Bar Harbor, Maine · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

Benbows

IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Limited public info

TagsBenbows Maine coffee roasters Independent Roasts in-house

Founded in 1985 in Bar Harbor, Benbows Coffee is documented as the first and oldest commercial coffee roaster in the state of Maine. The company currently roasts, produces, and packages its coffee at a facility in Topsham, Maine. They utilize state-of-the-art Loring Smart Roasters to implement a proprietary Flavor-Lock Roast Process that emphasizes environmental sustainability. The brand is recognized for its commitment to direct trade relationships with farmers and for pioneering the specialty coffee movement in New England.

Ownership

Benbows is an independent, family-owned business.

Founded

1985

Roasting

Reported to roast in-house.

What it's known for

Recognized as the first and oldest commercial coffee roaster in the state of Maine, the brand is known for its long-standing history in Bar Harbor and its commitment to direct trade and sustainable roasting practices.

Farm-level sourcing

The brand emphasizes direct trade and states that they personally visit most of the farms they work with on a yearly basis. However, they do not publicly list specific farm or producer names for their current offerings on their website.

Notable coffees

— Nutty Fisherman
— Maritime Blend
— Espresso - Master Blend
— Black Magic
— Ethiopia Sidamo

Sources used in this deep dive

Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-10-21. This company overview is not a tasting review. Original tasting reviews are labeled separately when they exist. Ownership, roasting and sourcing details are attributed to documented sources. While the brand mentions sourcing from around the globe and visiting farms, they do not provide a list of specific sourcing countries or named farms on their public website.

Benbows

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