Coffee Hippy Cohen Markets New Brew at Old Friends Vintage Guitars

Peter Cohen is a self-pronounced coffee hippy who's planning to trade nearly 15 years of banking for his own line of bold drinks. Cohen was among the vendors at the on Saturday.

"At the start of the year, I will be doing coffee full-time," said Cohen, a Creve Coeur resident whose roastery is in Fenton.

On Saturday, a roasting machine churned beans as he spoke with market visitors and handed out cups of coffee. Cohen finds most St. Louis-area coffee to be bitter, but he wants his drinks to be bold without that element. He characterizes himself as a micro-artisan coffee roaster.

Cohen also plays bass in a band. His company name—Stringbeans—combines the idea of strings on a musical instrument and that of coffee beans.

Among his offerings: Pete's Redeye Roast.

He tries to be as environmentally friendly as possible in his business practices. On Saturday, he used a tablecloth of recycled burlap. The shelving on which he displayed his coffee is made of recycled wood palettes. He said he gives the chaff from the coffee to farmers, who use it to help plants and detract bugs.

Cohen began roasting in February and thinks letting people see the roasting process in person is important. Starting in January, he plans to ramp up his marketing efforts. In the meantime, he's set up a website and has a Facebook page.

His coffee is available at the following locations:

• in Ellisville
• Old Friends Vintage Guitars in Wentzville