What started as “a passion project that came to life” now brings joy to an entire community—one cup of coffee at a time.
We caught up with Stu Sutphin at the Chatham Farm Market, buzzing with activity from a weekly Tuesday flurry of hometown vendors, talented musical artists, and all the classic charm of a small town gathering.
It’s his second year vending at the local market, which recently moved to a new space: 24 Depot St, right in the heart of downtown Chatham. Despite the expert flavor of his unique blends, Sutphin wasn’t always a coffee roaster—in fact, he majored in personal finance.
It was while he was sitting down to do some financial planning one day that he thought of a catchy name: Cozy Carafe Coffee Co.—and that’s the business he created from scratch (it’s a really compelling story of how the small business came to be, and you’re welcome to read it here).
Now, he travels to various markets, meeting with locals and sharing his products—which have a 12-month shelf life—as well as his knowledge of the roasting craft.
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“Coffee roasting’s an art and a science. It’s a science in getting some consistency,” Sutphin said. “But it’s art in, like, Dean [Rogers of Callands Coffee] and I are both roasters in Chatham—and we could get the same bean and we would roast it completely different.”
Sutphin explained that subtle changes could dramatically alter flavors, and expressed the art and skill of both local roasters.
“He may add more heat here and more fan speed there, but in the end, his Ethiopia [roast] might not taste like mine,” Sutphin said.
Roasting everything from light to dark blends, Cozy Carafe isn’t just a Chatham treat—the coffee is also available for purchase at stores in South Boston, Danville, and Bedford.
Cozy Carafe also sells online and currently offers free shipping on orders of four or more bags.
So whether you’re a dark roast diehard, a fan of light and lively blends, or someone just chasing that morning zing, there’s a little bit of hometown heart in every Cozy Carafe bag—and as Sutphin continues to connect with his community one market day at a time, it’s clear this “passion project” isn’t just about coffee anymore.
It’s about neighbors. It’s about stories. And it’s about the simple, time-honored joy of gathering over a good cup.
