COFFEES
Fire Dept. Coffee
Bourbon-Infused
They say you can’t drink all day if you don’t start in the morning, so you might as well kill two birds with one stone. A truly bold roast, this bourbon-infused coffee is not for the feint of heart. That’s probably because it comes from the good people over at Fire Dept. Coffee who save lives for a living. Owned and run by veterans and firefighters, Fire Dept. Coffee is a great way to support those who go above and beyond. Ten percent of net proceeds go to helping first responders.
Larry’s Coffee
Fire in the Belly
With some of the highest marks for sustainability in the industry, Larry’s Coffee is the epitome of what we strive to feature here on the show. Not only are they a B-Certified corporation, but their coffee is fair trade, shade-grown, and USDA certified organic. Their Fire in the Belly roast, blended from Bolivian beans, has an earthy, mellow, yet intense flavor profile that’ll keep you going day and night. If you didn’t think it could get any better, 10% of sales go to Oxfam to help combat global poverty and injustice.
Julian Coffee Roasters
Organic Bali, Micro-Lot
Fruity and bold, the Organic Bali roast from Julian Coffee Roasters has everything we look for in a coffee. Not only is it direct trade and certified organic by the USDA, but it is also backed by the purpose-driven mission of the company. Julian Coffee Roasters supports social impact organizations both at home and abroad, working to combat homelessness, hunger, and poverty. The higher purpose behind the beans makes Julian Coffee Roasters a go-to company for sustainable and ethical coffee in the Indianapolis area.
Coda Coffee
Costa Rica, Santa Cruz, Micro Lot
There are not enough good things to say about Coda Coffee, but let’s start with the fact that Roast Magazine awarded them Macro Roaster of the Year back in 2014. Since then, the Colorado-based roaster has been a pioneer in the industry, spearheading developments in direct trade, blockchain tracking of the coffee supply chain, and are proud operators of the first recycled heat roaster, which not only is better for the environment, but yields a cleaner-tasting roast to boot. This roast in particular comes from a micro lot in Santa Cruz, Costa Rica. Simple, yet robust, the lighter tasting notes of sweet, buttery, and crisp reflect the chill vibes one would expect from a coastal town nestled on the edge of Central America’s most beautiful landscape.
Sight Glass Coffee
Colombia, Finca Las Florestales, Maximino Gutierrez
Harvested exclusively from Caturra trees high up in the Andes mountains, this small-batch coffee delivers some of the most unique tasting notes in honey, black currant, and green grape. Sight Glass ensures they value the hard work of the farmer by placing Maximino Gutierrez’ name right on the bag. To honor the quality of the beans, Sight Glass practices small production methods in order to attain the perfect roast. The name “sight glass” not only refers to the window looking into the beans roasting in their vintage Probat roaster, but the importance of having transparency from harvest to cup.
Imeztli Coffee
Sidamo, Simoli, Ethiopia
Imported from the Sidamo province and sourced at a local Ethiopian market in San Diego, Imeztli coffee is as unique as they come. Owner Iliana personally roasts the beans in a cast iron pan and stirs them by hand. This artisan approach results in a nonuniform roast, which captures the wide range of flavors present in the beans. The result is a rich, full-bodied coffee with nutty and oaky notes absent any bitterness. You can purchase her coffee through Instagram using the link below.
Bee Coffee Roasters
Brazil Sweet Blue
Roasted locally and roasted fresh, this Brazilian single origin coffee is the darkest roast Bee Coffee Roasters sells. Chocolatey and nutty notes engulf your palate with a lingering aftertaste that hangs around just long enough until your next sip. Just like the busy bees working to make their honey, this coffee will have you buzzin’ all day long.
Wonderstate Coffee
Organic Winter Solstice Blend
There couldn’t have been a better coffee to kick off our brewing routine with the Chemex pour-over method. With warm and colorful notes, this season blend is the perfect pick-me-up for the brutal winter months. Wonderstate Coffee is also one of the most sustainable coffee companies in the industry, pioneering the direct trade model, paying farmers far above fair trade price, and sourcing their power from 100% solar energy.
Copper Moon Coffee
Dark Sky Roast
Locally roasted in Lafayette, Indiana, Copper Moon Coffee caught our attention not only with the quality of their coffee, but their bold branding. Fully embracing their astronomical identity, Copper Moon’s mission is to roast coffee that tastes out of this world. Through the company’s Copper Moon Rising program, they are committed to social, economic, and environmental sustainability both for the farmers and the planet. Even more impressive, the company runs the We Give A Cup initiative providing support to frontline workers in health care, education, law enforcement, and the military.
Tinker Coffee Co.
Shantawene Lot 01-17, Ethiopia
While there is nothing special about the coffee beans at Starbucks, these beans are quite the opposite, coming directly from an exclusive microlot in Ethiopia’s Shantawene Village. This coffee tasted so good, Tinker decided to purchase the entire lot outright, meaning you literally cannot find this coffee anywhere else on the planet. They also partnered with the Ethiopian-owned and woman-led importing company Catalyst Trade to thoroughly track the beans from harvest through processing to ensure the utmost quality. With notes of peach tea, pineapples, and champagne, this coffee is brewed for good vibes and new beginnings.
Colectivo Coffee
Peacemaker Espresso
The Peacemaker’s notes of cherry, lemon, and spicy chocolate defy the status quo of dark and heavy roasts commonplace among espresso blends. One of Colectivo’s Session Roasted coffees, these beans are hand-roasted in a special way using a vintage Probat roaster that “reveals the unique flavors of each origin while maintaining balance and sweetness.” Colectivo backs up their amazing roasts by fostering deep relationships with farmers and coops across the world through their Colectivo @ Origin initiative.
La Colombe
R.I.P. Medium Roast
La Colombe aptly named this roast “R.I.P.” because the flavor profile of caramel cream, blackberry jam, and spice cake will, quite literally, make your heart stop. This medium roast is just one of many coffees that showcase La Colombe’s ability to produce some of the best specialty coffee while remaining steadfast in their commitment to making the world a better place. From biodegradable packaging to prioritizing partnerships in high-need areas to consistently paying above fair trade price, La Colombe doesn’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk.
Just Coffee Coop
WTF Roast
I mean seriously, WTF? This dark, single-origin roast from Honduras highlights Just Coffee Coop’s ability to not only source equitable and sustainable coffee, but do those beans and their farmers justice by roasting them to perfection. With hazelnut and chocolate overtones followed by a smoky finish, this roast hits all the right notes fans of darker coffees will love.
Stumptown Coffee Roasters
El Injerto Bourbon
With hints of orange sherbet and buttery chocolate, El Injerto Bourbon delivers on its promise of being Stumptown’s longest standing Direct Trade coffee. The El Injerto farm was the first certified carbon neutral coffee grower in Guatemala, making this single origin roast equally as satisfying for your taste buds as it is for the environment.
Peet’s Coffee
Las Hermanas
A People and Planet roast supporting coffee farming communities and their environments, Las Hermanas strikes just the right balance between savory and sweet to be a daily staple in the kitchen cupboard. Peet’s has donated $250k to help fund the UC Davis Coffee Center, leading research on more sustainable and resilient coffee as farmers face an increasingly tumultuous climate.
Indie Coffee Roasters
Kochere Biloya - Ethiopia Single Origin
Blueberry wine. Lucky Charms. Cotton Candy. In a coffee? Get out of town. This Ethiopian roast boasts one of the most unique flavor profiles we have featured on the show. We are still trying to figure out what we like better: the brewed coffee or the smell of the beans themselves. Indie Coffee Roasters is located just down the street from our recording studio (Ben’s bedroom) where they roast their beans fresh in-house.
Compass Coffee
Cardinal Blend
Founded by two former Marines, Michael Haft and Harrison Suarez, Compass Coffee was born on the premise that coffee need not be a flavorless cup of joe. Their commitment to bold flavor resulted in President Obama hand-selecting Compass Coffee to be served at the White House Veteran’s Day Commemoration Speech. As for the Cardinal Blend, think of a smooth operator who gets the job done day in and day out.
JBC Coffee Roasters
Rock the House Blend
When JBC decided to name their signature blend Rock the House, they knew what they were doing. Elegant, yet powerful this blend demands your taste buds’ attention as it engulfs them with strong hints of stone fruit before subduing them with a smooth milk chocolate finish. With their logo a world on fire sitting idly in a coffee cup, we knew JBC was destined to be featured on the show.
Counter Culture Coffee
Apollo
Pioneering the Direct Trade model, Counter Culture Coffee has been the gold standard for sustainable, equitable, and transparent coffee over the last decade. The Apollo roast honors that fearless commitment by celebrating the birthplace of coffee—Ethiopia. One hundred percent certified organic washed Ethiopian coffees, Apollo is a bright, energetic blend guaranteed to put some pep in your step.
Death Wish Coffee Co.
The World’s Strongest Coffee
A good ol’ hard slap in the face, Death Wish Coffee gives the finger to your morning grogginess, providing just the jolt you need to unleash your inner beast. Subtle notes of cherry and chocolate make this bitter bean juice just smooth enough so you never think twice about where to go for your morning fix.