Holly MigliaccioCo-Founder & CEO
Before Rook, she was deep in tech sales and marketing. But she knew she had something more. A balance of creativity and care that could only be realized elsewhere. It’s that balance that has kept the Rook brand and experience clear and consistent. Keep it simple, do it really well, and make people feel special in the process. (Fun fact: Holly hand drew the original Rook logo.)
The "over the top" standard Rook runs on? That's Holly's domain. It's not a phrase on the wall. It's in the hiring criteria, the training, and the way a complaint at 7 AM on a Saturday gets handled.
Shawn KingsleyCo-Founder & CEO
Shawn oversees finance and operations. Before Rook, he was in risk management for investment banks in New York City, eventually relocating to San Francisco. Don’t let his cool and calm demeanor fool you. His gears are always turning. Always researching, listening and staying ten steps ahead.
He’s the person behind the operational strength that can see Rook from day 1 to year 100.
Where the coffeeactually comes from.
Every bag of coffee we sell, in-store or shipped to your door, is roasted at our production facility in Long Branch, NJ, which we've been operating since 2015.
We roast on a 70kg Loring Peregrine. One bag at a time, four days a week (reserving one day for routine cleaning and maintenance). It's not the fastest approach. It's the right one.
How we source.
We work with US-based importers to bring in specialty-rated coffees (82 points or above, for the curious) from Sumatra, Uganda, Bali, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, and a rotating cast of other producing regions around the world.
Every coffee gets cupped by both the importer and our internal team before we select it. If it doesn't cup well, it doesn't go in the bag.
Fresh.Not fast.
When you order online, your coffee ships an average of 3–4 days off roast. That's intentional. Freshly roasted coffee needs a few days to off-gas before it hits its flavor peak, so by the time your order arrives, you're opening it at exactly the right moment.
We didn't build that into our logistics by accident.
What you need to know
Everybody gets the same.
First time here or thousandth time, you're treated with the same respect and the same over-the-top experience. We don't have a VIP line. Everyone's a regular.
Fresh is non-negotiable.
Every cup in-store is measured, ground and brewed to order. Every bag online ships days off roast. Stale coffee doesn't exist in our world.
Good coffee doesn't need a lecture.
You don't need to know what varietals mean to enjoy a great cup. We care deeply about the sourcing and the roasting so you don't have to. Just know you can trust it.
Jersey made.
We roast here. We brew here. We serve here. New Jersey makes things, and we're proud to be one of those things.