US Brand Directory
Nashville, Tennessee · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive
Bongo Java Roasting Co
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Origin / region level
TagsBongo Java Roasting CoRwandaPeruColombiaEthiopiaGuatemalaHondurasIndonesiaIndependentOrigin / region levelRoasts in-house
Visit Bongo Java Roasting Co's site Bongo Java Roasting Co. is a pioneering Nashville coffee institution that has focused on 100% organic and fair-trade sourcing since its inception in 1993. The company operates a network of unique cafes and a wholesale program, maintaining a strong commitment to ethical trading models through its membership in Cooperative Coffees. They are dedicated to building community connections while providing high-quality, small-batch roasted coffee.
Ownership
Bongo Java is an independent, family-owned business founded by Bob Bernstein.
Founded
1993
Roasting
Roasts its own coffee.
What it's known for
As Nashville's oldest coffee house, the brand is widely recognized for being the city's first certified organic and fair-trade coffee roaster. It is also famously associated with the 1996 discovery of the 'Nun Bun,' a cinnamon roll that gained international attention for its resemblance to Mother Teresa.
Sourcing countries
Rwanda · Peru · Colombia · Ethiopia · Guatemala · Honduras · Indonesia
Farm-level sourcing
The brand sources its coffee primarily through Cooperative Coffees, a green coffee importing cooperative that focuses on small-scale farmer cooperatives. While they emphasize direct relationships and small-scale organic farms, their public product listings typically identify the coffee by country or region rather than specific farm or producer names.
Notable coffees
- — Natural Sidama
- — Cauca
- — Dark Peru
- — Marcala
- — Chajulense
- — Rwanda Coko
Sources used in this deep dive
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-09-29. It is not a review: we have not tasted this brand's coffee. Ownership, roasting and sourcing claims belong to the brand and its published materials. While the brand emphasizes direct relationships with small-scale farmers, I could not verify specific farm-level names for all current single-origin offerings beyond the regional identifiers provided on their website.