A Hartford resident’s love of coffee sparked a roasting business. Now he’s looking to open a café.

For self-proclaimed coffee nerd Jack Sullivan, the savory beverage is not just a morning necessity but a lifestyle of both joy and opportunity.

Sullivan, a Hartford resident who taught both German and Latin at Achievement First Hartford High School in the city’s North End for the past six years, was first introduced to coffee while studying for a midterm exam in college.

“I was a late bloomer, I didn’t drink coffee until I was a little older,” Sullivan said. “It was a cup of Folgers actually my friend gave me.”

Since that first cup in 2014, Sullivan began a “love affair” with the beverage that has since sparked an idea to open a coffee roaster and café in the Parkville neighborhood.

“In 2019, before the pandemic, I had this romantic idea that I was going to take all of my savings and rather put it in a mutual fund, I was going to invest in Hartford and in the city where I worked and lived. I wanted to do that by buying property,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan, who bought a former law office at 16 New Park Ave., lives upstairs in the two-story property with his wife and runs a coffee roaster business downstairs. The property, around 1,400 square feet, includes a now-occupied 400-square-foot area where Sullivan roasts and bags coffee beans he sells online. But Sullivan dreams of much more than just online commerce.

“The plan is to open a café in the 1,000-square-foot front of the building,” Sullivan said. “Right now the hurdle I’m working on is trying to bring on some financial partners and that’s still in the works.”

Sullivan said that he’s talking to a few active investors as he works to get a permit for a café from the city. The process could take months before any actions are taken to bring a café to the building.

“The long-term goal is for the entire space to be a café and the roasting operation to be in a different place entirely,” Sullivan said. “The plan would be to have a bigger industrial facility to do our roasting. But that’s still a while away.”

The BOP Coffee Roaster

For now, Sullivan operates the micro coffee roaster Beans of Parkville or BOP Coffee Roaster from his home. Instead of roasting the beans in bulk, the slower process of roasting beans in small batches is thought to result in a product with more flavor and better taste.

“In 2018, I found some green raw coffee beans and started roasting at home, sharing with friends and family,” Sullivan said. The actual store didn’t open until earlier this year but business has been steady, according to Sullivan.

“I started the BOP for two reasons. First, I wanted to create a space in Hartford where folks can access delicious, unique coffees that are thoughtfully sourced, giving respect to the farmers and the earth. Second, I wanted to contribute to the Hartford community by paying taxes and creating new jobs,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan, who both runs and operates the business, imports coffee beans from across the world with offerings from Haiti, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Brazil among other countries. All of the bean offerings come from importers that practice sustainability and transparency across the coffee supply chain, according to Sullivan. Importers Sullivan uses include JNP Coffee, Sucafina, and BD Imports.

“For each of the coffees they offer, they provide a detailed report of all the conditions at origin and how they view their role in that supply chain. They consistently use their resources to support farmers strategically through education and infrastructure investment, and are diligent about reporting out progress or issues on the ground,” he said.

The BOP currently offers seven types of beans with more to be added, Sullivan said.

“Coffee consumption is a very ritualistic thing and everyone likes it differently. So it really depends on what people like and how they drink their coffee. If someone really likes fruity with a little sweetness, I would recommend Burundi’s roast. If you’re more into espresso and something a little thicker, I would recommend the Ugandan or Haitian which has more of a chocolatey sweetness.”

More than just coffee

For Sullivan, an educator by trade, the vision is more than just about sharing his love of coffee, it’s about giving back to the city’s youth.

“In my career as an educator, I have talked to many kids who weren’t sure what to do with their lives. I wanted to give more options for kids graduating high school, especially here in Hartford,” Sullivan said. “We have a lot of great programs in the city for kids who may need a lot of supports. But a lot of kids in the middle fall through the cracks.”

Sullivan envisions a café that focuses on job training, mentoring, and guidance for young people to learn some skills while earning money and gaining independence. The café will be focused on breakfast and lunch, but in the evenings transform into a pop-up culinary incubator, where young people can showcase their talent.

“I envision this for a lot of young people working in restaurants around the city who really want a chance to show off their skills and create their own offerings,” Sullivan said. “There would be some sort of application process and a few people would be chosen.”

Sullivan said that those who are selected would be able to earn money while also gaining recognition, with the hope that such a program can lead to other young people starting their own culinary businesses.

“I’m an educator, I still think of myself that way,” Sullivan said. “I’ve never opened a café before, but I’m constantly thinking about ways to help our youth.”

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com