There is a kind of magic that happens when things slows down to the speed of a rocking chair on a porch with a slight breeze and the sounds of a bird chirping and small animal rustling in the forest. In the North Georgia mountains, we call it "Porch Life." It’s that singular moment between the morning fog lifting off the forest floor and the first heat of the day, or that golden hour when the sun dips behind the pines and a cool breeze finally finds its way to your face. Okay, that all sounds mystical and made up -- but it is real, and I'm fortunate to get to experience it here in Ellijay on a daily basis (or at least Sunday mornings).
But wait, the story of our signature Porch Life roast didn’t actually begin in my back porch. It began twenty years ago, over 2,000 miles away, in the lush, volcanic highlands of Costa Rica.
It was 2006 and We Got Lucky
In 2006, my wife and I traveled to Costa Rica through my company, nuBridges. It was a short trip, but it left a permanent mark on my coffee palate. It was there that we were first introduced to the amazing Cafe Britt.
I remember the experience vividly—the coffee was unlike anything I had found back home. It possessed a striking balance: deep, comforting chocolate layered with a crisp, semi-low acidity that reminded me of a fresh green apple (and, don't tell anyone in Ellijay, but I don't eat apples that often). For years, that flavor profile remained my "north star" for what a great cup of coffee should be. When we started Ellijay Trading, I knew I wanted to capture that essence, but I wanted to connect it to home, here in the mountains. It had to be a coffee that can be consumed any time of the day, and no matter what you do to it -- the great coffee flavor came through.
The Bean to Get the Job Done: Costa Rican Tarrazú (Honey Processed)
To recreate that experience, we started with the gold standard of coffee regions: Tarrazú. Nestled in the interior mountains of Costa Rica, the high altitude and volcanic soil produce beans with exceptional density and complex flavor profiles.
However, the real secret to the "Porch Life" flavor is the Honey Process.
In the coffee world, "Honey Process" has nothing to do with actual honey or bees (not that there's anything wrong with honey or bees). Usually, coffee is either "washed" (the fruit is stripped away entirely) or "natural" (the fruit is left on to dry). Honey processing is the beautiful, sticky middle ground. The skin of the coffee cherry is removed, but a specific amount of the "mucilage"—the sweet, sticky fruit layer—is left on the bean while it dries in the sun. BTW - it's not the same "mucilage" you would find in Okra, but not too far off.
As the beans dry, they absorb the sugars from that fruit layer. This is precisely where Porch Life gets its signature sweetness. It bridges the gap between the clean, bright notes of a washed coffee and the heavy, fruity funk of a natural. It results in a cup that features dragon fruit and stone fruit notes, underpinned by a creamy, honey-like mouthfeel.
The Roasting
When it comes to roasting, we decided to take a bold path. Many specialty roasters tend to roast honey-processed beans light to preserve every ounce of acidity. At Ellijay Trading, we want these flavors -- but I also want the chocolate flavors to come out.
We take the beans right to the edge of the "second crack." This is a delicate stage in the roaster where the internal structure of the bean begins to fracture and the oils start to migrate to the surface.
- The Result: A coffee that is incredibly bold and smooth with zero bitterness.
- The Transformation: If you look at a bag of Porch Life three or four days after roasting, you’ll see a beautiful, light sheen on the beans. This is where we want to be with the flavor of this coffee.
When you brew it, the aroma is the first thing that hits you—it’s pleasant, rich, and inviting, without any of the "smokiness" often associated with darker roasts. It maintains that low-acid, apple-like crispness I fell in love with in 2006, but wraps it in a thick cloak of dark chocolate and caramel.
Why "Porch Life"?
The name is a direct play on the Costa Rican saying, Pura Vida (Pure Life). In Costa Rica, Pura Vida is more than a greeting; it’s a philosophy of gratitude and simplicity.
In our corner of the world, we express that same philosophy on the porch. The porch is where we escape the rush. It’s where we reflect rather than react. Whether the sun is coming up or going down, Porch Life is designed to be the companion to that moment of zen. It’s a coffee that doesn’t demand your attention with sharp, biting acidity; instead, it rewards your attention with a smooth, lingering sweetness and a bold body that feels like a warm breeze on a perfect day.
Join Us at the Market
We believe coffee is best enjoyed in community. That’s why you’ll find us at the Jasper Farmers Market, surrounded by the people and the mountains that inspired this roast.
Come grab a bag, talk shop with us, and take a piece of the "Pura Vida" spirit home to your own porch. Life moves fast enough; let Porch Life help you seize the moment, slow it down, and enjoy the view.
