OCEAN CITY — This season marks the 20th that Ocean City Coffee Co. has brewed up its bean blends in America’s Greatest Family Resort.
Throughout two decades of service, they business has earned a reputation as a reliable producer of all manner of decadent flavors of coffee.
This reputation dates back to 2004 when the original shop was founded by Lori and Lynwood Smith. It began as a small shop at 928 Boardwalk, where passersby could enjoy a high-quality blend as they walked along the ocean.
The Smiths ran the shop successfully for years before deciding to sell the business to employee Joan Williamson.
Originally from Stratford, Williamson shared her reasons for starting out at Ocean City Coffee Co.
“I love coffee; it’s as simple as that,” Williamson said. “I had a friend who wanted to check out this new coffee place years ago and as soon as I walked in, I knew I had to work here. It’s just so different and fulfilling and I love getting to work with something I love.”
Shortly after buying the shop, business partner Cal Corvaia joined her to continue the legacy of Ocean City Coffee Co.
Since its beginning on the boardwalk, the business has expanded from one location to four. Its iconic shop on Asbury Avenue opened in 2012, while the original shop moved to 916 Boardwalk and in 2014 the third shop opened at 1066 Boardwalk.
The most recent shop opened in 2019 in Media, Pa., solidifying the company’s reputation as a must-visit destination for coffee lovers.
Williamson said they get their coffee from “all over the world.” That’s not an exaggeration, either, as they purchase their coffee beans from such places as Haiti, Guatemala and Costa Rica. One of their most popular blends is made with coffee beans from Kona, Hawaii.
Despite their global sights, they have never forgotten the community that has nourished their business.
Williamson said she values the shop’s connection to the island and has created two popular blends that benefit local causes. The “Off Boardwalk” blend is a mix of Guatemalan and Brazilian beans. A portion of proceeds from its sale is donated to the Ocean City Theatre Company. The “Red Raider” blend is a mix of Guatemalan and Sumatran coffee beans, with a portion of proceeds being donated to the Ocean City High School Red Raider Football Boosters Club.
Those are only a few of the numerous blends available. Over the years, the menu has evolved to include more than 120 different blends of coffee and a wide array of specialty drinks, pastries and even a selection of organic teas.
Each product is curated to meet the high expectation that customers have become accustomed to with the “roasted on the beach” standard, she said.
That standard is not only set by the quality of coffee but the quality of service. Ocean City native Arianna Sagich has been working at Ocean City Coffee Co. for four years and her dedication to her work is apparent in the time and effort she takes to prepare a customer’s drink.
“I love the different personalities you meet serving coffee. There’s a lot of interesting people and stories that come with it,” Sagich said.
She described the lively and vibrant environment that the customers and employees bring to the store as well as the excellent taste of the blends.
Now, years after a humble coffee store was first started, Ocean City Coffee Co. has grown into one of the faces of the shore and with the 20 year anniversary at hand, it stands as a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and, of course, a good cup of coffee.
– STORY by EDDIE D’AMICO/For the Sentinel
– PHOTOS by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff