Over thirty-seven years ago in sunny Southern California, a broken-down car sparked a lifelong adventure. Carol needed a mechanic and Eric happened to be in the right spot at the right time. Thankfully those small, blinking lights decorating Carol’s dash led to something much bigger – eight children, decades of travel, a roasting company, and a love story that’s still unfolding.
Their journey has taken them across the Pacific Northwest, it has tucked them away into forests, tiny coastal towns, and moody mountain valleys, each stop another chapter in a life filled with continuous motion. Drawn to the sandy coast of California in hopes of being a Hollywood stuntman, Eric was led from the northern bounds of Connecticut. Originally aiming for the spotlight in dreams of being on film sets Eric was instead enticed by the ocean’s depths. After getting his diving certification for stunting, Eric couldn’t shake the salty water from his veins, and found himself drawn to working as a commercial diver and captain in the cold waters off the coasts of California and later Washington. Tasked with anything from under water welding, scrubbing the bottoms of the ships, guiding the boats into port, and even diving to the depths to find lost engagement rings, the thrill of the water always pulled him under.
Carol—forever his partner in life and adventure—made a home in every place they were called to, raising a beautiful family and turning the everyday into art as their journey took them from California up the coast to Washington. Together, they turned constant movement, growth, and new challenges into a way of life – rooted not in place, but in each other.
Now, they’ve landed in the quiet hills of the Ozarks. Settling down in this beautiful town we call Springdale. Where their adventure continues to brew! Talking Crow Coffee Roasters, their small batch roasting company, focuses on the ceremony in every cup. Giving new flavor and the same cherished ritual to every decaf blend or single origin they produce. For them, coffee is more than a drink; it’s a way of coming home, no matter where they are.
When Eric and Carol, started their coffee roasting company, they drew inspiration from Eric’s childhood companion – Tony, his talking pet crow.
As Eric was a boy Tony and him were inseparable. Tony would often break out of his enclosure to chase Eric’s bus on its way to school, often making Eric have to explain to the bus driver that, they had to stop the bus now, because his crow was following them. It always took some convincing, but as all the children chimed in the bus driver ultimately relented. Opening the bus doors with a sort of awe as they were greeted by nothing less than a chattering black bird. Soon Tony’s fame surpassed the average pet and he made it in to the local news where he was commemorated for his shining personality and charismatic spirit.
The name “Talking Crow Coffee Roasters” was chosen as a tribute to Tony’s unique attributes and the joy he brought to Eric’s life. Just like Tony, the company aims to make a statement and they do just that, with their bold flavors, unique mission, and their story that is full of heart. The legacy of Tony the talking crow lives on in every bag of coffee, each cup brewed with love and care.
Carol and Eric’s story isn’t just about the adventurous life they’ve led, but the memories they’ve created along the way. Each new step leading them where they are today. And every morning, over a steaming mug, they’re reminded: adventure brought them together, but it’s love and good coffee that’s kept them going.
They drew inspiration from Eric’s childhood companion – Tony, his talking pet crow.