Matt King serves a customer at his Riverwalk Farmer’s Market booth where he sells his fresh ground coffee
Matt King finds joy in bringing locally roasted coffee to the Milford area. Currently a high school math teacher at Sussex Tech, King learned the art of coffee roasting from a co-worker while employed at Dogfish Head in Milton. During the pandemic, the hobby grew, and, at the end of 2022, King’s Coffee Company was formed.
“We often discussed coffee,” King said. “He would mention how he roasted his own, where he purchased his unroasted beans from, and gave me some tips. Eventually, I picked up the hobby. I was really able to enjoy the creative freedom and challenges the art and science that coffee roasting provides. I was able to create fantastic tasting coffee with beans from around the world, and that fascinated me. Over the pandemic, I began roasting more often and considered the idea of starting a business with the encouragement of my wife and close friends.”
King grew up in New Jersey, making his way to Delaware while attending the University of Delaware. He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2005 and settled in Sussex County in 2008. He currently resides in Milford with his wife and three children.
Matt King finds joy bringing good coffee to the Milford area
“It has been a challenge to keep up with demand, which is a fine problem to have,” King said. “I roast small batches in a 1-kilogram coffee roaster, but, ideally, I’d like a roaster 6 to 10 times that size. I am still teaching full-time, so my time and availability to put toward the coffee company is limited. This is my first year of operation and I sell online orders for shipping and delivery. Orders can also be picked up at the Riverwalk Farmer’s Market in Milford. He also has a working relationship with Weeping Willows Farm off of Bowman Road where they sell his coffee at their roadside stand.
What began as a hobby that turned into a business, King states that King’s Coffee Company is off to a great start and he is looking forward to what comes next. He currently offers bags of specialty coffees, whole bean and ground (upon request). The company has five different rotating varieties including light roast, medium roast, dark roast, espresso roast and decaf.
“My current favorite is the medium roast I am offering from Guatemala Miichicoy Finca Rosma coffee farm,” King said. “The biggest reward I get from running this company is the joy that comes from serving the best coffee possible to my local community. I am thankful to be able to get to know the people here through coffee. Two things I love – coffee and community!”
Customers can order online and pick up their coffee at the Riverwalk Farmer’s Market
In the future, King hopes to open a brick and mortar coffee roastery and tasting room. He is currently working through the evolutions of King’s Coffee Company in order to expand his customer base.
“I am looking to make future partnerships to sell my coffee at their locations,” King said. “I would love to have local restaurants, churches, bakers and/or shops serving and selling my coffee.”
Anyone interested in purchasing products from King’s Coffee Company can do so at their website, https://kings-coffee-co.square.site/. They can also visit Weeping Willows Farm, located at 2955 Bowman Road in Milford or visit their booth at the Riverwalk Farmer’s Market.
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