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Brooklyn, New York · Specialty Coffee Brand Deep Dive

Gillies Coffee Company

Editorial sacred-geometry artwork for Gillies Coffee Company; not a documentary photograph
IndependentRoasts its own coffeeSourcing: Origin / region level
TagsGillies Coffee CompanyNew York coffee roastersBrazilColombiaCosta RicaEthiopiaGuatemalaKenyaMexicoTanzaniaIndependentOrigin / region levelRoasts in-house
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Gillies Coffee Company is a historic Brooklyn-based coffee roaster and merchant that has been operating since 1840. The company specializes in wholesale coffee, custom roasting services, and private-label production for the hospitality and retail industries. They maintain a commitment to traditional, hand-tended roasting methods while serving as a long-standing institution in the American specialty coffee trade.

Ownership
Gillies Coffee Company is an independent, family-owned business. It was acquired by the Schoenholt family during World War II and has remained under their stewardship for generations.
Founded
1840
Roasting
Reported to roast in-house.
What it's known for
As the oldest coffee merchant in the United States, Gillies is known for its long-standing history, traditional roasting techniques, and its role as a wholesale provider of custom blends and private-label coffee services.
Sourcing countries
Brazil · Colombia · Costa Rica · Ethiopia · Guatemala · Kenya · Mexico · Tanzania
Farm-level sourcing
The company sources coffee from various countries and regions globally to create its signature blends and single-origin offerings. They do not typically publish specific farm or producer names for their coffees, focusing instead on regional profiles and consistent flavor characteristics. Their offerings include both single-origin beans and complex, multi-origin blends.
Notable coffees
  • — Wright Gillies Select Blend
  • — Mocha & Java Blend
  • — Brooklyn Java Blend
  • — Carioca Blend
  • — French Blend
In the news

Recent news and media coverage about Gillies Coffee Company, as documented by outside outlets. We link to the original reporting and do not rewrite or endorse it.

Sources used in this deep dive
Research disclosure — this profile was compiled from public online sources on 2026-11-03. 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 company lists specific countries of origin, I could not verify the names of individual farms or producers for their current coffee lineup.

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