'It has re-energized my soul': New Bedford firefighter brews up his own coffee business
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — Brian Gallant has been a firefighter in New Bedford for nearly two decades.
And you could say it's in his blood.
The 40-year-old followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who were also New Bedford firefighters.
Gallant told 12 News that being a firefighter isn't easy.
"Being a first responder takes its toll on you," Gallant said. "You see and experience a lot, and over time it builds up."
But Gallant recently discovered a way to bring his fellow firefighters closer together.
"I really like bringing people together over coffee, so that naturally started with me bringing my coworkers together over coffee," he said.
Gallant explained that it's not uncommon for firefighters to grab a coffee in between calls.
But those quick pick-me-ups came to a screeching halt during the pandemic, when the vast majority of their favorite coffee shops closed.
That didn't stop them from getting their fix, though.
"We ended up chipping in for a single-serve home espresso machine," Gallant said.
That's how Union Java was born.
Gallant told 12 News he decided to start brewing his own coffee after experimenting with the fire department's espresso machine.
His signature brew is called "The Nor'Eastah."
"The ingredients accidentally came together, to be honest," Gallant recalled. "We just said, 'Wow, this tastes like coffee ice cream.'"
Gallant said he didn't know what to name it at first.
"I wanted a name that sounds like New England," he said. "It's the perfect storm of New England flavor."
Gallant brews and bottles his coffee in a commissary kitchen at The Rescue Café. He eventually hopes to take it on the road in a coffee truck being worked on by students at the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School.
"They looked at my truck and said, 'We'd love to have this. It would be a great learning experience for the students,'" Gallant said.
Gallant hopes to have his coffee truck on the road by next summer.
"I realized that this business — connecting with people and bringing people together — it has re-energized my soul," he said. "We've become a very divided society, but one thing that brings us together is a good cup of coffee."
The Rescue Café is open Wednesday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Nor'Eastah original blend is available for purchase by the pint for $6 or half-gallon for $20. Gallant also offers a dairy-free alternative, which is made with oat milk.
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