What the Bodega Will Hold
A new bodega is rising next to the new patio. Here is what we plan to put in it, and what we hope it will do for the work.
A building is a set of decisions about where things will live.
Summary
- The new bodega is intended for storing green coffee, roasted coffee, and materials for the workshop and lab.
- Good storage protects quality and makes work smoother.
- Plans may change as construction proceeds.
Key takeaways
- Storage is part of quality.
- Space shapes how a team works.
- Plans are intentions, not promises.
The bodega is part of the same project that began with the old trees. When the ground was cleared for a patio and a storage building, the roots came out, and everything else began. See The Morning We Almost Burned a Century of Coffee Roots.
It seems right to say what the building is for.
Green coffee
The main job of a coffee bodega is to hold green coffee, the dried beans waiting to be roasted. Green coffee is sensitive to moisture, heat, and strong smells. A good store is dry, shaded, ventilated, and clean. Sacks sit off the floor on pallets, with room to move around them.
Roasted coffee
We also plan space for roasted coffee waiting to be packed. Roasted beans go stale faster than green ones, so this area is for short stays, not long storage.
Materials for the work
Packaging materials, the handwoven cloth bags, boxes, labels, and cushioning also need a dry home. These are the finishing touches of a shipment, and they deserve proper shelving.
A place for the laboratory's supplies
As the laboratory grows, it will need storage for samples, jars, and ingredients. We plan to give these a clearly separate area, since flavors and green coffee should not mix. See The Laboratory We Are Building on the Finca.
Room to work
A bodega is also a workspace. People come and go with sacks and carts. Good design leaves clear paths and a bit of space to turn around. We have all been in cramped stores where everything is a struggle.
The patio beside it
The new patio sits next to the bodega, so that coffee can move from drying to storage with a short walk. Short distances protect quality and tired backs.
What may change
We have drawings and intentions, and we know how often building plans change. Materials arrive late. The ground surprises you. We would rather say that plainly than promise a finished building on a particular date.
Why it matters to the story
It is easy to think of this project as about wood and candles. But it also depends on a working farm with a working supply chain. The bodega is part of that backbone.
Common questions
Is the bodega finished?
It is under construction, and plans may change as it proceeds.
Will the workshop be inside it?
No. Our turning is done by an artisan in town. The bodega is for coffee and supplies.
Keep reading
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