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The Flying Rhino Coffee Story
(Or how this all began ) Once upon a time in a land called Toledo, Ohio lived a humble glass blowing lad named Ralph Behrendt. Along with his wife Gini, they ran a pretty successful glass blowing studio, glass bead studio, art gallery, and bead shop. They traveled a lot going from art show to art show displaying their wares. They had plenty of people coming into their studio to rent time at the glass furnace and giant bead making table. They also bought stuff from the gallery and bead shop. Gini conducted glass bead making classes and everybody had fun. Ralph always provided wonderful coffee for these classes because they both liked good coffee. One day, a lady came by for a class and actually refused the swill we offered because she had brought her very own brew. How dare she! We were insulted! Then she graciously explained that hers was so much better because she roasted her own green beans and that freshly roasted coffee was soooo much better. How can that be? Weren't the coffee beans we were buying fresh? She offered... We sampled... We agreed!. How can this be possible! We'd been drinking SWILL all these years. We quickly became converts. The next day she brought in some green beans for us to try roasting in our oven, cautioning us that the smoky smell might not be for us. We set up a broiler pan with foil on top, cut in slots, and carefully spread the beans out on top. The oven was set to 425 degrees and we watched as they started doing their thing. Then it all began. That smell she warned us about started happening and I was transfixed to a time and place long ago and far away. As a child I grew up not far from a warehouse that roasted Eight O'Clock brand coffee. When the wind was right you could smell that coffee roasting away. For me, that smell was heaven all over again. I loved that smell as a child and still love it today. The experience that day started Gini and I on a journey that has brought us to this point. I believe that life is a series of coincidences. For me, most have generally always been happy ones. I think that is true because I had loving, caring parents who never denied me or my sister from trying anything we wanted to try. It happened for me that way with glass blowing and now it's happening with coffee and chocolate (see that story on the other side.) The coffee adventure started on that eventful day some three years ago. We have both learned a lot about coffee in that past three years and this past summer (2005) made a commitment to take our passion and enthusiasm to the next level. The Rhino is born and its Flying. Hop on and join us for some of the best coffee you'll experience. Ralph & Gini Behrendt aka: Rhino Ralph |
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