Taylor Kirkman and Steven Leganski, the co-owners of SW Grilled Coffee, were excited to be sponsored by Intuit Quickbooks, Fox Sports, and the NFL in a commercial during the 2023 NFC Championship game.
Their coffee business, which is built around the eco-friendly process of roasting small batches of specialty coffee on a grill, was highlighted during one of the biggest sporting events of the year.
The story of SW Grilled Coffee started when Steven experimented with roasting coffee on his home grill and was impressed by the results. He and Taylor, both avid hikers and landscape photographers, knew they had something special to share with the world. They improved upon the existing practice of hobby roasters and created a more eco-friendly process of roasting coffee.
The process of grilling coffee has several eco-friendly benefits. The liquid propane used to heat the grill is considered a clean, low carbon emission fuel, and the grills don’t require high heat afterburner exhaust systems. The entire grill-roasting process only requires a small rotisserie motor and a small cooling fan, both of which can be powered by solar panels.
SW Grilled Coffee only uses ethically-sourced, specialty coffee that scores 80 points or higher on the international universal rating scale. They prioritize beans that are certified organic, fair trade, shade-grown, and Rainforest Alliance Certified. The owners believe that by roasting only light and medium roasts, they are able to highlight the complex flavors of the beans and preserve their quality.
RK Drums, the company that provided the equipment for SW Grilled Coffee, builds roasters that are designed to last a lifetime. The machines are constructed with heavy gauge steel, which contributes to exceptional thermal mass and superior coffee roasting. All of the parts used in the RK Drums machines are Made in the USA and field-replaceable, making maintenance and repairs easy. With no electronics to break down, RK Drums roasters are reliable and cost-effective, making them an unbeatable choice for economical, large volume, artisanal coffee roasting with coffee quality that surpasses industrial-grade machines. RK Drums also provides support, coaching and training to ensure each and every customer enjoys the freshest and most-flavorful coffee on the planet.
SW Grilled Coffee is dedicated to conservation and sustainability, and they prioritize these values in their business practices. From their eco-friendly roasting process to their use of recyclable and compostable materials, and charitable donations, the owners are making a positive impact on the planet.
The success of SW Grilled Coffee is a result of their commitment to using high-quality, ethically-sourced coffee and eco-friendly roasting methods. Their partnership with RK Drums, Intuit Quickbooks, Fox Sports, and the NFL has allowed them to share their passion for specialty coffee with the world.
RK Drums would like to congratulate Taylor and Steven on their success!
About RK Drums
RK Drums has been providing roasting advice for coffee aficionados and small business owners for over 15 years. We specialize in making coffee roasting accessible to anyone who wants to roast, and sell complete solutions to roast coffee using a barbecue grill.
