For more than a decade, we at Vienna Coffee Company have worked closely with Deeper Roots Coffee in Cincinnati, Ohio, behind the scenes, developing a relationship grounded in shared vision and values. Though much of this partnership happened quietly, our teams have long collaborated through conversations about sourcing, service, and building coffee businesses centered on people and community. Since our founding in 2001 by John Clark, Vienna has grown within Maryville community and across East Tennessee, while Deeper Roots, founded in 2011, developed a like-minded approach to relational sourcing and thoughtful hospitality in Cincinnati. When John began considering retirement, it became clear that the future of Vienna would be best stewarded by partners who already understood and respected what had been built. In November 2023, the owners of Deeper Roots Coffee: Les Stoneham, Ryan Doan, Courtney Robinson, Jon Lewis, and Adam Shaw, purchased Vienna Coffee Company, continuing a relationship that had already been shaped by years of collaboration.
Even with this transition, much remains the same. Vienna Coffee Company and Deeper Roots Coffee will continue operating as separate businesses, each maintaining its own name and identity. Vienna will remain focused on serving Maryville and East Tennessee just as it always has, while Deeper Roots continues its work in its own region. What has changed is largely behind the scenes: through closer partnership, both companies are able to share systems, efficiencies, and operational knowledge that help strengthen each organization while preserving the character that makes them unique.
One of the greatest opportunities created through this partnership is our shared ability to combine purchasing power in green coffee sourcing. Together, we can access higher-quality coffees while investing more deeply in the communities where those coffees are grown. Our combined scale allows for stronger long-term producer relationships and greater shared investment in sustainability practices that support both farmers and the environment. We also gain the benefit of shared experience and the collective knowledge that comes from years of running service-driven coffee companies, bringing renewed energy and momentum to Vienna’s continued growth throughout the region. Working together allows us to combine what each company does best while still honoring the differences that keep us rooted in our own communities. Our goal is to remain deeply local while becoming stronger together, continuing to serve with the same care and purpose that have always defined both companies.