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It’s not every day that you drink coffee roasted under the original disco ball that added sparkle to TV’s “Soul Train” in the ‘70s. But local fair-trade coffee-roaster Stringbean Coffee is now roasting beans under that very same, historic mirror ball. Surely, the resulting java is loaded with good karma – or, as owner Peter Cohen puts it, “funk mojo.”
Relish: How did you acquire an original disco-ball prop from the TV show, “Soul Train”?
Peter Cohen: Through the Internet I found a guy whose dad was a baritone sax player for the Johnny Carson band. In 1972, when “Soul Train” hit the [national] scene, it shared a set with “The Gong Show” and Johnny Carson. The shows used two 12-inch disco balls with a wood core, and one with a Styrofoam core. The wooden ones were used on the set from ’72 to ‘79. I started searching for disco balls and this popped up and this guy and I started talking and I said, “hey, I’m a coffee roaster and I want a disco ball.”
Why?
Why wouldn’t I want a disco ball? My coffee is called Stringbean as in guitar strings and coffee beans. Originally I was going to sell guitars, too, but the coffee thing became my focus. My cousin Andy Cohen with Bravo has a disco ball on set, but at the end of the day my disco ball is better than Andy’s. If you’re gonna have a disco ball I think getting a disco ball from the ‘70s-funky “Soul Train” is just cool.
Who performed under the ball?
There’s a lot on wikipedia you can learn about who performed under it. Some of my favorites are the Temptations, Michael Jackson, Wilson Pickett, Al Green… the list is endless. I think some of the disco/funk mojo comes off and helps me roast coffee. Usually on Mondays I roast to classic rock and on Fridays I roast to disco.
What disco songs do you like to listen to?
I have a disco Pandora station that I set up. I like the earlier, funkier, groovier stuff. Anything with a good upbeat I can get into. I like “Funky Town,” “Celebration,” “Get Down Tonight,” “The Hustle,” “I Love the Night Life,” and “Car Wash.”
Do you often look up at it?
Yes, I can’t even imagine the amount of people and energy and performances that were under it. It has lots of good karma and funky mojo.
Do you have a light shining on it for that sparkly effect?
An electrician I know wants to put a light on it so it would do that. I just got a second roaster and a buddy who does photography was thinking what we could do is stage a fun photo with the light reflected from the ball onto the new roaster. I’d probably have to get a big-lapel ‘70s shirt and some bellbottom pants and get groovy.
Have you ever stared down at the patterns on the floor from the reflected light coming off a spinning disco ball while roller skating, and gotten dizzy and fallen down like I have?
I have not. My disco ball is actually stationary. It doesn’t spin, there’s no motor.
Did you pay a lot for it?
No. I think it’s a great disco ball and I think I got a great deal on it. My wife thinks I bought an expensive disco ball. (Laughs)
Describe the magical moment when you opened the package and first saw the ball.
I was waiting for lights to come on and music to start! (laughs) It was pretty cool. I had waited for some time to find the right disco ball. I was in the right place at the right time. I’m not gonna lie, it was love at first sight.
Can people see the ball?
It’s a hot sweaty commercial coffee roasting place, it’s not really a public destination. I have the photo in the blog post. I do I have a miniature four-inch disco ball I hang from my tent at the farmers’ markets. I do have a new roast coming out that’s disco ball-inspired. It’s an espresso blend called “Disco Inferno” and the logo for the coffee will have the disco ball.
Well, I guess what coffee and disco have in common is they both get you going.
That’s a great line. In the song “Disco Inferno” they said, “Burn, Baby, Burn” so my new thing is gonna be “Roast, Baby, Roast!”
Get Stringbean Coffee by the cup at Freddie's Market, Pie Oh My!, Windowsills Café and the Clayton Farmer’s Market, and buy beans at the Clayton Farmers’ Market.
