three fins coffee roasters & mercantile

Catherine Bieri and Ron Reddick, two beach and water lovers, set out to hone in on their passion for manufacturing while offering something year-round they loved experiencing. From their pursuit, three fins coffee roasters (lowercase intended) in West Dennis was born. Named for the fins of a surfboard, the atmospheric coffee shop in West Dennis has found a niche in the community. One that offers roasted specialty coffee while advocating sustainable measures to better raise awareness of the environment and supporting the community around them.

After meeting in Chicago, they moved around, living in several locations for work. When they arrived on Cape Cod, they realized they were missing the feeling of the local coffee shop where people could just enjoy hanging out with each other and savoring wonderful fresh coffee. “We always wanted to bring in the experience people had at all the coffee houses we loved, the California aspect to it, and have it fit in with the Cape beach theme,” says the nostalgic left coast native, Catherine.

Ron is the on-site roaster of each specialty coffee. He pursues the best of the best. “The story behind the bean is what is important to three fins,” he explains. Ron works with an importer to ensure the coffee is high scoring from regions in South America, Indonesia, and Africa, using all the best practices.

Since opening their doors in 2017, the business has been a platform for change. Three fins coffee roasters has been working with CARE for Cape and the Islands and the “Skip the Straw” campaign to help protect the fragile Cape Cod environment. According to Ron, they are “committed to reducing our use of single use plastics and minimize our impact to the environment.”

Ron and Catherine also believe in their own community, and getting involved in it has been the biggest perk for the two very approachable owners. This served them well as March turned into a very different time for all of us. They stepped up to the roaster and were able to offer “Grounds for Good”, which enabled their patrons to support local non-profits and businesses that were and are still being affected by the coronavirus. With this program, 50% of the proceeds of designated bags of coffee purchased is donated back to local organizations of the customer’s choice. There have been 14 local businesses and organizations that benefited from this program. “During the quarantine we were able to stay open largely in part because we are a wholesaler,” Catherine states. “People always want coffee.” They managed to continue to bring people together through Grounds for Good just as much as they had when people were sitting, enjoying their beautiful coffee house. This program continues and alternates partnerships with a selection of local organizations over extended periods of time.

Surfing the waves that are rough and smooth, Catherine and Ron have found comfort in the consistency of their patrons, who now can come in and stay and drink their perfectly roasted coffee. They can also enjoy local offerings from Kayak Cookies in Hyannis and Sandcastle Baking Company in Sandwich while they sip. Perhaps the patrons are like the fins on the surfboard, helping with direction and stability. When you think about it, a surfboard is also like a good cup of coffee. You want to ride the perfect board on the perfect wave just like you want to enjoy that perfect cup of coffee. Ron and Catherine are staying true to their mission of making, as they both say, “Specialty coffee affordable because we believe everyone deserves a great cup of coffee.”

If you haven’t yet visited them at their primary location on Route 28 in West Dennis, they also sell their coffee at Whisk Breakfast & Lunch Café in Orleans, the Coffee Table Cafe in Popponesset and Forestdale, Provincetown Brewing Company in Provincetown, Ring Brothers Market in Dennis, Fancy’s in Osterville, and Day’s Market in Truro. If you’re looking to get rid of an old surfboard and you want to donate it to the walls of three fins, they will happily take it.

three fins coffee roasters & mercantile
581 Main Street (Route 28), West Dennis
(508) 619-3372
threefinscoffee.com