Art by JayMcPhillips.com
About Small World Coffee
The year 1992 marked the beginning of an epic, year-long road trip across the U.S., all in pursuit of the perfect location for Small World Coffee. Princeton emerged as the clear choice and the café welcomed its first customers on December 22, 1993. The immediate line of eager coffee lovers confirmed it: the long journey and intensive research had led to exactly the right place.
Our Journey
With the café thriving, the natural progression was to control our coffee sourcing and roasting. Small World Roasters launched in 1997 to directly supply the café. Growing demand fueled our expansion: we enlarged the Witherspoon Street location in 2001 and opened a second café on Nassau Street in 2006, which included a full commissary kitchen.
However, the true engine of this growth has always been our remarkable team, whom we affectionately call "Worldings." Over the years, Small World Coffee has fostered a team and a culture that places people at its heart. It's become a fertile ground for meaningful connections—friendships blossoming, marriages forming, and even entrepreneurial ventures taking root. We're incredibly proud of our alumni who have gone on to create wonderful places like the Bent Spoon, Zoot Coffee, and Highwire Coffee.
As we look to the future, our core mission remains clear: to provide an outstanding coffee experience while cultivating a culture of belonging and joy. These fundamental values guide every aspect of our business—from our menu and growth strategies to our partnerships and events. Because ultimately, Small World is about more than just coffee; it's about the individuals who bring it to life and the shared experiences that shape our story.
Roasting Philosophy
In the early 1990s, the West Coast held sway over the coffee world. Once we established our Princeton base, we aimed to distinguish ourselves from the dark roasts prevalent at the time. Our founding Roastmasters, Jon March and Brant Cosaboom, pioneered a coffee roasting approach that highlighted nuance and varietal characteristics—our signature “East Coast Roast.” Our ongoing commitment is to deliver a coffee experience that remains delicious from the first sip to the last, keeping you energized wherever life leads.
Our passion is great coffee, whether savoring the intricate notes of a single origin or crafting balanced blends where beans work in harmony. We often say, "The beans are the means; the blends are the ends." We believe exceptional coffee takes many forms, and ultimately, the best choice is the one that delights the individual coffee drinker.
Founder: Jessica Durrie
The question isn't just "What do you want to be when you grow up?" but rather, "What kind of life do you want to create?" This very question fueled Jessica's vision for Small World Coffee.
Jessica's childhood, spent navigating diverse continents and cultures, instilled in her a deep understanding of belonging and community building. After her time at college in Michigan, she returned to California, where her passion for hospitality blossomed. This interest deepened at Cornell University and was significantly influenced by her experience at Watermargin, a co-op founded on the principle that “All People Are Family”. A summer visit to her brother in Vienna proved transformative, as she fell in love with European coffee culture and envisioned applying her hospitality skills to opening a coffee house.
Now, over three decades later, Jessica remains dedicated to cultivating a business that fosters camaraderie, connection, and genuine good vibes. This is the life she set out to create, and one that she and her team passionately share with every customer.
Artisan Goodness
Taste the homemade difference that comes from exceptional ingredients and careful preparation. Enjoy our chai, Nola, matcha, and scones, all made from scratch in our kitchen for you year-round.
