All coffee roasted in-store
Robert Lugo, Retriever Roasters’ proprietor and roastmaster, is not just a coffee expert and connoisseur. His fascination with coffee began early--he started roasting coffee beans and drinking coffee at the tender age of 4 (!) under the tutelage of his Hispanic grandparents, who regularly roasted coffee beans in a cast iron pan. “We now use a batch roaster that’s on working display at Retriever Roasters to roast different varietals and blends, and I can explain the precise characteristics of each,” he notes with pride. “I can even match the type of beans or blend to your specific taste! Every cup of espresso we serve is fresh ground and prepared in Italian-made Rancilio machines—the finest in the world.”
We roast out own coffee and espresso for in-store use, as well as beans to sell by the pound. Beans can be custom-roasted to order. Please call ahead (518-943-5858) and we can have your beans ready and waiting for you.
We roast out own coffee and espresso for in-store use, as well as beans to sell by the pound. Beans can be custom-roasted to order. Please call ahead (518-943-5858) and we can have your beans ready and waiting for you.
About us
Retriever Roasters owners, Robert and Janice Lugo, are committed to producing excellent coffee. "Our focus is on exceptional coffee, as well as a comprehensive selection of fine teas, served in a friendly hometown atmosphere, with good music, good talk, and a knowledgeable staff of coffee experts,” says Robert. Robert has a wealth of experience in the culinary field, with a recent focus on coffee roasting and preparation. "I went to Seattle and attended Specialty Coffee Association of America classes in Coffee Grading and Evaluation, Coffee Roasting and Processing, Coffee Preparation, and Coffee Business. These courses gave me a foundation in the specialty coffee business, which I have continued to develop and expand through the operation of Retriever Roasters.
Robert and Janice Lugo not only make great coffee and talk great coffee, they’re also committed to educating their customers about the incredible facts, folklore, and subtleties of this universally acclaimed beverage, and turn them into coffee connoisseurs. “Both Robert and I are educators—certified special-education teachers as a matter of fact,” notes Janice, “so it’s not too surprising that we value and promote education in our authentic specialty coffee shop just as we did when teaching school. You really do get a lot more out of the coffee experience when you learn all about it and can appreciate the differences.”
Robert and Janice Lugo not only make great coffee and talk great coffee, they’re also committed to educating their customers about the incredible facts, folklore, and subtleties of this universally acclaimed beverage, and turn them into coffee connoisseurs. “Both Robert and I are educators—certified special-education teachers as a matter of fact,” notes Janice, “so it’s not too surprising that we value and promote education in our authentic specialty coffee shop just as we did when teaching school. You really do get a lot more out of the coffee experience when you learn all about it and can appreciate the differences.”