Swing’s Coffee Roasters got its start over 100 years ago in Washington, D.C. As an early adopter of cupping, roasting fresh, and selling directly to customers, Swing’s early practices were reminiscent of most modern specialty coffee brands. We recently spoke with owner Mark Warmuth, who purchased Swing’s in 2006 from Patricia Swing, the granddaughter of the company’s founder.
How did Swing’s get its start roasting coffee?
The “Swing’s” name originates from our founders, Michael Edward Swing and his son Edward, who established Swing’s Coffee Roasters in Washington, DC, in 1916. Swing’s contribution to the DC coffee scene spans generations and is rooted in a tradition of sourcing, cupping, and roasting exceptional coffees. Over the past 20 years, we have done our best to maintain Swing’s legacy of storied coffee roasting while taking a very progressive approach to how we serve our coffee in our cafes each and every day.
What was Swing’s original approach to selling coffee in the Washington D.C. area?
Back in the 1930’s, Swing’s had a delivery truck that would deliver coffee daily to local businesses and households. The truck bore a pennant flag reading “No Shelf Age,” implying that all the coffee was delivered fresh off the roast and no dating of coffee was necessary; hence, no shelf date was required. As the saying goes, “what’s old is new again” – widely accepted practices in coffee roasting and management by today’s progressive coffee culture were embraced by Swing over 100 years ago. We’ve clearly gone full circle here. FYI – we still have the flag, but no longer have it waving from the antenna of our trucks.
How did Swing’s change its sourcing and roasting over time to become a modern specialty coffee roaster?
The biggest thing that’s changed, aside from the mindfulness and transparency in how we source coffees, is the long-term relationships Swing has established with our supply partners. We’re very proud that some of our green coffee suppliers have been business partners for nearly 20 years. There is a two-way level of commitment that benefits both parties in good times and challenging times.
When did Swing’s first café open, and what was the main goal for pivoting to retail?
While we have always operated at some level as a retail coffee roastery (since 1916), our first coffee bar serving coffee by the cup opened in 1994 near the White House. The pivot came about as a result of developments in the coffee world – Starbucks had proven that the coffee shop model was sustainable, scalable, and in demand. Swing’s followed the model, clearly on a much smaller scale. Since then, we have opened a few other shops, including a roastery coffee bar that fronts Swing’s industrial-grade roasting operation. As a roaster, your cafes are an important part of telling your story, showcasing coffees, and creating brand awareness.
How has Swing’s grown and evolved with specialty coffee over the last fifteen years?
Over the years, we have been leaning heavily into specialty coffee initiatives – public coffee cuppings hosted by our in-house Q-grader, structured barista training for staff members and wholesale clients, participation in and hosting local throw-downs, and being an active participant in industry-specific coffee events. The specialty coffee industry is large but still a tight-knit group of roasters and retailers – there is a level of connectivity that exists among all of us that Swing’s appreciates.
What was the first La Marzocco that Swing’s purchased, and is it still around today?
Our first La Marzocco was a four-group, cherry red La Marzocco FB80 (2010) that was installed at our coffee bar near the White House. That location absolutely crushes it, and there are times when two baristas on either side of the FB80 are absolutely maxed out. It is a classically beautiful machine that complements Swing’s classic vibes – a great pairing. We definitely needed the space and throughput of this machine and had fun designing our bar to accommodate its footprint. While not in service today, it was replaced in 2018 with a newer four-group, cherry-red FB80 during a complete renovation and redesign of the space. When this shop was rebuilt, it felt appropriate to relaunch with a brand-new FB80, which is still the focal point of our bar at 1700 G St.
What has been the approach to Swing’s multiple locations, and where do you see things going?
Swing’s has been quite fortunate to experience positive, manageable growth over the years. With three coffee bars and a roastery, we definitely have room to expand, recognizing that growth in other parts of our business (wholesale and DTC) is connected to brand awareness through our cafes. We will continue to focus on quality, consistency, and coffee education for both our baristas and customers, and see what happens next. As a roaster with tenure, we are well-known in our local geography and are working hard to expand brand awareness outside of our local footprint. We hope there is more to follow!
Swing’s Coffee Roasters is located in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding area. Visit their official website and follow them on Instagram for more information.
