embrace it. Rejoice in it. Charge boldly ahead. Just remember to clean your chaff collector. :)

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote

# #kevin 2012-08-31 11:43

Thanks Denny,
I know you're right. I guess I do get kinda sappy. Maybe I should clean the chaff collector, maybe even hit it with some simple green. Love you two. Wishing you the absolute best life has to offer, but I know you already have it. Kevin

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote

# Frank 2012-08-28 22:20

You sell great coffee, but that's not why I bought from you....I bought from you because you've added a personal touch that couldn't be matched. I started roasting in August of 2008 because of Denny and Priscilla. Thanks for the encouragement, answering my questions with patience and great (not just good) coffee. Congrats on your retirement as both of you will be missed in a big way. Blessing to you...

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote

# frank martinez 2012-09-09 02:37

Let's round it off and say I've now done 1400 batches in a 1984 popcorn pumper. 1396 were good to ethereal, and 4 went down the drain. That is like shooting 349 holes at par between bogeys. Not to mention the pleasure of roasting outside beneath the stars with a breeze blowing off the fog bank. True romance. Denny was right!

If one of those fish you're trailing leads you through the panama canal and up to sf bay, I've got a well stocked wine cellar and girls 6 and 3 to keep you and Priscilla entertained. The wine mostly sits there untouched 'cause I'm too preoccupied with roasting and drinking coffee...lots of coffee.

Thanks so much!

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote

# Cynthia Listewnik 2012-10-26 14:54

Wow.. I had no idea. Congrats to D&P and to B&H! You have big shoes to fill. I got into roasting because of them. They offered the best so I didn't have to look any further. Customer service and advice were always top notch. Their personal touch is what has made me return year after year. Thank you, thank you!
Good luck to you all!

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote

Refresh comments list

Add comment

JComments

Recent Additions

Bali Blue Moon Organic Rainforest Alliance Certified

Exotic, flavorful, and aromatic. Bali Blue is fully Indonesian in character but without being "earthy". Full of ripe stone fruit and Dutch chocolate tones, with a rich full body. This is one of our most popular offerings.

Baratza Encore Grinder

An excellent conical burr grinder that can grind with consistent precision for all brew methods from espresso to drip to pour over and even french press.

Honduras Cafe Organico Marcala (COMSA)

Rustic sweetness, milky smooth body, caramel finish with plenty of nutty herbaciousness to keep it good to the last drop.

Sumatra Wahana Estate Natural

A dry processed sumatran coffee that as wild, fruity, complex and tasty. This is a new offerring for us, and a very popular coffee with roasters across the country.

Aeropress Combo Pack

We think the Aeropress may be the best way to make a single cup of coffee that there is. Combined with 1 pound of coffee and you have a killer combination.