Velvet Ditch, a specialty coffee roaster, is opening its first brick-and-mortar location in Oxford, Mississippi.
The shop, owned by Lesley Walkington, will be located at 1316 N. Lamar Blvd. in a former 1940s home, with renovations and construction underway.
“When we began renovations, there was serious water damage, a low hip roof out front, and ceilings that cramped the space. We’ve since removed the 7-foot porch roof and carport, extended the original gable, and opened up the interior to soaring 10–12 foot ceilings. It’s been a muddy, cold, and rainy road at times—but the progress is real, and the vision is coming to life,” the shop shared via Instagram.
Founded in 2021, Velvet Ditch focuses on sourcing high-quality, single-origin beans scoring above 80 on the Specialty Coffee Association’s 100-point scale. The scale evaluates beans based on aroma, flavor, acidity, balance and lack of defects.
Roasting the green coffee beans involves applying high heat to trigger chemical reactions developing flavor, aroma and color, followed by rapid cooling to stop the process.
Walkington’s go-to is the Guatemala Café, which features notes of dark chocolate, cane sugar and citrus. Her favorite, however, is the Kenya roast, known for its mix of dark chocolate, cola and blackberry.
“Like so many others who have found inspiration in Oxford, Mississippi, I draw inspiration from its charm, people and culture, handcrafting small batches of coffee with full-flavor expressions in every roast,” Walkington said on the website.
The coffee lineup includes a Kentucky bourbon barrel-aged blend with notes of caramel and cinnamon; a Guatemala coffee featuring flavors of brownie, cane sugar and citrus; an organic Ethiopian variety with cocoa and blackberry notes; a bold Kenya AA microlot; and a single-origin decaf from Mexico with hints of chocolate and plum. All can be purchased online.
While an exact opening date has not been announced, an Instagram post notes the shop is “coming soon to Oxford.” The shop will be open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Velvet Ditch is currently hiring for front-of-house staff, baristas and cooks. Interested applicants can send their resume and relevant coffee or retail experience to [email protected].
