The john conti Coffee Company is a roaster and supplier of high-grown
Arabican coffees.
The company was founded in 1962 and is based in
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...
, where its roasting facility also resides.
Since 1990, it has used the trademark "The Best Coffee in Town". Beyond coffee, the company also makes Contea brand
iced tea
Iced tea (or ice tea) is a form of cold tea. Though it is usually served in a glass with ice, it can refer to any tea that has been chilled or cooled. It may be sweetened with sugar or syrup. Iced tea is also a popular packaged drink that can be ...
and Aqua Conti
bottled water
Bottled water is drinking water (e.g., well water, distilled water, mineral water, or spring water) packaged in plastic or glass water bottles. Bottled water may be carbonated or not. Sizes range from small single serving bottles to large car ...
.
History
John Conti started the company in 1962 in
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...
as the john conti Vending Co.
The company began installing coffee units at offices in 1971 and opened a coffee store in 1976.
With the coffee business expanding, the vending business was sold in 1982.
In 1977, the ''Louisville Today Magazine'' named it "The Best Coffee in Town". In 1990—after winning that distinction in all following contents—the company applied for and received that tagline as a trademark.
A coffee
museum
A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Many public museums make these ...
that offered free coffee was built next to the Louisville factory,
and operated until 2011.
The brand expanded its market, being sold at
Wal-mart
Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...
and offered in single-serve brewing pods.
It made a number of acquisitions to expand its presence.
John Conti retired in 2014, with Canteen of Kentuckiana subsequently running the business.
Products
john Conti makes small batches of
artisanal coffee.
It has been noted for using the best
Arabican coffee beans.
Beyond coffee, the company also makes Contea brand
iced tea
Iced tea (or ice tea) is a form of cold tea. Though it is usually served in a glass with ice, it can refer to any tea that has been chilled or cooled. It may be sweetened with sugar or syrup. Iced tea is also a popular packaged drink that can be ...
and Aqua Conti
bottled water
Bottled water is drinking water (e.g., well water, distilled water, mineral water, or spring water) packaged in plastic or glass water bottles. Bottled water may be carbonated or not. Sizes range from small single serving bottles to large car ...
.
References
{{Portal bar, Coffee, Companies, United States
Manufacturing companies based in Louisville, Kentucky
Coffee companies of the United States
1962 establishments in Kentucky
American companies established in 1962