“Last summer I headed out to do something that has been on my bucket list.” Joe Monaghan continued: “I rented a little Sprinter decked out for camping. I was all by myself and I had no agenda whatsoever. I drove east and started fishing; I started fishing all of western Montana. It was great. I went all over the place, fishing with different people wherever I went. The fishing was great, but so was sharing that cup of coffee with them in the morning. Even if I was meeting a guide I’d insist we stop and have a cup of coffee. That way we could get to know each other, and talk about what we’d be using and how we’d be fishing.
“Great fishing and great coffee. It’s a good memory.”
Between fishing and coffee, Monaghan has a significant bank of memories to pull from. His home waters are some of the premier steelhead fisheries of the Pacific Northwest. His background is four decades with one of the premier espresso machine companies. “But,” Monaghan said, “I retired from ‘big coffee,’ moved to rural Washington, and made more time for family and fishing.”
That retirement only paved the way to his next pursuit: Angler’s Coffee.
“Angler’s Coffee is first and foremost about what is in the bag,” Monaghan explained. “Our coffee is top notch. We’re super dedicated to coffee. Good coffee isn’t rocket science but isn’t easy, either. You need to find good green coffee, know how to roast, and process it correctly. From that point its up to the brewer. We ship within a few days from roasting to make it as simple as possible for the person at home. As far as the branding goes? We know the culture of fly fishing.”
There is certainly continuity between those who are passionate about fly fishing and passionate about good coffee. There is gear, ritual, and intuition involved in each. “I admit that sometimes it can become more about the geekery more than the pursuit,” Monaghan said. “You can take it as far as you want it to go. Ultimately, a fish doesn’t care about how much I spent on a rod: it is all about presentation. The same is true for coffee. Most people want something that fits their taste profile, and something that does so consistently.”
With a range of blends from medium to extra dark, and branding with names like Coachman’s Blend, Caddis Blend, and a new Bassheads series, Angler’s Coffee offers something that will suit a wide range of tastes and interests. The connection to the culture of fly fishing goes beyond labels. A percentage of the total revenue goes towards conservation and education partners. Groups focusing on wild steelhead, veterans, underserved youth, and cancer recovery have all benefitted from Angler’s Coffee’s desire to give back.
These connections are part of what keep Monaghan going. Those people he met up with and fished with on his grand angling adventure, some of them were early supporters of Angler’s Coffee. “We really did build community. Some of the early adopters have become friends, and it has been a pleasure to fish with them.” Regardless of if you fish with Joe or not, you can buy and drink confident that his attention to detail and coffee expertise brought you your morning cup. “‘I touch almost every box going out of here, so I’m serious about a 100% satisfaction guarantee. As far as I’m concerned, I’m personally committed to finding a perfect coffee for everyone”
Head to the Angler’s Coffee website to check out their blends, their gift boxes, and their subscription plans. Also, be sure to look at their Dry/Dropper single serve pouches. These handy steeping pouches allow for a quick, simple cup of coffee on the stream or at the campsite. All you need is hot water.
If you have a question about the coffee that is right for you? Reach out: there is a good chance Joe will be the one finding you the right blend.