A small-batch roastery is now quietly turning green beans into fresh coffee on City Island, giving the seaside neighborhood a homegrown source for roast-fresh beans. Bronx Roasting Company, the roasting arm built by the owner of local cafe Clipper Coffee, is already supplying bags and espresso to the shop on City Island Avenue.
Owner Peter Gennari pivoted away from an almost 20-year Wall Street career after a 2017 cancer diagnosis, opening Clipper Coffee in 2018 and later building Bronx Roasting Company after he acquired an electric Bellwether roaster in 2022, as outlined by Bronx Roasting Company. The change, he says, gave him more time with his family while letting him shape the flavors he wanted for his neighbors. The roastery also highlights a direct partnership with a friend's organic farm in Arbelaez, Colombia, as the source for its green beans.
How the roasts are made
Gennari and his team roast in small batches on a Bellwether electric machine, dropping green beans into the drum for roughly 15 minutes before letting them rest and release carbon dioxide prior to grinding and brewing. Lighter roasts lean into brighter, fruitier notes, while higher roasting temperatures bring out darker, chocolatey profiles. Gennari told News 12 Bronx, "we wanted the coffee to taste the way we liked it and the way the people of the Bronx liked it." Clipper Coffee then turns those beans into espresso and drip drinks for customers on City Island.
A greener roast
The Bellwether Shop Roaster is an all-electric, ventless commercial machine that plugs into a standard outlet and avoids the need for gas lines and ductwork, according to Bellwether Coffee. Industry reporting finds that switching from gas-fired roasting to electric systems can cut roasting-related emissions by roughly 87%, making in-shop roasting more feasible in dense neighborhoods, as reported by Canary Media. For Gennari, the smaller footprint and lighter permitting requirements were part of the draw.
Where to buy it
Clipper Coffee at 274 City Island Avenue now pours espresso and sells bags from Bronx Roasting Company, according to the shop's site. The roaster also lists Clipper as a stockist on its own site, so customers can take home freshly roasted bags or enjoy a cup at the counter, per Bronx Roasting Company.
For City Island, the venture puts a local roasting story at the center of a small-business moment and gives neighbors one more reason to linger along the avenue. Gennari says he plans to keep production small and local while he looks at ways to grow beyond the island in the future.
