Rodaks Coffee and Grills, Hidden in plain sight
Whether you are powering a V8 American muscle car or yourself, Rodaks might be worth a Gander or, better yet, a visit. This Fort Worth business is located on Pafford St. behind the Elementary school and the tint shop. This powerhouse of a roastery was recommended by none other than Chris Coulter. Looking at the bags and choosing a coffee here is like being on the docks as the stuff is imported and picking the cream of the crop. The time between ordering and roasting was less than 30 mins when I visited; honestly, I got lucky. Let me tell you I am excited to share this place with you all. Let us start with the origin story behind Rodak’s. 
The way Marvin ( The owner and operator) tells it, he was a car mechanic who took over his father’s shop. He wanted better coffee for the shop, so he started roasting his own, and once the customers took a sip, they pressured him to sell part of his secret stash, so to speak. Reluctantly, he began to sell coffee on the side, and boy, are we glad he did. Fast forward, the techs and Marvin had a falling out, and the coffee and BBQ grills took over as the main gig as a result. Nowadays, Marvin is a one-man show; he has four small propane-powered air roasters and one bigger roaster for large orders. For BBQ needs, he has a couple of grills for sale and some accessories to make it a one-stop shop for outdoor cooking needs. What is so fun about Rodaks for me is that it is a hole in a hole-in-a-wall joint that legends are made of. Marvin is a working man who is also a gentleman. Not to mention his selection of coffee, from interesting single origins to sought-after coffees like Jamaican blue, to his blends covering all the bases. With that being said, Marvin’s prices are higher than most folks are used to paying. I paid 22 dollars a pound for Costa Rican Black Honey coffee.
In a Cemex, the presentation of the black honey was par for the course. Nothing was extraordinary; the smell had hints of dark chocolate and smoke. The tongue weight was noticeably heavier than other coffees but was not unpleasant. It had tasting notes of crispness like spring dew and apple and was a little bright. It finished with an enjoyable funk that is exciting to explore.
In the French Press, it was surprisingly not that oily of a coffee; the honey and dark chocolate smell sped past you like they were jumping to light speed. It was lighter on the tongue in this brew method than the pour-over, which is surprising considering this had more debris. It still had the clean and crisp dew notes and fruit notes, pushed further to the edge; the dark chocolate, smoke, and honey notes were the center of attention here. It finished with an oak note. My preference is still for the Pour-over, at least for this coffee.
Rodak’s coffees show what coffee can indeed be, and before you order, I highly recommend asking him what to call. He has coffee there that, in the raw, had so many different flavors on the nose it was jaw-dropping. It is a perfect example of how coffee can be as enjoyable as cigars and spirits. Those living in Fort Worth should support a small business owner passionate about coffee. Coming back to the Costa Rican coffee, I paired it with an LFD double Ligero, which was a bit of an off-balanced pairing; I think next time I would smoke the Man o War virtue, My Fathers the Judge, or Arturo Fuente Chateau. Overall, I would rate Rodak’s coffee a 9/10 and the company a 9/10. I hope for a long and prosperous future for Rodaks. Until next time, explore the pairings.
Comments are closed.