Norm Eisler has always loved coffee, which definitely helped during his days in finance. Now the founder and owner of Pinebrook Coffee Roasters, based out of his White Plains home, Eisler wants to take coffee beyond Starbucks to provide premium beans that won’t break the bank.
“There has been some exponential growth over the past couple of years of boutique and artisanal coffee roasters,” Eisler says. “I made the decision to be physically involved; coffee just made sense to me.”
After retiring from finance about two and a half years ago, Eisler asked himself what he wanted to do and zeroed in on coffee. His family sold coffee at their former Manhattan bakery, and he often seeks out unique cafés when traveling. He started investigating his options and met roasters from a collective in Brooklyn who showed him the ropes.
Pinebrook Coffee offers up to 10 craft beans from across the world in medium, espresso, and dark roasts; unroasted beans are also available. Beans are roasted in Port Chester or Brooklyn.
Although Pinebrook first launched online in September 2016, Eisler is aware of how important face-to-face feedback is, and plans to pour cups of coffee at more than 10 farmers’ markets this year. “The markets are important because people can directly let us know if they like our coffee,” he says. So far, customers are liking the most popular brew: Tanzanian Peaberry, a medium roast that’s the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness.
