Piscataqua Coffee Roasting Co.

Piscataqua Coffee Roasting Co. was established in 1989 in a barn in Eliot, Maine, by founder Michael Kirk. Driven by a personal dissatisfaction with the quality and freshness of coffee available in the late 1980s, Kirk sought to provide a superior alternative, effectively positioning the company as an early participant in the American micro-roasting movement. His commitment to the craft was rooted in the belief that high-quality coffee should be accessible, particularly following fine meals where he felt the beverage was often neglected.

In 1996, as Kirk’s health began to decline, he partnered with his brother, Bill Coneys, to ensure the continuity of the business. Following Kirk’s passing in 1997, Bill Coneys and his wife, Melissa, assumed full ownership and management of the company. This transition marked a period of operational growth, during which the roastery was relocated from its original Maine location to a larger facility in Dover, New Hampshire, to better serve their expanding customer base.

Following the move to Dover, the owners made the strategic decision to rebrand the business as New Hampshire Coffee Roasting Co. This change was intended to align the company’s identity more closely with its new geographic home and to facilitate broader brand recognition as the business scaled. Under the leadership of Bill and Melissa Coneys, the company continued to operate as a family-owned entity, maintaining its focus on providing freshly roasted coffee to the local community.

For over two decades, the company operated under the Coneys' stewardship, becoming a fixture in the regional coffee landscape. The business model emphasized the importance of local roasting, a practice that was gaining traction as consumers began to prioritize freshness and quality over mass-produced, pre-packaged alternatives. By maintaining a micro-roastery, the company was able to exert greater control over the roasting process, which is essential for developing the specific flavor profiles associated with specialty coffee.

Following the unexpected passing of Bill Coneys in 2019, Melissa Coneys continued to manage the operations for a short period before deciding to sell the company. In January 2020, the business was acquired by a new ownership team, which included an employee who had been with the company for five years. This acquisition allowed the organization to maintain its status as a family-owned operation, preserving the legacy established by the original founders.

Today, the history of Piscataqua Coffee Roasting Co. serves as a case study in the evolution of the American coffee industry. It represents the transition from the early, independent micro-roasters of the late 20th century to the more established, community-focused brands that define the current specialty coffee market. While the name has changed, the foundational principles of local roasting and quality-focused production remain central to the company's ongoing operations in New Hampshire.