Austin Orth began his coffee experience in 1992 while studying at the University of Utah. Dorm buddy Mike Tea scored him his first barista job at The Coffee Bar in Trolley Square. No one used the word “barista” back then & latte art was completely off the radar, but he knew there was something very special going on. During his years of undergrad study at the “U”, Austin also worked at Grounds for Coffee & Café Espresso. After meeting & falling in love with Laura Denis, the two moved back to the East Coast to be closer to family. They opened Frontside Grind Coffee & Espresso in 1998, as a fusion of two of their great passions, a love of coffee & board sports. In 2009, Austin began roasting his own coffees & studied at the Coffee Lab International in Waterbury, VT.
Laura Denis is a native of Surry, NH. Laura was introduced to the wide world of espresso during an accidental move to Seattle in the early nineties. Grunge was in, flannel was everywhere & so was espresso. Laura soon became addicted to the 2pm vanilla latte run & it was all over from there. She began spending her summers on Martha’s Vineyard & got a job at a new place in Oak Bluffs call Mocha Motts. Back then, East Coast espresso was barely emerging. Laura & Colter, fresh from Seattle, began turning the locals on to great coffee & espresso. On another accidental move to Salt Lake City, she met Austin, and well, you know the rest.
Enjoy the coffee!
Laura, Lily & Austin
