Why would someone with no culinary background decide to open a bagel company?
Austin Johnson used to work at a nonprofit that helped entrepreneurs start their own businesses. This work inspired him to start a business of his own. Serendipitously, Johnson had a friend who mentioned that there was need for a wholesale bagel company in the Springs. This motivated Johnson to do some more research.
“I decided to see if I could perfect a bagel recipe and soon, I became obsessed with the process,” Johnson says. “I wanted to develop a good open-aired crumb and a crispy exterior with bubbles in the crust.”
The Bagel
After six months of working to develop his recipe, Johnson discovered the two key techniques for the perfect bagel: hand-rolling the bagels and fermentation.
The recipe is simple but time consuming. Using just five ingredients, Johnson creates his dough. Then each bagel is rolled by hand to prevent the dough from compacting and becoming too dense. Once the bagels are rolled, they are fermented for two to three days. Finally, they are boiled, topped and baked to a golden-brown perfection.
The fermentation process helps break down the gluten and adds bubbles and air pockets throughout the dough. This creates the open-aired crumb that Johnson desires for his bagels. It also creates a light and crispy exterior, giving the bagels a delicious crunch with each bite.
“This added level of hand-rolling and fermentation adds so much to the exterior texture,” Johnson says. “These bagels are quite literally hand crafted, artisan bagels.”
The Spread
When one thinks about the perfect spread for a bagel, it is often the timeless favorite: cream cheese. The Springs Bagel Company goes the extra mile for this classic spread, as well.
“We make all of our cream cheese in house,” he says. “Our whipped cream cheese can be ordered plain or with added toppings such as olive oil and cream cheese, strawberry, and our rotating flavor of the week.”
Locations
The Springs Bagel Company does not have a storefront, as they are a wholesale bakery. Because of this, they offer year-round online orders with local pick-up and during the warmer months, they can be found at the following farmers markets:
- Old Colorado City Farmers Market
- Backyard Market in the Black Forest
- Festival Park Farmers Market in Castle Rock
- Parker Farmers Market
- Colorado Fresh Market in Cherry Creek
- City Park Market in Denver
Fun Facts
- The Springs Bagel Company is always open to collaborations and partnerships with fellow local businesses. Their bagels are currently available at various coffee shops, restaurants, and small local grocery stores around town. Check out their website for the full list.
- The bagels contain no preservatives and are baked fresh daily. They are best eaten within a 24- to 48-hour period. The bagels can be frozen and reheated when ready to enjoy.
“Our goal is to make the best bagels,” Johnson says. “Quality is our focus. We use the best ingredients and the process is paramount to making high-quality, delicious bagels.”
Website: https://www.thespringsbagel.com/
Instagram @TheSpringsBagelCo