Makin' Smiles Coffee
VerifiedProPalmyra, Virginia
Light Roast
About
A veteran-owned micro-roastery in central Virginia that roasts to order rather than in advance, in batches of two to fifteen pounds on a Loring S7 Nighthawk. Single origins and house blends, whole bean or ground to your brew method, with the roast date printed on the bag. Several coffees are organic and Fair Trade, and the roastery now sits alongside a small family farm.
Our Story
Makin' Smiles Coffee is run by Johnathan, an Army veteran, and his wife Alyssa, a military spouse, which makes it both veteran-owned and woman-owned. Johnathan did not much like coffee until he tasted properly fresh-roasted specialty coffee, and the whole business grew out of that. The family moved to Louisa, Virginia in 2021 when his service ended, and settled in Palmyra in 2025 to keep roasting and start a small farm. The name is the aim: to make people smile when they sip their coffee. Everything is roasted to order so the coffee reaches people as close to the roast date as possible, in small batches rather than the large commercial runs that sit waiting to be sold. Two of the blends carry the local water with them, built with Lake Anna Outfitters, and the Emerging Stars blend supports Emerging STARS, a non-profit working with people with developmental disabilities.
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Coffees
DarkBrazil
Brazil - Cerrado - Dark Roast
Cerrado, Minas Gerais
ChocolateNuttySmoldering
Smooth and bold, with chocolate and nut underneath. Grown in the Cerrado, Minas Gerais, at around 915 metres.
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LightColombia
Colombia - Tolima - Light Roast
Planadas, Tolima
Washed process
FruityBrightNaturally Sweet
Organic and fully washed, grown at 1,650 to 2,100 metres in Planadas. Colombia, Typica and Caturra varietals.
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MediumCosta Rica
Costa Rica - Medium Roast
Washed process
SpicesToasted Marshmallow
An easy everyday coffee with mild acidity, fully washed. Works as espresso too.
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CoffeeMexico
Decaf Mexican - Mountain Water Process
Mountain Water process
Decaffeinated by the Mountain Water Process, so no chemical solvents.
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Medium
Emerging Stars Blend - Medium Roast
AlmondCacao
A custom blend built to support Emerging STARS, a non-profit working with people with developmental disabilities.
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LightEthiopia
Ethiopia - Limu - Light Roast
Limu
FloralFruitNatural Sweetness
Bright, naturally sweet and less bitter than most, with floral and fruity character.
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Medium
Half Caff - Medium Roast
Half regular, half decaf, for when a full cup is too much.
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MediumHonduras
Honduras - COMSA Marcala - Medium Roast
Marcala
ChocolateNuttyBrown Sugar
Fair Trade Organic from Marcala at about 1,220 metres. Smooth, with a light sweetness.
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Med-Dark
Lake Anna Life Blend - Dark Roast
Cacao NibsOrangeMolasses
Balanced and on the gentle side of dark, built with Lake Anna Outfitters.
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Dark
Lake Anna Monster Blend - Dark Roast
CocoaNutty
A full dark roast, and the other half of the Lake Anna Outfitters pair.
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LightMexico
Mexico - Chiapas - Light Roast
Chiapas, Sierra Madre
BrightFruityClove
A limited single-origin lot, Organic and Fair Trade, grown at 900 to 1,000 metres in the Sierra Madre.
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MediumMexico
Mexico - Medium Roast
Organic Fair Trade Mexican, roasted medium.
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Location
2153 Dogwood Dr, Palmyra, VA 22963, USA
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