We had the good fortune of connecting with John Cozzarelli and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Cozz Coffee is an online coffee roasting retail shop. Selling high quality, well roasted, ethically sourced beans is of great importance but I think what helps Cozz Coffee stand out as a business is the artwork on each bag. The inspiration for Cozz Coffee is very much so from a DIY perspective, the more variables you control, the more creative freedom you have. Each bag of Cozz Coffee features an illustrated label designed by local artists. Each bag unique, and creating a scenario where people not only want to buy coffee based on it’s flavor profile but for the artwork itself. Many people have sent in their collection of Cozz Coffee labels. These labels allow for coffee to act as an umbrella to cover multiple forms of art and it really sets Cozz Coffee aside.

What should our readers know about your business?
The hardest part about running Cozz Coffee currently is that it is only an online business. It is hard to sell people on the idea of buying coffee that they can’t taste at a coffee shop everyday. Cozz Coffee, like many businesses was started during the beginning of the pandemic when the already popular format of online shopping skyrocketed. As business begin opening and people start going back to work it’s important to stress the emphasis on fun ways to make coffee at home. A strong online presence consisting of knowledge, humor, and creativity has helped Cozz Coffee become a contender in the ever-growing world of coffee.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Despite popular belief New Jersey is a unique area with many different landscapes in a dense and small state. You can get to the beach, the city, or the woods, in a matter of 45-60 minutes. My favorite establishment in all of NJ is Rutt’s Hut, a world famous hot dog institution. They famously deep fry their hot dogs until the skin opens up dubbing the hot dog as a ripper. New Jersey is filled with these old school grease hole’s, places that generations of people have gone to where the history is rich and the prices have always been the same. Ideally when people come to visit I take them to Rutt’s hut, a mellow nature trail, Mills Reservation, a hiking trail in Montclair NJ with amazing views of the NYC skyline, and finally branch brook park in Newark, NJ. Branchbrook park is NJ’s central park, in fact it was designed by the same architects. It is also home to the largest collection of cherry blossom trees in all of the United States. Simply beautiful tucked into the urban landscape of NJ’s largest city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are three things that shaped Cozz Coffee, Both the New Jersey skateboarding scene, the New Jersey music scene, and finally my family. Being involved in both skateboarding and music I’ve always been attracted to people who take their own approach with it. Those who go against the grain or simply trying to doing things that are true to them rather than what is seen as popular. In the simplest terms both Skateboarding and Music act as a path to make your individuality shine. In terms of my family, I grew up in an Italian American household where things like making pizza and bread from scratch were about as common as curing your own meats or making homemade wine. My mother and her parents both emphasized growing and cooking your own food. My father who is a wine maker for hobby, grew performing magic. I’ve always been amazed when looking at his old magic tricks. The fact that as a kid he would study professional magicians tricks, figure out how they worked, and then rebuild has served as a fountain of inspiration from me. He has served as a fundamental part In the growth of Cozz Coffee. In all three of these examples skateboarders, musicians, and my family, they have all taken a problem or situation and maneuvered through it in their own perspective. I am forever grateful for being able the maneuver through the world in the same fashion.

Website: cozzcoffeeroasting.com

Instagram: cozzcoffee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cozzcoffee

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBFN65IzjjzHkz1tEvcCWPA

Image Credits
Jordan Galiano

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