Company | History Timeline
From the Beginning
1988 – Boston
Best friends, Chris Chantler and Craig Arseneau conspire to leave their fast paced, corporate lifestyles to pursue their passion for coffee and the great outdoors in the Colorado Rockies.
1989 – The Daily Grind, Inc.
Chantler and Arseneau found The Daily Grind Coffee Company, Inc. establishing six coffeehouses in Vail and Denver in four years
1993 – Vail Mountain Coffee Roasters
The roasting company concept is brought to fruition as the growing demand for premium, hand-roasted coffee continues to surge in the United States
1995 – Time for Tea
Loose leaf tea is added to the wholesale and retail operations, positioning VMCR as a leading, premium tea supplier in Colorado
1997 – Sold! The Daily Grind
The coffee retail outlets are sold to focus energy developing the expanding coffee roasting and tea operation
2002 – Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea
As the tea division continued to grow and thrive, it deserved rightful recognition. VMCR officially becomes Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea
2004 – Building Grower Relations in India
A three week tour through Darjeeling, Assam and Nilgiri building direct to grower relationships and observing worker sustainability, extensive organic and bio-dynamic farming practices.
2005 – VMCT Expansion
Purchased an 8,300 square foot production facility in Minturn, Colorado – Elevation 7,847
2006 – “First Chair – First Cup”
Vail Mountain skier promotion for the hard core skier crowd
2007 – Awarded “Small Business of the Year” by the Vail Valley Partnership
Vail Mountain Cycling Team is formed
2008 – Travel, Travel, Travel
VMCT visits direct trade coffee partners in Central America to identify exceptional “micro estate” coffees for import.
Chris Chantler and Craig Arseneau are invited and attend the Oolong Tea study tour in Taiwan, hosted by the Tea Manufacturers Association of Taiwan; an opportunity to learn, exchange ideas, source new teas and expand grower relationships.
Awarded “Best Coffee” by the Vail Daily Reader’s Poll
