Warmuth Discusses Transforming Swing's Coffee

M.E. Swing Co. owner Mark Warmuth was the subject of a profile in The Washington Post Wednesday chronicling his efforts transforming Swing’s Coffee from old-school flavored coffee company to gourmet caffeine purveyor.

Warmuth purchased the company in 2006 and set about revitalizing and modernizing the D.C. region’s oldest coffee company (it was founded in 1916) by changing its focus and overhauling its staff. Bean grading and buying became two of Warmuth’s obsessions, according to the Post profile.

“When [Warmuth] has a vision to do something, he does it thoroughly,” Swing’s Director of Coffee Operations Neil Balkcom told the Post. “He doesn’t buy the cheap, used sample roaster. He spends the money, does the research and buys the best one out there. The same with the espresso equipment. I think [his approach] probably permeates as a culture throughout the company as far as who he hires, where we’re located and how we treat customers.”

Swing’s opened its new roastery at 501 E. Monroe Ave. in Del Ray in January, moving from an older facility in the West End. An on-site café followed in May. Swing’s also has a café on G Street in the District near the White House.

• Read “Swing’s Coffee: From old school to new-wave” on The Washington Post website.