Keeping NH Coffee Roasting Competitive

Above: Lucy and Nick Barretto, owners of NH Coffee Roasting Co. Below: “Bill’s Blend” coffee. Courtesy photos.

The new owners of NH Coffee Roasting Co. in Dover say they hope to continue the successful recipe of high-quality coffee and personal service. The craft-coffee roasting operation was owned and operated by the Coneys family for more than 30 years.

With the untimely passing of founder Bill Coneys last April, his wife, Melissa, decided to pass the torch to employee and coffee-lover Nick Barretto. To honor Bill Coneys, NH Coffee Roasting Co. released a special coffee blend called “Bill’s Blend,” and is donating $1 for every pound sold to Dover Police Charities.

Meanwhile, Nick and his wife Lucy say they plan to continue the personal approach that sets them apart from larger wholesalers.  “I started as a delivery driver, so I’m on a first-name basis with most of the customers,” Barretto says. “We have a personal relationship that you don’t often get with some of the bigger guys.”

Lucy says they also have more “boots-on-the-ground” to supply and service restaurants and make sure their coffee is brewed to its best quality. “We offer a very high-quality coffee, and we are competitive by being able to deliver consistency and service day-in and day-out... With a staff of five, everyone is extremely efficient.”

Mike Chasse, a founding member of the Roasters Guild with more than 25 years’ experience, roasts the coffee. When he roasts a new varietal, employees try it and learn about the flavor profile so they can share that with customers. “We realize there’s a wide range of coffee drinkers out there. We’re not trying to be trendy, we’re just trying to put out a really good product,” says Nick Barretto. “As far as staying power goes, that is the one thing we can rest on—what we were founded on—a really good cup of coffee.”

Lucy says they have updated the website, which is boosting online sales. Customers can talk coffee at the onsite factory outlet store and try such popular flavors as blueberry cobbler, eggnog, and pumpkin spice, as well as more exotic choices such as Costa Rican Tarrazu and French Roast Sumatra. They also offer fair trade organic roasts.

“If you are going to drink every day and start your day with it, it should be something unique that you really enjoy,” says Lucy. For more information, visit nhcoffee.com.