Local, Green, and Fair Snapshot: Meet Cape Cod Coffee

By Jelena Dragicevic, SBN Intern

Originally founded in 1970, Cape Cod Coffee was purchased by current owners Jan & Pam Aggerbeck in 2015. Since then, they have expanded the wholesale coffee roasting business across three locations in Mashpee: a new roasting facility off of Route 130, a full-service breakfast and lunch in the Mashpee Commons, and a seasonal cafe in the Popponesset Marketplace. 

Cape Cod Coffee sources its coffee beans from 14 countries,  with its most popular single-origin coffees coming from Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Colombia, Ethiopia, and India, to name a few. The local business is committed to sourcing from farms that use sustainable growing practices, and believe that supporting these practices will ensure the health of the environment and longevity of the coffee industry for generations to come. All their sources are Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance certified and organically grown without pesticides. To decaffeinate their coffees, Cape Cod Coffee employs the “Swiss Water Process” method that uses water instead of chemicals to remove the caffeine. 

Not only is Cape Cod Coffee convinced that its methods bring healthy coffee and food to its customers, it also recognizes that customers across numerous industries are increasingly interested in supporting businesses that prioritize sustainability. As marketing manager Jillian Manning explains, “Consumers today are also a lot more conscious about where their favorite products come from and tend to support more businesses that practice sustainability.” 

Cape Cod Coffee hopes to expand its business to more retailers, restaurants, resorts, and cafes. They stay deeply committed to delivering high quality coffee and food to their customers at their Massachusetts locations and online, with the latter having been especially useful in handling and surviving the pandemic. As was the case with many local businesses, Cape Cod Coffee experienced its own set of challenges during COVID-19. The business worked to adapt its retail locations to be in compliance with state regulations, and sought to prioritize the health and safety of their staff and customers.

For a particularly small region like Cape Cod, local businesses are the backbone of the economy. At present, Cape Cod Coffee encourages people to engage on their social media platforms, leave reviews about their experiences, and urge others to shop and dine locally rather than at larger, chain retailers and restaurants.

For more information, visit their website.