Portsmouth Coffee Shop Celebrates 10 Years of Brewing

has reached a major milestone for any small business — its 10^th year.

A lot has happened over those 10 years, with the expansion to multiple locations and the addition of a new roasting and training facility in 2008. 

“In the upcoming year (2013), our focus is to continue the growth momentum," says Mark Libby, co- owner of Custom House Coffee of Portsmouth. He also adds, “It is imperative that in an economic climate like we have now, that as a small business you must be able to have a strong reach to your customer base. This is why we have committed to a growth plan that not only allows for future retail locations but also a technology path that allows our customers to access us via the Web."

“My original focus in May of 2002 was on roasting and brewing the best possible coffee,” says founder Bob Mastin. “I didn’t fully realize at the time how the stores would become such popular hubs in the communities and how much fun it would be coming to work every day.”

To celebrate the occasion, both the Middletown and Portsmouth stores will hold all-day parties on Friday, May 11, the date the first store opened in 2002. 

A special Anniversary Blend has been developed for the occasion, featuring the finest African and South American coffees. It will be sold on Friday at a discount of, you guessed it, 10 percent.