The first time Ari tasted gourmet coffee was at the age of 19 in his hometown of Flint, Michigan. A new coffee shop had opened up in the shadows of the dying auto factories, and Ari, on vacation from college stepped in for a simple cup-o-joe. What he got when he entered was nothing less than an introduction into a new world of flavor, passion, social awareness, and history – the world of coffee. He encountered a variety of single-origin brews from a wide range of lands, all offered in authentic French Press pots. Having no clue which to choose, he spent the rest of his vacation sampling them all and falling in love with single-origin coffee.

In the years following, Ari continued his academic pursuits, went on to Graduate school in Boston, and worked as an educator in Chicago and Atlantic City. As he began to raise a family he became disenchanted with the hustle and bustle of urban life. He decided to seek out a location which would fulfill his love for nature and outdoor adventure. This quest led him to Brattleboro, and it led Ari to rediscover his passion for fine coffee at Mocha Joe’s.

These days you can find Ari traveling throughout the Northeast in search of excellent cafes, natural food shops, co-ops and country stores, where he brews up wicked cups, raps about his love for the sweet coffee cherry, and brokers deals to spread Mocha Joe’s artisan-roasted coffee to the masses.