Philadelphia’s Passero’s Coffee Roasters finds a way to pivot during COVID-19 with a new Virtual Tasting Adventure for individuals and businesses, just in time for the holiday shopping season.

What started as a coffee stand in Suburban Station in 1991 has grown to three locations in Center City serving its own craft-roasted organic coffees and a roasting facility in Port Richmond and the distinction of being named a “Best Bet” for a great cup of Joe by Craig LaBan, famous food critic for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Yet, Passero’s Coffee, like other successful small businesses, has felt the brunt of COVID-19. In March, President Jeff Lincoln had to close all three stores for several months, and then opened them back in June, only to have to close two of them a few days later because of lack of customers with only the Franklin Building location at 834 Chestnut Street currently operating. The coffee roasting business remained intact, but it, too, needed a jolt to encourage online sales.

Needing to pivot his focus, Lincoln is now offering what he thinks is a unique way to connect people and clients during this virtual time, while educating folks on the proper way to taste and appreciate good coffee.

Enter “The Coffee Tasting Adventure Box” – a new coffee tasting experience that has everything you need to do a blind coffee tasting from the comfort of your own kitchen. It will include three unlabeled 8 oz.  bags of coffee, a setup guide, a tasting guide, a flavor wheel, and a seasonal tasty sweet treat (biscotti, chocolate pretzel, or seasonal cookies) to enjoy with the coffee.

You also get a link where Jeff will guide you, step-by-step through the coffee tasting. No special equipment is needed to have fun on this adventure in your own home. Lincoln plans to offer these coffee tasting boxes on a seasonal basis.

For larger groups or corporate customers, Jeff will guide your group through a live private virtual tasting via zoom. Already several clients have taken advantage of this offer, using it as a holiday get-together and gift exchange with family and customers who are now isolated through COVID-19. Lincoln will time the delivery of the boxes to the exact date you want your private virtual tasting. 

“Now that many of us are working in our home offices, I see this new venture as a perfect opportunity to keep the social aspect of sitting down and having a cup of coffee together while helping people learn how to really enjoy a good cup of coffee,” notes Lincoln.

Passero’s sells its entire line of fresh-roasted coffees, monthly coffee subscriptions at www.passeroscoffee.com.

Winner of Philadelphia Magazine’s “Best of Philly” in their blind tasting championship, Passero’s Coffee Roasters began in 1990 and was named after Jeff’s wife, Linda Passero. Touting itself as “Philadelphia’s first coffee bar,” Passero’s started in a 134-square-foot spot in the Suburban Station Concourse.

A newly remodeled Passero’s cafe is located in The Wanamaker Building across from City Hall and their third cafe is at 834 Chestnut Street in The Franklin Building. The company has a roasting facility and tasting room within The Loom in Port Richmond. Passero’s also sells coffee beans whole or ground on its website to individuals and wholesalers.