Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters is a family-owned artisan coffee company nestled in the foothills of New England's Berkshires. Founded in 1990 by Kathy Lytle and Curtis Rich, the company began with a passion for bringing high-quality coffee to their community, inspired by the classic cafes of New York's Little Italy, Parisian street café culture, and the grand tradition of Italian espresso.
The company's journey started on July 4th, 1990, when they sold their first beverage, an "Iced Island Delight," on the ferry dock of Peaks Island, Maine. From there, they traveled the east coast in a van and trailer, bringing high-quality coffee to festivals and fairs where specialty coffee had never been seen before. After a year on the road, they established their first permanent retail location in the tiny village of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, in one of the world's smallest and most charming café spaces.
The business grew organically, adding a coffee roasting machine after about a year of operation, officially becoming Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters. Their commitment to village craftspeople traditions means they nurture their products from start to finish, hand-roasting coffee beans in small batches to ensure peak flavor. The company has expanded to six locations across Western Massachusetts, including Northampton, Easthampton, Greenfield, Hadley, and East Longmeadow.
Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters offers over 40 varieties of the world's highest quality coffees, including single-origin varietals, organic fair-trade certified options, and an extensive line of flavored coffees. They have earned recognition as "Best Coffee" in the Pioneer Valley for years running. The company also provides wholesale services to restaurants, grocery stores, schools, coffee shops, and general stores throughout the region.
Beyond coffee, the company has expanded to include fresh baked pastries made in-house, signature blender drinks featuring fresh-squeezed fruit juices, and savory breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Their philosophy harks back to an earlier America where fine things were produced by village craftspeople who took pride in their craft from start to finish.