Gregoryscoffee

About Gregoryscoffee

Gregorys Coffee operates as a specialty coffee roaster and retailer, positioning itself in the competitive third-wave coffee market. The company was established in 2006 by Gregory Zamfotis, who opened the first location in Manhattan, New York. Zamfotis, who was in law school at the time, drew inspiration from his father, a Greek immigrant and seasoned entrepreneur in New York's fast-casual restaurant scene for 50 years. Deciding to pursue his entrepreneurial drive over a legal career, Gregory leveraged his lifelong experience in the food and beverage industry, which began with helping at his father's businesses from a young age. The family-run business includes his wife, Shalaine, who has been involved since the beginning, focusing on the brand's aesthetics and design, and his father, who assists with food production and real estate.

The business model focuses on bridging the gap between boutique, high-quality coffee and the speed of mass-market chains. Revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer sales at its physical cafe locations and an online store that offers coffee subscriptions with no shipping fees. The company has expanded significantly from its single Manhattan store to 54 locations as of 2025, with a presence in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Illinois, and several other states, facilitated in part by a strategic partnership with Simon Property Group. This growth is supported by a vertically integrated structure, including a central roastery and commissary opened in Long Island City in 2016, which supplies its cafes with freshly roasted coffee and scratch-made food items.

Gregorys Coffee's product offerings extend beyond a standard coffee menu. They roast their own beans four days a week, ensuring freshness and allowing for the development of unique roast profiles and limited edition single-origin coffees. The menu is distinctive for its health-conscious and plant-based options, curated by an in-house registered dietitian. This includes a wide array of pastries, sandwiches, bowls, and a hot food menu, all prepared daily. A key operational shift involved moving from a centralized bakery to baking items fresh in-store throughout the day, which improved both quality and availability. The company also emphasizes customer convenience through a mobile app that allows for ordering ahead and a loyalty program where customers, or "Gregulars," earn rewards. This blend of quality, speed, and a health-focused menu defines its market position against both large chains and smaller artisanal shops.