Local Business Spotlight: Hampton Coffee Company

This Patch article is sponsored by Hampton Coffee Company.

Local businesses are the heart of our communities. Patch had a chance to talk with Jason Belkin, co-owner, of Hampton Coffee Company.

Patch: Tell us a bit about your business or organization:
Jason Belkin: Our local family-owned company had its start at our Water Mill location more than thirty years ago when we opened for business in a 1940s-era service station. Today, we are Long Island’s largest independent coffee roaster & retailer with our local chain of community-centered cafés on the East End of Long Island, our Southampton Coffee Roastery, a mail order website, and a custom-built Mobile Espresso Unit – a Mercedes van with our entire espresso bar inside of it! Our local family-owned and community-focused company still adheres to our founding principles of: -small-batch locally-roasted craft coffee -fresh housemade food (we bake inside every café!) -authentic Italian-style espresso beverages prepared by real Baristas -treating all of our customers like VIPs -presenting our Team with a healthy culture where they are valued

Patch: How long have you been doing business in town?
Jason Belkin: Still locally-owned and family-operated for 30 years!

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in, and how did you get started?
Jason Belkin: When I was in college, I actually worked at Hampton Coffee Company for the original owner as a Barista. I graduated and went on in my career in TV News and Community Relations. And sometime later I learned the business was for sale. The rest is history!

Patch: What's the most common piece of advice you give to customers?
Jason Belkin: Always do your best and love what you do!

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?
Jason Belkin: I get so much satisfaction from seeing how happy our Guests are with HCC. Whether they are enjoying our locally-roasted small-batch craft coffee. One of our baked-on-premise bakery pastries. Our hot breakfast or lunch food. Or just stopping by our table at a charity event. We are so proud to be a part of our local communities!

Patch: How would you say your business or organization distinguishes itself from the others?
Jason Belkin: I think our Team Members make us stand out from our local and national competition for sure. We are very selective in who we hire. All our Team Members live around their stores, we're all local members of our community. For many students, HCC was their first job, and we've trained hundreds of kids over the last three decades on having a job and all that entails. Hampton Coffee Company is also a great long-term or career job. Almost everyone in our company office started at HCC behind the front counter -many as students! And our Managers are all hard-working professional adults with families and community connection. We are actually looking for a few Store Managers or Assistant Managers to add to our Team right now. It's a great opportunity to be a part of a growing family company! If you think HCC is a place for you to grow and thrive, please e-mail us at jobs@hamptoncoffeecompany.com.