TURNERS FALLS — During the pandemic, Ericka Almeida felt claustrophobic.

She and her husband were working from home in 2020 and it was difficult to see their friends. But when Almeida had the opportunity to socialize, it was always over coffee.

“Some of those coffee places were still allowing you to pick up but you couldn’t go in,” Almeida recounted. “But at least it got us out of the house.”

Because of this experience, opening Stout Pigeon Coffee, a micro-roastery on Maple Street, was natural for Almeida. She said she’s always enjoyed the social aspect of coffee, along with the “super nerdy science behind it.”

Using a 3-kilogram vintage drum roaster from Denver, Colorado, Almeida crafts around 200 pounds of coffee per week, which is sold on her website year-round. In the summer, Stout Pigeon Coffee brings a small cart to farmers markets and school events to sell hot coffee and cold brews.

But people don’t need to live locally to buy from Stout Pigeon Coffee. In fact, Almeida said she has family and customers throughout the United States and Canada that have coffee shipped to them.

“[The coffee] has expanded on its own,” said Almeida. “I think having [family connections] has helped but also producing a really delicious coffee is also helpful. ... Otherwise, they wouldn’t reorder.”

Stout Pigeon Coffee imports its coffee from South America, known for its “chocolatey flavors.” Prices for ground coffee range from $14 to $16 depending on how much the green coffee bean costs. The most expensive blend Almeida makes at this time, called “Winter Morning,” uses vanilla beans in the blend that are “very expensive,” she explained. Some of the micro-roastery’s Colombian and Peruvian blends are the least expensive. Customers can also purchase sampler packs.

In March, Almeida said she plans to expand into a coffee trailer to travel farther out to locations like Amherst. But before she can embark, the trailer requires some maintenance, including plumbing and interior decoration.

“Expanding into a coffee trailer will make being out in inclement weather much nicer,” Almeida said. “Fingers crossed, we’ll be in Amherst for the summer.”

Almeida said she has changed careers every 10 years or so. She studied journalism at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and then became the university’s assistant director of recruitment. Almeida then took up artistic endeavors by running Maple Street Glass Works, which she focused on for 12 years.

In 2012, Almeida decided “to change from the glass” and began working for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County until 2022, at which point she became more invested in coffee roasting.

She’d learned the craft of making coffee through YouTube videos, books and by visiting other local coffee roasters. This knowledge helped Almeida figure out her own “roast profile” and soon enough, she created the name Stout Pigeon, which was inspired by a recurring dream.

“My dad passed away and I kept having dreams that I could send him messages to the cemetery via carrier pigeon,” Almeida explained. “When we decided to do [the micro-roastery], I wanted to come up with a good name that resonates with your heart.”

With no concerns about competing against other local companies like Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee Co. or Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters, Almeida said she is happy with keeping her business “tiny” because she enjoys bringing people together.

“Whatever their religion is, whatever they believe in, whatever their stance on something is, we can all agree on a really good cup of coffee,” she said. “My goal is just to continue to bring people together.”

People who are interested in buying coffee from Stout Pigeon can visit the company’s website at stoutpigeoncoffee.com. Products can be shipped to the customer’s address or picked up from the micro-roastery’s mailbox at 16 Maple St. in Turners Falls. People can also track the whereabouts of Stout Pigeon’s upcoming trailer or coffee cart on the business’ website, Facebook page and Instagram @stoutpigeoncoffee.