Our Story - Columbus, OH
Our
Origin Story.
The story behind our name, our work, and the relationships that keep us growing.
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Our Company
Fruits & Roots began with a simple dream: to create a place where coffee, tea, and people could come together in a meaningful way.
For years, I imagined owning a cafe, especially a tea shop. After the birth of our daughter, that dream started to feel less like something for someday and more like something worth building now. I left the comfort of a steady desk job, one I was good at, and began shaping the vision that would become Fruits & Roots.
At first, I did not plan to roast coffee myself. The idea was to build a mobile coffee and tea bar, partner with a roaster who shared my tastes, and create a warm, thoughtful experience around every drink. But as I began researching, testing, and learning more about the coffee and tea industry, the vision started to grow.
What began with a love for tea and coffee became something deeper. It became a family business built on curiosity, care, and the belief that everyday cups can still feel personal, thoughtful, and worth sharing.
Our Roastery
Once I started learning about coffee at a deeper level, I knew I had to try roasting for myself. With help from an Ohio coffee school, and later full accreditation through the Specialty Coffee Association, roasting became more than a skill. It became a new way of seeing coffee.
Before that, my usual drink was a sweet, creamy latte. The more it tasted like dessert, the better. And while I still love a good flavored latte, roasting opened up a whole new appreciation for what coffee can be on its own.
Coffee carries an incredible range of flavor and aroma. A single crop can become something bright and fruity, deep and chocolatey, soft and sweet, or rich and complex. Roasting is where science, senses, and craft meet. Every batch asks for attention: sight, sound, smell, timing, temperature, and taste all working together.
That is what I love about roasting. It is hands-on and human, but also technical and precise. It lets me take something grown by real people in real places and bring out a cup that is clear, balanced, and enjoyable for the person drinking it.
The Why
We exist to honor the labor of the producer by presenting their work as transparently and beautifully as possible. It is not just about a caffeine fix - it is about community, sustainability, and finding joy in the simple, perfect details of a well-crafted cup.
The Founder
Nicky Reardon
“I started Fruits & Roots because I wanted to create a coffee experience that was deeply respectful of the craft, but did not feel exclusionary. Great coffee should be a daily joy, not an intimidating test of knowledge. We roast for flavor, clarity, and most importantly, the smile it brings when you take that first sip.”
