They gathered data on 50,737 women, average age 63 years; none of them had depression when the study began. They had all participated in the Nurses’ Health Study. They were prospectively followed up until June 2006. Questionnaires had asked them what their caffeine consumption was from 1980 to 2004. The researchers had data on how often they consumed caffeinated and non-caffeinated coffee, non-herbal tea, caffeinated soft drinks (sugared or low calorie), all types of caffeine-free soft drinks, and chocolate during a twelve month period before filling in each questionnaire. In this study, depression was defined as having a diagnosis of clinical depression and being prescribed regular antidepressants during the previous two years.

Below are some highlighted data from their findings:

• Women who consumed two to three cups of caffeinated coffee per day were 15% less likely to develop depression compared to those who drank a maximum of one cup of caffeinated coffee per week
• Women who drank at least 4 cups per day had a 20% lower risk than the maximum 1 cup per week females
• Those who consumed at least 550mg per day of caffeine had a 20% lower risk of developing depression compared to the women whose daily consumption was 100mg or less per day
• The consumption of decaffeinated coffee had no impact on depression risk

The authors wrote: “In this large prospective cohort of older women free of clinical depression or severe depressive symptoms at baseline, risk of depression decreased in a dose-dependent manner with increasing consumption of caffeinated coffee.” They added: “(this observational study) cannot prove that caffeine or caffeinated coffee reduces the risk of depression but only suggests the possibility of such a protective effect.”

In 2004, I left my home in Eureka, Kansas to attend college at the University of Kansas (Rock Chalk). I started college as a student of Pre-Pharmacy, but after a change of attitude (and a couple of chemistry courses), I switched the path of my studies to focus on Business Management with a particular interest in Entrepreneurship. Even though I was student of the Business School, I was never that interested in accepting a 9-5 day job, working behind a desk, or for a large corporation. Instead, I was searching for a ‘Lifestyle’ business career that fit my mentality and personality, with hopes of finding a career that would allow me live a balanced life. Like most individuals with the entrepreneurial spirit, I wanted flexibility and freedom in my decision-making, I wanted to be my own boss, I wanted to create something for myself from scratch. This period of my life is also when I discovered a local coffee shop and freshly roasted coffee.

I have been working directly on the Proper Grounds business concept for a little over a ‘‘long’’ year now. And after thinking about the path that has led me to this point, I came to the realization that there are many indirect, but progressive contributions to the development of the Proper Grounds business concept that have taken place over the past few years. This progression of events began the day I was introduced to the world of great coffee and they have continued to lead me to where I am today.

To sum it up in a timely fashion in order of occurrence:

• Discovered Z’s Espresso and coffee shop, a local coffee roaster in Lawrence, Kansas, where I began buying coffee and espresso drinks
• Purchased a blade grinder and started buying whole bean coffee to brew at home with my automatic drip coffee maker Upgraded to burr grinder for better extraction and flavor
• Started brewing with methods other than automatic drip for more control and experience (i.e. French Press, stovetop espresso maker, single cup pour over)
• Moved to Oregon
• Became interested in home-roasting my own coffee
• Purchased a hot-air popcorn popper (1st roaster) and a couple pounds of raw coffee from a local coffee-tea shop
• Desired more control over the roast so I upgraded my roaster to ½ lb. max capacity Hot-Top home roaster (2nd roaster)
• Explored and roasted lots of different varieties of coffee from a home roasting supplier called “Sweet Marias”
• Began providing friends and family with samples of roasted coffee from my ½ lb. home roaster
• Pondered the idea that coffee roasting could be a great lifestyle business
• Began putting together a business plan for a coffee roastery
• The idea of Proper Grounds began to develop more seriously with more focus
• Researched and read about all things coffee related (never ending process)
• Purchased a Diedrich Roaster and attended a week long roasting seminar from Stephan Diedrich, the engineer and brain behind Diedrich Roasters
• Learned about the importance of profiling and cupping coffees from Atlas Coffee Importers Lab Manager, Drew Billups
• Purchased 1100 lbs. of raw coffee from 7 different origins
• Started working with web designer, Nate Percell, to build a website where the coffee of Proper Grounds would be featured
• Loads of work with each coffee, profiling and cupping
• Launching Proper Grounds Coffee Roasters website

That pretty much sums it up and brings us to where we are now, with so much more in between each of those events that I could never write it all down. It has been challenging, but fun, stressful, but rewarding. It takes an enormous amount of mental energy to think about the details that will ultimately contribute to the success of a small business. Roasting is my passion and I know that if I operate ‘Proper’ly, Proper Grounds will succeed. I am so excited and feel very fortunate to be doing what I do, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Proper Grounds Coffee Roaster.

What a journey this has been, and it is only the beginning. Stay Tuned…

My very first roaster. Not a roaster at all, but a hot air popcorn popper

Moving through my first roast.

My first completed roast EVER!

My 2nd roaster. A ½ lb. max capacity Hot-Top home-roaster.

My current roaster. A beautifully constructed Diedrich 2.5tt

This roaster was completely fabricated and manufactured in Sandpoint, Idaho. It has a maximum batch capacity of 5lbs.