Finally: After a complete breakdown of the plumbing at the house, dodging rainstorms to plant the vegetables in our garden, helping my parents with things, and dealing with $600 worth of car repairs, I’m finally back on the road on the hunt for coffee. Dealing with those things obviously required a ton of coffee in and of themselves, but that’s different. Not only because it was big-name-brand coffee, but because I was stuck enjoying it in my room. It’s my blog, and I can whine if I want to, whine if I want to, whiiiiine if I want to…

OK, let’s be optimistic for a minute. Coffee at home certainly has its own pleasures. Sure, this is The Coffeehouse Journey, but just as one can take a journey by reading a book in the solitude of their bathtub, can’t a coffee journey be taken home as well? In the same vein of thought, wonderful things can often be found in the most unexpected places. Setting out to accomplish one goal is no guarantee that you won’t fulfill another instead. These two ideas came together splendidly last weekend as I set out for Hershey ArtFest.

Spring and summer are festival seasons, collectively speaking. In Pennsylvania, festivals normally consist of three basic offerings: Music, food trucks, and beer (or wine). Festivals with only one are practically unknown and doomed to failure, while those with only two often feel like they’re missing something. Coffee is rarely on anyone’s radar, though coffee trucks do show up at the occasional fest (as we’ve seen before). I didn’t expect ArtFest to be one of those. The focus here was definitely on art. I saw phrases like “juried exhibition.” Tchotchkes and oddities abounded. Local authors had tents of their own. There was beer and music, though, too. After two hours, I was sunburned, satisfied, and on my way back to my car. That’s when I saw it: the Pronio’s tent.

Apparently, Pronio’s is an Italian restaurant native to Hershey, PA. By “native,” I mean they’ve been there since 1914. I’d never heard of them until today. What a tragedy, especially since they have proprietary tomato sauce! Confession: I’m always looking for new Italian sauces to experiment with. I was equally shocked when they told me they had a proprietary coffee roast. Who would have thought? After passing about a hundred tents selling niche knickknacks I had every desire (and zero intention) to buy, the last five minutes of my festival experience revealed my favorite part of it. I had to wait until I got home to brew the coffee, but it was well worth the wait.

The flavor palate of the coffee definitely had a rich and nutty quality. I picked up hints of almonds and possibly pecans. Lo and behold, the back of the coffee bag (pictured below) name-dropped Guatemala, Brazil, and Costa Rica as bean sources. Pronio’s pride themselves on sourcing straight from family-run farms. The degree of care they take showed quickly in the savory characteristics displayed in this particular blend  The coffee is no longer roasted on-site by Pronio’s, but they have partnered with Kitty Town Coffee of nearby Lebanon, PA. I’ll have to visit the brick-and-mortar Pronio’s and Kitty Town. I’m sure this is only the beginning.

Next time, I’ll be traveling a bit farther afield. The Pennsylvania Wilds may have to wait until this coming autumn, or at least until later this summer. New coffee spots are popping up in the South Mountain area, especially along the 11/15 corridor. Hiking culture is big here. Festival culture is, too. This region is where the monumental Apple Harvest Festival happens in October every year. Until next time, stay caffeinated.

the tunes…

the tents…

the ambiance…

the coffee…