Every order is roasted by hand, in small batches, by a real person paying attention — never run through a factory line.

★ 5.0 from 24 Google Reviews

Fresh Roasted Coffee From Makin’ Smiles Coffee in Palmyra, Virginia

Makin’ Smiles Coffee is a small-batch specialty coffee roaster in Palmyra, Virginia, focused on sourcing, roasting, and selling the freshest coffee I can find from a variety of countries and regions. As part of the third wave coffee movement, Makin’ Smiles Coffee treats coffee less like a commodity and more like wine or craft beer — worth sourcing carefully, roasting with intention, and tasting for what actually makes each origin different.

I look for farmers who put real care into growing coffee, because that care is what actually shows up in the cup. Makin’ Smiles Coffee is working toward sourcing more of its coffee as Organic and Fair Trade over time, and several origins already carry that certification. A few, like my Brazil, aren’t currently available Organic Fair Trade — and since that one’s a customer favorite, I keep sourcing it as-is rather than dropping a coffee people love over a certification that isn’t offered on it yet.

Green coffee storage matters just as much as roasting, since it decides how long that coffee holds onto its quality before it ever reaches my roaster. Makin’ Smiles Coffee only buys beans stored in GrainPro bags, which studies show can extend green coffee’s freshness by another six months. It costs more, but it’s part of how I make sure the coffee is genuinely fresh, not just labeled that way.

Coffee is at its best within about 30 to 60 days of its roast date, and most people have never actually tasted coffee that fresh. Most companies don’t print a roast date on the bag at all — they’d rather you not realize how long it sat in a warehouse and on a shelf before you bought it. Buying from a local roaster is usually the only way to find coffee that’s actually fresh, which is exactly why Makin’ Smiles Coffee roasts every order fresh in Palmyra instead of pulling from a shelf.

I started out roasting just a handful of coffee beans at a time for the Wounded Warriors I served with, and the people supporting their healing. I used it as an icebreaker — a way to build community and relationships with the people around me — and I’d brew a fresh cup for anyone who asked. I loved watching their face light up on that first sip. It always made them smile. That’s where the name comes from, and my slogan: Does your coffee make you Smile? Now I roast for my community and beyond. If you’d like your coffee to make you smile too, browse my coffee selection or email orders@makinsmilescoffee.com.

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