Corey Fitzgerald

President

 

Corey's lure to the Coffee trade started at the early age of nine. His dad, Gary Fitzgerald, was active in the New York Coffee trade. He remembers as a young boy standing by the roaster with his dad explaining the roasting process to him. At the age of fifteen Corey started working with his dad. After school and on weekends he went to the family business located in the Financial District at the old Fulton Market Building in New York City’s South Street Seaport Where various fresh roasted whole bean specialty Coffees were sold by the pound out of wooden barrels.  It was there that Corey started cupping and learned the distinct characteristics between the various varietals of coffee. Aside from helping customers decide on their choice of Coffee, he was also interested in learning how to operate the espresso machine. The popularity of Espresso based drinks were taking off so Corey  mastered the art of preparing Espresso on a three group manual Rancillio Z-11, He mastered the art so well that he was often asked by the local brokers and fishmongers to personally prepare their Espresso drinks. As time passed his responsibilities grew and it was time to learn the wholesale side of the business. He then started visiting some of the clientele at their restaurants and cafés and often attended business meetings with his dad at the legendary Carmines restaurant just down the block on Beeckman Street. After the passing of his dad Corey spent a year traveling through Latin America. Corey visited countless Coffee farms and met with various roasters to further his knowledge of farm to cup. Today with over 20 years in the Coffee trade Corey has built an impeccable reputation, He has served as panel judge at NYC Coffee Fest and has the honor of working alongside some of the most notable names in the Industry.