
Our Coffee & Tea Roots
In the beginning, April of 2003, Muggswigz opened its doors and downtown Canton had it's only coffeeshop. Alex Haas had just graduated College in Rochester, NY, and returned home to Canton, OH. Having fueled college with coffee and tea, he wanted his home town to have a place to find a good cup. Both for the sake of his hometown and for coffee and tea! Going off of a suggestion from a friend to start his own coffee shop business, and in pursuit of revitalizing downtown Canton, he did just that. Using his background in science and honing his culinary skills, Alex created Muggswigz (like taking a swig from a mug) Coffee and Tea Company.
Remodeling the space on Walnut and 2nd st. took a village, or in this case, helpful family and friends. What used to be an office suit is now a full coffee and tea bar as well as a performing stage for open mic nights. When the company first opened, Alex couldn't even afford an ice machine and had just started roasting coffee on a popcorn popper from the thrift store.
Fast forward fifteen years and you have a 3rd Best Coffee House in America, USA Today's top ten pick of coffeehouses in America, etc. You have a company that roasts all of it's coffee, competition grade baristas, directly imports tea, a thriving wholesale department, baked goods and syrups made in house, and, of course, an ice machine.
Muggswigz has educated the area in coffee and tea and has proudly seen many of the staff it introduced to coffee make coffee their career. The training the staff receives is second to none. Some of the staff Muggswigz has inspired go on in the industry to make waves at other companies or even start their own! Our positive impact on the industry spreads through all those Muggswigz Baristas as well as though the coffee and tea farmers we are fortunate enough to work with. Many other coffeeshops and boutiques have popped up since our doors have opened. A brewery has been built. People are finding more reasons to make Downtown Canton their destination, and they should. We are proud to call downtown Canton our home!