Sound Coffee Partnership Fuels Community Service

Local business owner’s dark roast is aptly named ‘Pioneer Blend’

Coffee and college are so intertwined that Bridgeport’s Sound Coffee and Sacred Heart University have teamed up to create the Pioneer Blend, a limited-edition dark roast.

The coffee, however, won’t only be fueling students in their study sessions or homework assignments but also in their support of the local Bridgeport community. Proceeds from the sales will support the more than 115,000 community service and engagement hours SHU students complete annually in Bridgeport and beyond.

Sound Coffee is rooted in a mission to provide the highest quality product to a diverse and dynamic audience. Cofounders Jeff and Sarah Roy launched the business, drawing from backgrounds in technology and community engagement united by a shared passion for sustainability, connection and great coffee.

“We’re an independent roaster based in Bridgeport, focused on high-quality, small-batch coffee and building meaningful connections through it,” he said. “The name comes from the Long Island Sound but also speaks to the idea of harmony, how we source, roast and show up in the world. Our mission is to make great coffee more approachable while staying grounded in community and sustainability.”

For Sound Coffee, a business dedicated to the betterment of the Bridgeport community, a partnership like this was a no-brainer. “It has been a great experience from the start. The SHU team was open-minded and collaborative,” Roy said. “They had a clear vision for creating something unique to their campus that also reflected their values as a community. We worked closely to taste coffees, refine the roast profile and develop a blend that felt like it truly belonged at SHU.”

Francis X.R. Origanti, senior vice president of mission & culture at SHU, said community partnerships are important for the University and its students. “We are proud to partner with Sound Coffee—a collaboration that reflects our shared commitment to community, purpose and heart,” Origanti said. “This partnership is about more than just offering exceptional coffee; it’s about creating opportunities for connection and engagement across our campus and beyond.”

Roy agreed that the partnership offers students valuable lessons. “We want students, faculty and alumni to feel proud that this coffee is part of their SHU experience. It’s a small but meaningful way to connect to the University’s identity,” he said. “We also see a great opportunity to build educational experiences around coffee, sustainability and running a small business. We’re excited to grow with SHU over time.”

Origanti added, “It’s a partnership brewed in shared values and served with heart.”

The Pioneer Blend will be on sale for a limited time on Sound Coffee’s website, following its debut at the April 26 Pioneer Scholarship Gala. Ten percent of all proceeds will directly support the office of community engagement.