Aveley Farms Coffee Roasters

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28 Jul

Hi all. It’s been a minute. Between concerts and festivals, I’ve been going everywhere but coffeehouses lately. Fields, tents, theaters, trainyards, and rivers. I’ve been to those. Uppers have taken a backseat to downers as beer festivals, music festivals, and jam band gatherings have peppered the free spaces of my schedule for the past month. It couldn’t last forever.

I said we’d go deeper into Maryland, and that’s what we’re doing. From the Baltimore countryside, we’re heading south into the Timonium and Towson areas. Actually, we’re sticking to Timonium, but this story also involves Towson. We’ll get to that. Timonium is well known to the science fiction and fantasy fandom (of which I’m a part) as the town that hosts a large number of annual conventions. I remember a story in a book about a sci-fi author once trying to pass off a fake chemical element named Timonium in a brainstorming session (apparently not realizing most people at the convention actually knew where and what Timonium, the town, was).

This Timonium is a maze of plazas and hotels. Cockeysville to the north is the same. That’s why I didn’t take a photo of the area itself: There isn’t all that much to see. Timonium is more functional than picturesque; it’s where you stop to rest on the way to all those lovely vacation spots near Inner Harbor. That said, somewhere between all the big-name coffee shops and standard hotels, in an otherwise nondescript plaza, stands the caffeinated wonderland called Aveley Farms Coffee Roasters.

Before we begin, it’s essential to understand that Aveley Farms is more than just a coffee shop. There’s a microbrewery here, too. An operation called Diamondback Brewing Company also shares this space, aiming to blend coffee and beer culture. Diamondback apparently isn’t the same company, but they are working in partnership with Aveley to create a unique fusion of beverage cultures. This isn’t the first intersection of societies we’ve seen on this journey, as rural life meshed with the urban institution of the coffeehouse in startling ways throughout Amish Country up north.

The staff was kind enough to let me sample the product before I made a purchase. Let me say this at the outset: These people know their coffee. The staff, I mean. The barista/os know all the lingo and the expectations in terms of roasting characteristics. An example of that knowledge was evident in the first of two coffees I tried: an Ethiopian Yirga Chefe (the Halo Beriti, pictured below). I remarked that the citrus flavor was less pronounced than expected, and the fellow handing me the coffee let me know it was a washed coffee. Washed coffee refers to beans that have been soaked after harvesting to remove impurities. This has the added effect of balancing acidity.

The second coffee I tried was more in line with my normal preferences. It was a Brazilian medium-dark (most of Aveley Farms’ offerings trend towards medium-dark, I discovered), displaying all the characteristics of a well-roasted Brazilian. The nutty notes were especially prominent, with the chocolate hints only really showing their power on the back end of the mouthfeel. That mellowness makes for an especially drinkable cup. Unfortunately, it was only available that day as an Americano/Espresso since they rotate their coffees constantly to keep the experience fresh. I get it. But it left me in a quandary as to what I’d actually order.

The answer was clear: I’d get the Ethiopian. Normally, citrusy roasts are not my cup of…well, you know. I was in for a pleasant surprise. I mean, it shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise after my initial taste-test, but I was still unprepared for just how well this roast would present itself in a full serving with cream and a bit of sugar. There was not one iota of citrus harshness in that cup. The fruit instead offered a strong backbone (as opposed to a mere finish) to a balmy and harmonious mug.

Oh, yes, Towson. Aveley’s flagship shop stands in nearby Towson. Aveley Farms itself has been around since 2016, but this shop is brand new, having opened in 2024. I imagine Towson must be a coffee haven, given that famous Towson University is there. I’ll have to pay the actual town a visit sometime soon, assuming I don’t just make my next trip one to Baltimore and points south. Of course, we’ve already been to Baltimore on this Journey (remember Red Emma’s?). That doesn’t mean there’s nothing new to explore, though. In fact, Aveley Farms served as a poignant reminder of the quiet revolution in craft coffee that has unfolded over the past five years.

This means our next stop is anyone’s guess. The festival scene isn’t really winding down; rather, it’s morphing. Fewer big concerts and public gatherings, more niche events and country fairs. Did you know that Pennsylvania has 109 agricultural fairs, including the Farm Show? They might be worth a gander. You’ll know by the end of next month. Until then, stay caffeinated!