George Howell (entrepreneur)
George Howell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1945 New Jersey, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Business innovator, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Known for | Specialty coffee industry pioneer, founder of Coffee Connection and George Howell Coffee |
George Howell (born 1945) is an American business innovator recognized as a trailblazer in the specialty coffee industry during the early 1970s.
Early life
Howell was born in New Jersey and relocated with his family to Mexico City at age 13. Between 1964 and 1967, he attended Yale University, where he pursued studies in art history, French, and Spanish literature before leaving the institution.
Career
After residing in Berkeley, California, Howell and his wife Laurie moved to Boston in 1974. Throughout their journey across the country, Howell demonstrated his enthusiasm for premium coffee by brewing French press coffee at various stops, drawing attention from passersby prior to officially entering the coffee sector.
In 1975, Howell established Coffee Connection, a coffee shop and retail enterprise based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which played a foundational role in the third wave coffee movement. The company grew to encompass 23 outlets throughout the Northeastern United States and was acquired by Starbucks Corporation in 1994 for $23 million. This acquisition marked Starbucks' initial expansion into the Boston area and included ownership of the Frappuccino trademark, which Starbucks later redeveloped. Following this, Howell introduced George Howell Coffee, a brand dedicated to premium specialty coffee products.
In 1997, Howell contributed as a quality consultant for Brazil under the Gourmet Project, a collaborative two-year program organized by the United Nations’ International Trade Council alongside the International Coffee Organization. This initiative played a significant role in founding the Cup of Excellence competition.
External links
- Article on George Howell from Boston Magazine