With years of touring the songwriter, accustomed to early mornings and late nights, found support in the rich embrace of some of the finest coffee shops around the world. Although the dream of opening a coffee shop crossed his mind, it wasn’t the right time. Yet, as time unfurled its chapters, Matt found the perfect moment to embark on a new coffee roasting venture.
Blue Ridge Bootleg is a coffee brand born out of Matt’s love for the perfect cup combined with his rich family heritage and a deep love of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With a mission rooted in Fair Trade and Organic practices, Blue Ridge Bootleg sought to positively impact farmers’ lives. Matt’s belief in ethically-sourced, single-origin coffees, led to the creation of the Organic El Salvador Monte Verde roast, which he calls, “Popskull Pitch”. It’s aptly named after the moonshine his grandfather and great-grandfather used to make in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
In the heart of El Salvador’s Monte Verde, under the skilled guidance of Rene Contreras, the coffee cherries for this blend were precisely handpicked at their ripest point. The natural processing method brought out the coffee’s sweetness and fruity notes. Bright tropical flavors of pineapple and passion fruit danced with delicate hints of caramel and chocolate in each cup.
As the story of Blue Ridge Bootleg unfolded, it became a tribute to Matt’s dedication to quality and the skill of coffee growers worldwide. The journey from moonshine-soaked hills to many years in the music industry, and finally to the rich flavors of Monte Verde Natural, encapsulated Matt’s belief that life’s adventures were best complemented by a good cup of coffee.
