This Town Coffee is Leaving Town

This Town Coffee is leaving this town.

That was the news this morning from Gordon and Samantha Pomp, who , where they lived for the past two years with their young twin boys.

Samantha, an artist, and Gordon, a certified welder and industrial mechanic, are relocating to a suburb of Denver, CO, because of a terrific new job opportunity for Gordon, said Samantha.

"It was pretty unexpected," she said in a phone interview. The family will move on April 8.

The couple's coffee was the in-house brew at Cupcake Corral.

“We started selling This Town Coffee because it is local and is the freshest coffee we can get without roasting it ourselves,” said Cupcake Corral owner Joe Ramaikas in a Patch article a few months ago. “It is flavorful, smooth and has been well-received by our customers.”

The Pomps took their coffee roasting seriously, spending a great deal of time choosing the best beans, tweaking the roasting process and honing their craft by participating in "cuppings" (similar to wine tastings).

In just a few months, This Town Coffee had developed a strong following in Maplewood and beyond.

"This is not an easy decision," said Samantha. "I am kind of devastated. We genuinely love it here, and I honestly thought we were going to live here forever."

Pomp said she and her husband had been in the midst of planning an official launch of their brand, and had recently created a new logo, among other things.

However, Maplewood's loss is Colorado's gain, as the Pomps plan to continue the business in their new hometown. 

"I'm so into this (coffeemaking), it's ridiculous," said Samantha. "I didn't think it would get this big, but I love it."

"I'm sad," said Ramaikas, "but it's a good opportunity for them and we're going to find a delicious alternative." Cupcake Corral previously carried the acclaimed Irving Farm coffee.

In the meantime, the Pomps are taking orders until they pack up their roasters. This Town Coffee can be ordered at www.thistowncoffee.etsy.com,  www.facebook.com/ThisTownCoffee, or by contacting Samantha via email at thistowncoffee@gmail.com or (862) 253-7444.