Coffee Project NY

Coffee Project NY (also written Coffee Project New York) is a specialty coffee company based in New York City. It was founded in 2015 by co-founders Chi Sum Ngai and Kaleena Teoh, who left their previous jobs to start what the company describes as a passion project in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan. Over the following decade the business expanded from a single cafe into a multi-faceted coffee operation that today includes retail cafes, a roasting program, wholesale supply, and coffee education. The company positions itself around a holistic approach to specialty coffee, with a stated mission to improve the quality of life for everyone in the coffee supply chain, from producers to consumers. Its coffees are selected for both quality and social impact; many are sourced from cooperatives and family farms that work to improve conditions for farm workers, and the company says it uses its purchasing power to promote fair pricing for producers. Where direct trade is not possible, it works with importers it considers responsible. Coffee Project NY operates cafes in New York City and a training facility. Its Long Island City location houses what the company describes as New York's first Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Premier Training Campus, branded as the Academy at Coffee Project NY. The campus is equipped with professional brewing and espresso equipment and hosts classes for all skill levels, from beginners to working professionals, including accredited SCA and CQI courses as well as shorter workshops. The company also runs a coffee subscription service and sells brew gear sourced from competitions and design-award-winning products. In addition to its New York footprint, Coffee Project NY has appeared at pop-up events in other U.S. cities, including Berkeley, California and Houston, Texas, and has hosted community and fundraising events such as a Colombia earthquake relief fundraiser. The company remains privately held and is led by co-founder Chi Sum Ngai, who is referred to as CEO and also oversees roasting as Head Roaster.

Coffee Project New York was founded in 2015, when co-founders Chi Sum Ngai and Kaleena Teoh quit their jobs and started what the company calls a passion project in New York City's East Village neighborhood. The original cafe established the company's identity as a neighborhood specialty coffee shop, and over the following decade the business grew well beyond a single storefront. By the company's own account, ten years after founding it had opened several more shops and served thousands of coffees, expanding into retail, roasting, wholesale, and education while adopting what it describes as a holistic approach to specialty coffee. The roasting side of the business is overseen by Head Roaster Chi Sum Ngai, who is also identified as the company's CEO; the roasting team uses quality control and attentive sampling to develop roast profiles intended to showcase each coffee. A significant step in the company's development was the creation of a training facility. Coffee Project New York's Long Island City location includes what the company describes as New York's first Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Premier Training Campus, branded as the Academy at Coffee Project NY. The campus was created to serve both coffee professionals and enthusiasts, and its equipment includes a Ground Control Cyclops batch brewer, a Tone Touch 3 pour-over brewer, a variety of grinders and manual brewing devices, and four espresso machines: a Victoria Arduino Black Eagle Maverick, a Victoria Arduino Eagle 1, a La Marzocco Linea PB AV, and a Faema E71E. In-person classes are held at 21-10 51st Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101. The curriculum spans accredited SCA and CQI professional courses that end in written and/or practical exams, as well as shorter workshops for enthusiasts. Alongside its cafes and academy, Coffee Project NY operates a coffee subscription service and sells brew gear sourced from competitions, design awards, and industry partners. Its coffees are selected for quality and social impact, with many sourced from cooperatives and family farms focused on improving work and living conditions for farm workers; the company states that it uses its purchasing power to promote fair pricing for producers and works with responsible importers when direct trade is not possible. The company has also built a public-facing events and community program. Its blog and events calendar have featured pop-ups in other cities, including Berkeley, California and Houston, Texas, where CEO Sum brewed coffee for tastings, and community fundraisers such as a Colombia earthquake relief fundraiser in which 100% of proceeds were directed to farmers, producers, employees, and exporters the company works with. It has also hosted competition-related tastings and interviews with coffee professionals, including its own educator Peace Sakulclanuwat, a four-time US Brewers Cup competitor. As of the available evidence, Coffee Project NY remains a privately held, independent coffee company operating primarily in New York City.

• 2026

  Company hosts pop-up tastings in Berkeley, California and Houston, Texas, and a Colombia earthquake relief fundraiser.

• 2015

  Co-founders Chi Sum Ngai and Kaleena Teoh quit their jobs and started Coffee Project New York in New York City's East Village.

• Company grows to include retail, roasting, wholesale, and education, opening several more shops over its first decade.

• Long Island City location opens New York's first SCA Premier Training Campus, the Academy at Coffee Project NY.

• Coffee Project NY launches a customizable coffee subscription service.

Specialty coffee company taking a holistic approach across retail, roasting, wholesale, and education, with a mission centered on improving quality of life across the coffee supply chain.

• Roasted coffee beans

  Coffees selected for quality and social impact, many sourced from cooperatives and family farms.

• Coffee subscriptions

  Customizable plans tailored to a customer's routine.

• Brew gear

  Equipment sourced from competitions, design awards, and industry friends.

• Cafe beverages and pastries

  Cafe menu including a Deconstructed Latte coffee flight with oat milk option, and locally-sourced organic, vegan, and/or gluten-free baked goods.

• Coffee classes and workshops

  SCA and CQI accredited professional courses and enthusiast workshops at the SCA-certified training campus.

• Unconfirmed

  Reported2020.12.08

  AllHome opens fourth Bulacan store[5]AllHome 在布拉干省开设第四家门店manilatimes.net

  AllHome opened a store in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, its fourth in the province and 49th nationwide. The store opened along with affiliates AllDay Supermarket, AllDay RX, Bake My Day and Coffee Project.

Read more

1. 1Coffee Project NY | Roasting, Cafes, Education, Consultationcoffeeprojectny.com
2. 2Our Story & Mission Statement | Coffee Project NYcoffeeprojectny.com
3. 3FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions | Coffee Project NYcoffeeprojectny.com
4. 4Latest News & Blog | Coffee Project NYcoffeeprojectny.com
5. 5AllHome 在布拉干省开设第四家门店manilatimes.net