If you’ve ever tasted a cup of Java Joe’s coffee, you know how fresh, rich and delicious it is. By taking the highest quality Arabica beans from as many as 15 different countries and roasting them to perfection, Java Joe’s Roasting Company has created exciting lines of specialty coffees that coffee-lovers in Broome County, the U.S. and beyond, enjoy each day.
The widespread reach of their coffee speaks volumes about the determination, passion, and commitment of co-owners Kathy and David Pagnani and Eric Cole–all Broome County natives–to creating a fine, one-of-a-kind product right here in Broome.
It all started in 1999 when Kathy and her husband David bought the then-closed Java Joe’s on State Street, resurrecting the popular cafe. However, when the September 11th attacks hit in 2001, all shipping lanes for their specialty coffee were closed, forcing them to think outside the box for their next business move.
Kathy and David decided to take control of the last piece of the business they didn’t produce themselves and made arrangements to purchase their own roaster for use in their cafe.
In the meantime–over the course of many lunch-time discussions–David and Eric, then IBM co-workers, decided to take this purchase even further and completely enter into the coffee roasting business. In August 2002, Java Joe’s Roasting Company was born.
From the start it took many hours of hard work, perseverance and exploring unknown sales strategies for Java Joe’s to reach its current level of renown. One such strategy was entering the company into a nationwide fundraising program.
Java Joe’s Roasting Company was one of the first companies to ever use customized specialty coffee in fundraising. Since they started doing this–creating their Fundraising Junction brand–they’ve helped countless organizations all over the country raise much-needed funds for their worthy products.
The co-owners of Java Joe’s believe every rich, quality bag sold is a way to build community, as well as an unbeatable marketing tool. In their own words, “tasting is believing!”
Over their 15 years of business, Kathy, Eric and David have experimented with finding the balance between the newer, cutting-edge marketing technologies and the good, old-fashioned, relationship-building strategies for expanding their customer base. However, this has only strengthened their business and helped them produce a world-class, specialty product each day for this $100 billion industry.
Did you know that coffee is the second most-traded commodity in the world today and makes up roughly 1.6% of the United States’ Gross Domestic Product or GDP? The United States ranks 5th in per capita coffee consumption with over 50% of Americans over 18 drinking coffee daily. Java Joe’s Roasting Company coffee has reached 48 U.S. states (including Hawaii and Alaska), as well as 12 different countries. Their beans start this process right on Griswold Street in Binghamton.
The company’s air roasting process lends itself to eco- friendly practices that respect their home in “scenic” Broome County as Kathy is firm in her belief that the “rolling hills” are one of the best, most breathtaking parts of living in Broome.
For the Java Joe’s trio, the satisfaction of creating a great product and a business from scratch here have been the biggest rewards of owning Java Joe’s Roasting Company.
Like “Broome County’s rich tradition and history of re-inventing itself,” they’ve resurrected the Java Joe’s brand and, in Eric’s own words, have “been able to positively impact countless people, and our community, through their products”–whether through serving customers, helping them raise funds, or to simply enjoying a great cup coffee.
You can purchase Java Joe’s coffee at the roastery on Griswold Street, or enjoy a cup at Strange Brew Cafe, Aiello’s Restaurant, Lost Dog Cafe, the Broome County Regional Farmer’s Market, Cup-A-Jo-Cafe, and various other places all over Broome #MadeinBroome#Broomeisgood#agoodlife.
Java Joe’s Roasting Company is part of why #Broomeisgood and the #MadeinBroome program.