Well, since it is Jim’s Organic Coffee, you must start with the man himself: Jim Cannell, also known as Jimbo or Jimmy. A New Jersey native, Jim’s journey began far from the world of coffee roasting. His first taste of the coffee trade happened in an unexpected place—Wall Street, 1985.

Jim initially set his sights on becoming a stock or bond broker in New York. This led him to a position on a coffee trading desk, where he brokered green coffee to huge roasters within the commodity trading world. 

 By 1988, Jim’s expertise had caught the attention of several trading houses; one of which hired him away. It was during this time that Jim’s bosses sent him to run a fledgling ‘specialty’ coffee importer: “There’s something going on in Seattle. Go figure it out.” It was the beginning of the specialty coffee revolution, and Jim’s visits to small specialty roasters around the country changed everything once he was introduced to this world of quality coffee.

Inspired by this and also seeing the world’s first organic coffees, Jim relocated to Massachusetts to ‘live in the country’. It was there that he bought and shipped a 1963 Probat G22 roaster straight to his rented warehouse—a bold move that marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.

In 1992, Jim went all in and launched the nation’s first all-organic coffee roasting company, determined to bring the highest quality organic beans to market.

With his wife, Joanella (also referred to as Jo-Jo), handling customer calls and operations, the business flourished.

Jim not only sourced and roasted exceptional coffee but also laid the groundwork for a company rooted in environmental sustainability. Jim, an avid camper and lover of the outdoors, was deeply influenced by the growing environmental consciousness of the 1990s. He was determined to align his passion for coffee with his commitment to preserving the planet.

Jim's kids pose with his likeness, circa 2003

A New Chapter: Jim’s Organic Coffee

Jim’s first company attracted the attention of a larger roaster. Both companies were merged and off to the races. However, as often happens in cases like this, Jim did not enjoy working for ‘the man’ and left to launch Jim’s Organic Coffee, continuing his mission of offering top-tier, all-organic coffee. Today, the company is a thriving family business, including Jim’s daughter, ensuring every cup reflects their passion and values.

Next time you enjoy a cup, remember the journey behind it. Here's to many more years of exceptional coffee!