The 10 Best Coffee Roasters In The USA (A Complete Guide)

Last Updated on January 31, 2022 by John Moretti

Coffee roasting is a very important step in coffee production. Some argue that this is the most important step. After roasting, coffee beans can range from light brown to dark brown and have an aroma that is considered one of the most pleasant smells in the world.

Since coffee roasting is so essential, I’ve decided to take a look at some of the top coffee roasters right here in the United States. Luckily, there were many great companies to choose from. Take a look at this list, and you might find some roasters whose coffee you may like to try. 

The Best Coffee Roasters In The USA

Paradise Coffee Roasters

This company was founded in 2002. The company grows its own beans on Hawaiian Coffee Farms. However, they also source beans from other parts of the world, such as Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Ecuador. If you can’t wait to get enough of their coffee, you can become a subscriber and receive regular bags weekly, bi-monthly, or every 4 weeks. 

The coffee review has rated their coffee a high score of 93 to 97 for a total of over 60 times. They purchase and process their own coffee cherries (these turn into beans) on their Hawaiian Farms. They roast their beans in both Hilo, Hawaii, and Minnesota. 

Miguel Mesa is the founder of this high-quality company. He works with the company all the way from the farm level.

Pros

Their Philippines Sitio Bellis coffee combines the taste of pineapple, hazelnut, and brown sugar. I have never had coffee with pineapple overtones, but it sounds like something that would represent Hawaii very well.

Regarding coffee production, the company truly has its hands in all aspects of production. Some other coffee roasters/producers may visit their coffee growers, which is excellent.

However, Mr. Mesa takes it several steps further as he is involved in farming.

I had no idea that coffee could be grown anywhere in the United States. Then again, Hawaii’s climate and soil differ from that of the continental US. 

Cons

Being one of the best coffee roasters comes with a high price, at least for the customers. A 6-oz bag of Philippines Sitio Bellis costs as much as $19. A 4 oz bag of a different brand costs $24.

Greater Goods

This family-owned coffee business in Austin, Texas, prides itself on ethically grown coffee. These roasters won a Roaster magazine award in 2021. They’re so enthusiastic about coffee. They teach others about roasting, tasting, and brewing through the Specialty Coffee Association Premier training campus.

They source their coffee beans from all over the world. The company strongly believes in giving back. So much so they donate a percentage from the sale of each bag to a local charity in Texas.

Their coffee is sourced in countries such as Costa Rica, Kenya, Ethiopia, Brazil, and Guatemala. If you fall in love with their coffee, you can join their membership program. Brew Club members can receive coffee every month for a starting fee of $15. That is not bad for such an award-winning roaster.

I personally am excited about one of their coffee roasts from Kenya. The Nyeri Mahiga comes from Kenya. This coffee has a buttery taste with notes of plum and tamarind. Kenya is a country that produces excellent coffee and has two harvests.

This particular coffee has been double washed and double fermented. Over 400 smallholder farmers help produce the beans sourced for this blend.

Klatch Coffee Roasting

Mike Perry is the main buyer and head roaster of this company. He has a degree in chemical engineering, which he has used to create a unique roast style. The company has even been featured in Popular Science. They roast all the coffee to order, so tasters get the freshest cup possible. 

This popular brand also has a subscription service for coffee lovers that can’t get enough of their brews.

Chemical engineering is used to enhance the production of coffee. The company even sells a creme brulee blended coffee in their stores, which sounds absolutely delicious to me.

I am curious if Mr.Perry’s chemical engineering background actually helps the taste of the coffee or does it just act as a selling point.

Oddly Correct

The founders of Oddly Correct founded the company in Kansas City because they wanted to make specialty coffee more accessible to everyone. They wanted to take away the classism or elitism that is associated with it. These roasters also show concern for the environment with how they source their coffee. 

The roasters are invested in getting the best quality coffee; they directly source it from Colombia and have traveled there for several years. They source their coffee from the La Palma y El Tucan Farm.

Like most ideal Colombian coffee, these beans are grown at a high altitude. The La Palma Farm grows its beans 1800 meters above sea level.

Coffee Berries Farm

Oddly Correct sees the coffee beans that are being harvested and even tastes the coffee themselves long before coffee lovers in the United States put it in their cup. Customers can ensure that Oddly Correct coffee is being evaluated from start to finish.

Their beans are grown at a high altitude. The founders are hands-on in the coffee process long before roasting begins.

Mostra Coffee

This San Diego, California-based company, was founded by four Filipino Americans. They formed this company so that the world could get a taste of Filipino coffee. Their efforts paid off when the company was named Roaster of the year in 2020. 

The company has been featured in Forbes Magazine, Bon Appetit magazine, as well as Zagat magazine. Its Fair Trade coffee comes from the mountains in the Philippines. Try their coffee and buy a book from their warehouse, which is in the same place. 

Although coffee production began as early as 1740 in this region, Filipino coffee is not highly known compared to other countries. This company gives us a taste of coffee from that region from the founders’ unique cultural perspective.

For $29, you can get a 14 oz bag of some of their specialty coffee. Other roasters may only offer you 4oz or 6 oz for a comparable price.

Chromatic Coffee

Chromatic is based out of San Jose, California. In addition to coffee roasting, they also maintain the quality of their machines as well as pack their own coffee bags for sale. One of their more interesting coffee blends comes from Papua New Guinea.

Gracenote Coffee Roasters

My hometown, Boston, Massachusetts, is known for taking food and beer production very seriously.  Luckily, the city also has its own well-known coffee roaster that can provide coffee at the level of its seafood and educational facilities. 

The company uses analytics and old-fashioned tasting to ensure the highest quality roasts. You can contact this company to buy coffee wholesale or simply visit one of their Boston-based cafes for a sip.

Despite all the work that goes into their roasting production, the company makes their coffee accessible for loyal customers. For a mere $14, you can join their subscription program and receive coffee every month or every 2 weeks.

Good price point, especially compared to other successful American roasters. Because Boston has such high-quality food and beverages, it must be really good when one particular brand becomes nationally popular.

Coffee shops are only in Boston. While I am excited about this coffee roaster, nothing will ever replace the Massachusetts native coffee company, Dunkin’ Donuts.

Devocion 

This New York City-based roaster is heavily involved in several aspects of their coffee production – not just the roasting process. Devocion has its own facility in Colombia that conducts the dry milling process of their coffee beans. In Colombia, they have hand-selected over 1,000 farm partners to grow their beans. 

In order to ensure the freshest tasting coffee, Devocion boasts that their coffee beans go from origin to the roasting process in as little as ten days. Clearly, they have a very efficient process so that you can avoid buying a stale bag of coffee. 

Do you have any questions about how to make their coffee in different machines? Whether you are using a French press or a Chemex to brew their coffee grounds,  you will find a helpful brewing guide on their website.

Impressive amounts of farming partners are used to produce their coffee. The company is involved in many important processes beyond roasting, such as the farming and milling of the beans.

I wonder if having so many different farmers involved in the coffee planting can affect the consistency and the quality of their coffee beans. 

Counter Culture

Counter Culture has been certified organic since 2002. Unlike other well-known coffee roasters, this brand does not have a storefront but provides coffee to deserving coffee shops. The company shows its consciousness through its business practices.

They have been open about the salaries that they pay their coffee farmers. Counter Culture also work with a program called Coalition for Coffee to Communities.

This company provides socially conscious and independent coffee roasting to the community of Durham, North Carolina.

La Colombe

This popular coffee brand got its start in Philadelphia. However, don’t stress if you can’t make it to the City of Brotherly Love to taste their coffee. La Colombe will have a roastery and two more coffee shops in Los Angeles thanks to a huge $28 million dollar investment.

You have probably seen their products in stores like Whole Foods and other places by way of various bottled and canned drinks. I enjoy some of their canned cold brew concoctions. However, I don’t know if I want to drink a draft latte.

The company will have a roast and coffee shop presence on both coasts.

The bottled and canned drinks that you can buy in the store can be rather pricey.

Wind-up

Conclusion

Positives

One of the many positive aspects of this list is knowing that there are so many coffee roasters within the United States. Until I did this research, I had no idea that coffee beans could be grown anywhere in the US. Luckily, one roaster is farming coffee beans on the Hawaiian Islands. 

Many of these roasters go well beyond the roasting process. A number of them are involved in the selection of farmers, dry-milling, and packaging of their products. I also love the presence of social consciousness while doing business.

The fair treatment of farmers is essential. While I am not sure how much the most socially conscious roaster on the list is actually paying their farmers, it is good to know that some are somewhat transparent about it. I hope it goes beyond $2 a day.

Buying Coffee

Many of these roasters also have a subscription program, so loyal customers can save money or time by having bi-weekly or monthly deliveries made at home. This is especially handy for coffee roasters who don’t have a coffee shop in your city or state.

Some of these rosters are also devoted to teaching customers the best brewing methods. One provides a website brewing guide, while some participate in organizations that teach the community about the coffee production process.

Negatives

When you have made it to the point of being considered one of the best coffee roasters in the United States – and perhaps the world –  your coffee will often come with a higher price tag than normal. 

When I buy a cup of my favorite coffee, especially an espresso drink, I understand it will cost a few more pennies. However, I do feel that paying as much as $24 for a 4 oz bag of coffee is quite a lot. I genuinely do hope that coffee is as excellent as the price and reviews claim.