Frequently Asked Questions
Where are you located?
We have two café locations. Our city café is in the historic Shockoe Bottom neighborhood of Richmond at 1805 East Grace Street. Our Henrico County West End café is located at 2100 John Rolfe Parkway.
What are your opening hours?
Our Shockoe Bottom café is open seven days per week: From 7:00 A.M. 'til 5:00 P.M. on weekdays, and from 8:00 A.M. ’til 5:00 P.M. on weekends.
Our West End café is also open seven days per week: From 6:30 A.M. 'til 5:00 P.M. on weekdays, and from 8:00 A.M. ’til 5:00 P.M. on weekends.
Do you sell flavored coffees?
This question usually refers to coffee beans that have been covered with artificially flavored oils. It would hurt our hearts too deeply to cover up the magnificent naturally occurring flavors in the coffees we roast. And we say that in the least coffee-snobbish way we know how. Add to this the fact that coffee flavoring oils share a common ingredient with anti-freeze, and we just cannot recommend the practice. If you prefer flavoring in your coffee, we suggest finding a quality syrup with natural flavors, such as Monin.
Why is your coffee more expensive than most of what I can buy at the grocery store?
One word: Quality. Corners are cut in both the cultivation and roasting of cheap coffees which allows for those low prices. Many consumers do not mind that, which is fair enough. Two areas we really ought to consider, however, are the environmental sustainability of cutting corners in cultivation and the distinct possibility that the farmers may not be paid a “fair trade” wage. Okay, one more word: Value. In other words, you get what you pay for. If you’d like us to elaborate on that, give us a shout and we’ll talk your ears off about it.
I have a Keurig machine, and I love it. Do you sell your coffee in “K-Cups?”
We’d love to talk with you about “upping your game” by exploring other brewing methods. Scientifically speaking, it’s simply not possible to properly extract a cup of coffee in 20 seconds (which is about what a Keurig machine takes). With that being said, we do understand that some of you good folks are inseparably attached to your Keurig machines. For that reason, we can recommend a reusable “K-Cup” filter that will allow you to use freshly roasted Ironclad-roasted coffee in your machine, save tons of money, and be more environmentally responsible. It’s really the best way to get the most out of these machines — until you decide to upgrade!
For how long will my coffee be fresh?
For peak freshness, enjoy your Ironclad coffee within three weeks of the roast date. Failing that, it’s best to exceed no more than four weeks. In our experience, most coffees “hit their stride” between the fifth day and the third week post-roast. Please remember to grind your coffee right before brewing if at all possible.
Is it a good idea to store my coffee in the refrigerator or freezer?
In most cases, the answer here is "no." The problem lies in the fact that condensation will inevitably build up whenever you remove the coffee from these cold environments to room temperature. That spells trouble for your coffee. We suggest buying only the quantity of coffee you will drink over a two or three-week period and storing it in a dark cabinet in your kitchen.
Will you grind my coffee for me?
We always recommend acquiring a decent burr grinder to grind your own coffee just prior to brewing it, but we will grind your coffee orders for you if needed. Simply select the brewing method you’ll be using while adding your coffees to your cart, and we’ll grind it to the appropriate level.
Why aren’t your beans shiny like many I’ve seen?
The shine is caused by the oils coming to the surface due to over-roasting … and that’s not a great thing. Ideally, these oils will remain on the inside of the bean, lest they become rancid. The most meticulously roasted coffees will have a dry appearance.
Do you have a question not answered here? Reach out to us and we would love to answer it!