My existence is fueled by caffeine, a phenomenon not unique to me. The smell of a fresh cup of brew in the morning is enough to ixnay my overwhelming desire to stay in bed. I’m guilty of purchasing whatever Wegmans is selling, but now that The Bean Bastard has been brought to my attention, I am happy to discover what another local roaster has to offer, and I’ll tell you why.
An attempt to be the black sheep of coffee roasters, Nicholas Mirusso started roasting coffee as a hobby a little over three years ago. Working out of his kitchen, he took up this new project as a way to cope with depression and anxiety. “I’m six years sober from substance abuse, and in my early recovery I needed to develop healthy hobbies, so I took up coffee roasting,” he said.
Formerly a musician, Mirusso had a passion for producing his own creations. Once he decided to leave the music scene, he missed that spark of joy he got from the creative process. Roasting coffee brought back some of those positive feelings.
Taking on pop culture references, The Bean Bastard offers coffee from Yunnan China called “BREWS LEE,” and an Ethiopian coffee dubbed “ROBOCUP”. Aside from selling coffee, this roastery also offers coffee soap, a collaboration with Spruce Up Soap Co. The coffee soap is made with Bean Bastard Coffee grounds, saponified oils of castor oil, coconut oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, shea butter, distilled water, lye, and fragrance oil. “It comes from their Bar Apothic line that are crafted to deliver an experience that has an ultra-creamy lather, delivers hydration, cleanses your pores and smells amazing,” Mirusso said.
Now, The Bean Bastard offers their retail products to the Buffalo area on delivery. According to Mirusso, anyone who lives within 25 miles of Buffalo will qualify for this service. A full-service mobile coffee bar dubbed “The Bean Machine” will be on the road in the foreseeable future, Mirusso said.
Acknowledging the array of taste preferences, Mirusso offers a few different options for his customers, including premium single origins and blends. Mirusso described blending as “an art that bends the rules, allowing you to combine different profiles and origins.” He currently offers two blends, including the signature blend NOMAD.
Mirusso said he regularly posts photos and videos of his operation on Instagram and Facebook. You can purchase his products on his website, or at the Kenmore Farmers Market every Sunday from 9am to 1pm.