About JONNY

California Roots

I grew up on the central coast of California, where hospitality meant open doors, long tables, and something always brewing in the kitchen. Coffee was never just a drink. It was ritual, conversation, and connection.

That sense of place and ritual still shapes everything I do.

A Foundation in Hospitality & Design

I studied at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and later earned a Master of Interior Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design. Hospitality taught me how experiences are built. Design taught me how they are felt.

In 2015, I began offering branding and hospitality consulting services in Rome. Since then, I’ve worked with more than 100 hospitality brands, helping founders clarify their vision and translate it into spaces, identities, and experiences that feel intentional and lasting.

Coffee was always present. Eventually, it became central.

The Coffee Turning Point

Several projects deepened my enthusiasm for specialty coffee. Working on Bunafr, a smart home coffee roaster, opened my eyes to the science and ritual of roasting. Developing Chicchi by Marigold, a white-label specialty coffee brand, immersed me in sourcing, roasting philosophy, and the language of flavor. 

Through these projects, I realized something simple: the home barista deserves the same level of care, clarity, and curation as any professional café.

Opening Doors

Since 2015, my work in Rome has gone beyond branding. I’ve helped open, operate, and shape several specialty-driven hospitality concepts from the ground up.

I was deeply involved in the creation of Marigold Restaurant & Micro-Bakery, Forno Conti & Co, and Marzapane Café & Bakery — projects that blended thoughtful design with serious culinary ambition. Most recently, I worked on Bar della Cometa, an intimate specialty coffee bar and bistro inside the historic Teatro della Cometa.

These experiences grounded my understanding of coffee not just as a product, but as a daily ritual within real spaces, real teams, and real communities.

Why JONNY Exists

JONNY began as a personal pursuit. I wanted access to exceptional roasters, thoughtfully designed tools, and objects of handmade hospitality that elevate daily ritual. What started as research for myself became something larger.

JONNY is more than a retail concept. It is a daily practice of creating and supporting brands. It reflects what I use, what I trust, and what I believe is worth sharing. Curated, never just stocked.

Beyond the Cup

The future of JONNY is not simply about selling coffee. It’s about supporting the growth and awareness of specialty coffee at home. It’s about encouraging conscious consumption, celebrating light-roasted and sustainably cultivated coffees, advocating for fair compensation across the supply chain, and honoring each roaster’s unique perspective in transforming green coffee into something expressive and alive.

Coffee is agricultural, cultural, and deeply human. The more we understand it, the better we drink.

Still a Home Barista

At the end of the day, I’m still a home barista. I brew in my kitchen. I adjust my grind. I obsess over water temperature. I taste. I recalibrate. JONNY exists for people like us.