OUR ORIGINS…….. Behind Jamaican Gourmet Coffee is Lloyd Parchment, a hard-working Jamaican immigrant whose perseverance in the face of numerous obstacles frames the essence of the American work ethic. Lloyd embodies the immigrant entrepreneurs who have made positive contributions to the American economy and culture while fulfilling their own American dreams. He is among the unsung entrepreneurial immigrant heroes who continue to flock to the United States each year in search of opportunities. He believes that success is achievable with a relentless commitment to hard work, and a dedication to quality products and service. Lloyd has been in the coffee business since 1959 when he first embraced the family art of drying, milling and roasting coffee in the parish of St. Elizabeth on the South Coast of Jamaica, West Indies. Under the tutelage of his grandfather, Johnny Findlay, Lloyd learned to recognize and appreciate the essence of the coffee fruit. Johnny taught Lloyd everything he knew about coffee and the superior beans which grew on the 3,000 foot slopes of the Jamaican Blue Mountains. While slow roasting the sun dried beans over an open fire, Lloyd enjoyed a daily “cupping” ritual as he shared quiet country moments tasting and dissecting the aroma of each home-brewed cup of coffee. Lloyd came to America in 1972 to join his father, Nathaniel, who had migrated years earlier and opened an 11,000-square-foot People’s Market. Nathaniel’s store was flourishing and Lloyd cleaned floors, stocked shelves, scrubbed bathrooms and worked in every department in the store. The long, arduous hours would serve him well when he returned to the supermarket business as a promoter of fine gourmet coffee. Upon his return to America after traveling around the world, Lloyd eagerly plunged into the specialty gourmet coffee market. He established connections with the Wallingford Estate, the prestigious home of the Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans. Lloyd packaged and hand delivered his product to the doors of Connecticut’s most exclusive food retailers. In 1981, Jamaican Gourmet Coffee Company was born. Lloyd leased an 11,000 square foot warehouse and purchased a 10,000-pound capacity German roaster. He was joined by John McDonald, a third generation coffee roaster and they began importing green beans from throughout the world. While the selection of the finest ingredient is basic to any great coffee, it is the delicate balance created in the roasting process that contributes to the unique quality of Jamaican Gourmet Coffee. Lloyd had perfected the art of the perfect blend and created an unmatched variety of exotic blends before most even knew what a Starbucks was. By 2004, Lloyd grew his business to 150 clients with gross sales over $1 million. He added an intimate coffee shop to his facility at 585 Washington Avenue, where he prides himself in greeting morning clients by their name. His energy level and love of hard work are unfailing. Despite the economic downturn, his passion for his business is unwavering. He employs a staff of 14 and regularly donates to local schools, charities and not-for-profits in his community. At 55, Lloyd remains steadfast in his goal of creating the best coffee in the world, one cup at a time.