Our History

Although Coffee Mill, Inc. was founded more than 37 years ago, its roots go much, much deeper. In the mid-1940s, Don Asplund, grandfather of Coffee Mill owner Scott Schwartz, was working for McGarvey Coffee when he decided he'd learned enough to start his own business. Asplund Coffee was the result, and by 1950 Asplund had developed a remarkable business supplying coffee to the quickly growing metropolitan restaurant community. Helped by his wife Helen, as bookkeeper, Asplund maintained a thriving business for many years. Six decades later, his grandson Scott Schwartz carries on the tradition, becoming one of the leading Twin Cities office suppliers of fine coffees, teas and breakroom supplies. 

As Schwartz sees it, the coffee may have changed somewhat (from 3 to more than 30 varieties) but the commitment to service remains as strong as it was in post-war America. Coffee Mill doesn't simply drop supplies on your doorstep, they are a service-oriented organization. Each visit their staff clean and exchange your airpots and carafes, test the equipment and clean and organize the beverage area. Coffee Mill staff take great pride in their work, and it shows in terms of their longevity. The average tenure among the approximately one dozen Coffee Mill drivers is a remarkable 10-plus years. Recently Coffee Mill celebrated one employee's 37th anniversary with the business!