We learn more about the CCC: a statewide movement working to build a more inclusive and supportive coffee community.
BY BRIANNA STEFANO
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Photos courtesy of Brianna Stefano
Connecticut may be small, but our coffee community is anything but. Across cities from New Haven to Hartford, independent cafés, passionate baristas, and local roasters have been shaping a specialty scene full of creativity, heart, and drive. For years, many of these professionals were doing incredible work, but often in isolation. That changed in 2025 when a few of us realized that connection could be our strongest asset yet.
That realization became the Connecticut Coffee Collaborative (CCC), a statewide movement of baristas, roasters, café owners, and professional coffee enthusiasts working to build a more inclusive, supportive, and educated coffee culture. What started as a few conversations over coffee quickly grew into an organized community representing every corner of the industry.
Taki Tanaka, President of the CCC (left) and Brianna Stefano, Vice President of the CCC (right).The Start of the CCC: Dreaming of Connecticut’s Coffee Future
The spark that started the CCC came at the 2025 Northeast Coffee Fest held in Concord, New Hampshire, this past May, where several of us traveled to represent Connecticut and began dreaming out loud about what Connecticut’s coffee future could look like. “We were all having the same conversations in our own corners,” recalls Taki Tanaka, President of the CCC and owner of The Garage Coffee Lounge in New Britain, CT. “It just made sense to bring everyone together in one place.”
Within months, a board was established, the mission was made clear, social channels launched, and an open call went out to professionals statewide. The response was immediate and enthusiastic.
Since the start, collaboration has been the heartbeat. The CCC has been represented at latte art throwdowns, cuppings, community discussions, and professional development sessions that draw participants from across the state. Some attendees will even drive an hour-plus, just to show up and pour a swan. Each event carries the same energy, a mix of friendly competition, shared learning, and genuine connection.
Putting Community at the Center
To better understand what the community needs, the CCC conducted a statewide survey asking baristas, roasters, and shop owners what they want more of in Connecticut’s coffee scene. The results were clear: a hunger for education, mentorship, networking, and inclusion. The data also showed an impressive range of experience: About 50% of respondents have worked in coffee for 2–5 years, 25% for 5–10 years, and another 25% for 10+ years. That mix of emerging and seasoned professionals reflects why the CCC’s mission matters: it bridges generations of knowledge and passion.
When asked in the survey, “Why does being part of a professional coffee network matter to you?,” Jovanny H. of Sound Coffee in Bridgeport, CT, said it best: “Collaboration is what brings all of us together. Most of us got into specialty coffee because we loved how it felt to share moments with others. Sure, the brews and lovely drinks we make are incredible. But we’d have no one to share them with if we didn’t have like-minded people in our community surrounding us.”
“Education is also a big reason why I’m excited to join the collaborative,” Jovanny adds. “There’s always something new to learn in coffee, so I’m excited to expand and open my mind to new things.”
It’s this mix of inclusivity, education, and camaraderie that fuels the CCC’s mission. In an industry where long hours and creative burnout can sometimes isolate people, the Collaborative reminds us that we’re all working toward the same goal: a thriving, connected coffee culture that celebrates the people behind the bar and behind the quality coffees.
To learn more about the CCC, check them out on Instagram.Looking Ahead
As the CCC prepares for its next chapter, from membership opportunities to statewide info sessions, one thing is clear: Something special is brewing in Connecticut. However, this time, we’re doing it together.
It’s all because when a community decides to collaborate and grind, the whole state’s coffee industry gets stronger, one cup at a time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brianna Stefano is a coffee professional with a background in psychology, combining her passion for the coffee industry with her expertise in human behavior. She is a roaster for Ovelle Coffee and manager at Cometeer Coffee, and she also holds private consultations to help cafés and coffee professionals refine their craft. For more of Brianna’s insights and coffee adventures, check her out at Brewing with Brianna.
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The post Connecticut Coffee Collaborative Unites Coffee Professionals Statewide appeared first on Barista Magazine Online.
