The History of New York City Coffee

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Every city has something to be proud of—a claim to fame, an iconic landmark, a longstanding tradition or a slogan that stirs the crowd. Something that's important not only to the people who live there, but something that sets it apart from everywhere else in the world. Something that says, "There's no other place like it."

Every city has something, but when it comes to New York City, we have it all.

For everything special about this city, there's a story, and NYC has millions of them.

This is just one of those stories; one that's almost 100 years old—"The History of New York City Coffee."

This story still flows through many generations and lives. And it's still being written everyday by New Yorkers who love their coffee.

The classic cup of New York City Coffee is best known in the iconic blue-and-white paper cup. The cup's design pays homage to the Greek people who ran coffee carts and diners in the old New York City tradition.

The story of Vassilaros & Sons continues a nearly 100-year-old institution of providing high-quality, hand-blended coffees to all five boroughs. It’s delivering what New Yorkers demand. Day after day, coffee brings the spirit of this city to life, so New Yorkers can build tomorrow.

I don't make a coffee drink. I make a real cup of New York City coffee.

John Vassilaros

The Vassilaros Story

  1. In the Beginning

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    John Vassilaros' grandfather immigrated to New York from Ikaria, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea.

  2. Coming to America

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    Like many immigrants hungry for opportunity in America, Vassilaros passed through Ellis Island with next to nothing in his pocket and speaking little English.

  3. 1898

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    The five boroughs are consolidated to officially create New York City.

  4. Learning English

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    Between work, Vassilaros taught himself to read and write English at the public library on 42nd Street.

  5. Workalcoholic

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    He worked two waiter jobs—a lunch shift on lower Wall Street and a dinner shift in the Bronx.

  6. First Born, First Coffee

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    After the birth of his son, Anthony John, Vassilaros also took a job as a coffee salesman to help support his growing family.

  7. Immediate Success

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    His integrity and honesty made him a trustworthy salesman; and he was immediately successful selling coffee for a fellow Greek coffee roaster.

  8. 1903

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    Williamsburg Bridge opens.

  9. How to Serve a New Yorker: Go to Them

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    Many New York neighborhoods in the early 1900s were defined by culture and background. Small business owners, like the “fish man” and the “ice man,” would bring their wares to different neighborhoods, even down unpaved roads. Everything from pickles and oil lamps was sold from their pushcarts, taking their inspiration from the old-world European markets.

  10. 1909

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    Manhattan Bridge opens.

  11. Quality Control

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    There was one big problem with Vassilaros’ sales job; his boss did not appreciate quality, and Vassilaros became frustrated.

  12. 1910

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    Penn Station opens.

  13. 1913

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    Grand Central Terminal opens as the world's largest train station.

  14. Vassilaros & Sons Coffee

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    John Anthony founds Vassilaros & Sons Coffee in his apartment to give people the quality coffee he knew he could and should deliver.

  15. Friends, Fellow Immigrants

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    Most of Vassilaros’ customers were friends, fellow immigrants, and he wanted them to succeed, too.

  16. The Beginning, Again

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    This dedication to quality and the people of New York City shaped the company. His first two accounts were at the restaurants where he used to work as a waiter.

  17. 1929

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    The stock market crashes.

  18. The First Vassilaros & Sons Employees

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    The first two employees were his beloved wife, Sophia, and her sister, Frosini.

  19. 1930

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    The Chrysler Building is completed.

  20. 1931

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    The Empire State Building is completed.

  21. Hand-Selected Beans

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    Sophia and Frosini selected the beans, grinded and packaged the blend in the kitchen of the family's Bronx apartment.

  22. Delivery

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    Vassilaros delivered the 40-pound bags of fresh coffee, which he carried on his shoulders riding the subway, to customers throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan.

  23. 1939

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    New York City holds the World's Fair at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

  24. First Store Front

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    The company moved to a small storefront on Third Avenue, and as New York City grew, Vassilaros & Sons Coffee grew with it.

  25. New Roaster

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    A new roaster allowed Vassilaros to achieve a signature blend and ensure the quality he dreamed about.

  26. Delivering Quality Coffee

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    Delivery trucks and more employees helped keep up with New Yorkers' insatiable appetite for a basic, black cup of piping hot coffee without sacrificing standards.

  27. Back Home

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    The Vassilaros family builds a 30-room hospital on their native Island of Ikaria that is still there to this day.

  28. Make Coffee Not War

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    Vassilaros sells coffee to the U.S military during the Vietnam War.

  29. Home Sweet Home

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    In 1962, the company moved to its permanent home, a 25,000-square-foot coffee roasting plant in Queens. And for every working day over the last 50 years, proud employees work together to craft timeless seasonal blends for the 3,000-plus accounts in the Tri-State area.

  30. Gratitude

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     New York City's part in the story of Vassilaros & Sons cannot be overlooked. Every customer and account, in every borough, made the company what it is today.

  31. 1964

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    Penn Station is rebuilt and reopened to the public.

  32. Our Birthday

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    Fiftieth anniversary of the founding of Vassilaros & Sons.

  33. John's Days

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    John Vassilaros becomes president of Vassilaros & Sons Coffee Company.

  34. Helping Hand

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    From the start, John Vassilaros would help fellow small business owners, lending out money and equipment, to pass on the opportunities for which he was so thankful.

  35. 1972

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    Construction on the World Trade Center is completed.

  36. Today

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    As of 2000, Vassilaros serves over five million cups of coffee in the New York Metropolitan area in any given week.

  37. per week

An Original Comes with Peace of Mind

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A dedication to quality and a responsibility to serve the people of New York do not get easier over three generations. Not in this city and not in the coffee business. But it comes with a pledge that nobody knows New Yorkers like Vassilaros & Sons Coffee. And there is still a John Vassilaros at the helm who hand roasts his coffees each and every day.