Specialty Java

Overview

Specialty Java Inc. is a coffee roasting company that produces fresh-roasted specialty and artisan coffees for direct-to-consumer and wholesale clients including coffee shops and retailers across the US. It operates its own Jo Coffee brand, focused on Fair Trade Organic coffees, which has accumulated over 22,000 positive reviews online. The company emphasizes roasting orders fresh and shipping within hours to maintain flavor.

History

Founded in 2002 by Kevin Kapaun, inspired by Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee from a scuba trip in his early 20s and initial hobby roasting in the late 1990s. Early encouragement came from customer Larry Graham, a Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame bass player. Launched the Jo Coffee organic brand in 2013 to meet online demand for gourmet coffee; growth occurred through word-of-mouth without a sales team.

Product Lines

Manufacturing

All coffee is roasted in-house at their facility in Waconia, Minnesota. Orders are roasted fresh upon receipt and shipped within hours. Offers custom roasting and private labeling options.

Notable Products

• Jo Coffee Organic - Fair Trade Organic coffee brand launched in 2013 with over 22,000 positive reviews.
• Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee - Pure single-origin coffee that inspired the founder's roasting hobby.
• Artisan Craft Blends - Fresh-roasted specialty coffees for wholesale and direct sales.
• Espresso Roasts - Custom roasts tailored for espresso applications.

Reputation

Perceived positively for freshness due to roast-to-order model and quick shipping, with strong wholesale references noting reliability and professionalism. Jo Coffee brand holds high ratings among organic coffee buyers online. Growth via word-of-mouth indicates solid reputation in specialty coffee circles, though limited scale compared to larger roasters.