Brush Factory tasting event to welcome summer June 25

The Brush Factory will celebrate the first week of summer with a complimentary Meet the Makers open house in its tastings room from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 25. Samplings of specialties from Swell Joe Coffee Roastery and Delaware Chocolate Company will be featured. 

A Lewes-based, surf-inspired wholesale coffee roastery, Swell Joe Coffee Company supplies fresh-roasted coffee beans to restaurants and specialty shops around coastal Delaware. Co-owner Karen Johnson will serve brewed samples of Kooky Nut, Swell Joe’s signature coconut-flavored brew.

“We use a natural flavoring system for all of our flavored roasts, and from the positive feedback we’re received from customers, the extra effort is well worth it,” said Johnson. In the past, Johnson said she rarely drank flavored coffee because of the medicinal aftertaste she experienced. She extensively researched natural flavoring options a few years ago before landing on Nature’s Flavors, a California-based, family-owned and -operated business for over 40 years.

“We’re proud to partner with Nature’s Flavors,” Johnson said. “They have a unique recipe specially tailored to penetrate coffee beans, which is water-soluble, kosher, vegan, gluten-free and contains no allergens.”

Joining Johnson at the June 25 tasting event will be another Brush Factory Market Room vendor, Bridget Brown, owner of Delaware Chocolate Company. Based in Fenwick Island, Brown focuses on artisanal, fair trade and vegan products, and she handcrafts all of her wares with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. In addition to her signature caramels and infamous potato chip chocolate bar, Brown will also offer samples of Shaka•Lit, her handcrafted dark and milk chocolate bar made exclusively for Swell Joe Coffee. 

The Brush Factory is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 830 Kings Highway in Lewes. To learn more, email brushlewes@gmail.com or call 302-864-7005.