OUR HISTORY

David and Susan Kobos founded The Kobos Company in October of 1973. They began in a small 1200 square foot retail space in the Water Tower at Johns Landing in Portland, Oregon. The concept for their new business venture was to mix freshly roasted coffees, fine select teas, an assortment of spices, and an array of specialty cooking utensils in an upscale setting. David purchased a Probat drum-style coffee roaster directly from Germany and began roasting coffee in the front of the store. The Kobos passion for coffee and our commitment to quality was a direct result of this hands on roasting experience. Our company grew and prospered.

In 1981, with the opening of our third retail location, we included an espresso bar in the store's layout and thus became a pioneer in what was to become a hot retail trend. (read more)