What Portrait Coffee does

Portrait Coffee is a Black-owned specialty coffee roaster founded in 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia, operating a multi-channel model that combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce, a physical cafe, wholesale distribution, mobile catering, and branded merchandise. The company roasts single-origin and experimental-process coffees sourced through direct trade relationships, with particular emphasis on supporting young and emerging producers via its Young Producers Program partnership with Unblended Coffee. Its product portfolio spans core blends named after Black cultural figures (Founders, TONI, BARRY, STACEY), seasonal single origins from Colombia, Honduras, Uganda, Rwanda, and Peru, a recurring subscription service called Baldwin's Coffee Club, and limited-edition cultural collaborations anchored by the Outkast Stankonia 25th Anniversary collection.

The company generates revenue through six identifiable streams: one-time retail coffee sales, recurring subscriptions with a 10% subscriber discount, wholesale to Atlanta-area retailers and national grocery chains (Kroger and Whole Foods), cafe beverage sales at its West End Atlanta location at the Lottie Watkins building, mobile espresso catering for events, and merchandise. Coffee pricing ranges from $16.75 to $30 for a 310g bag, with subscriptions shipping nationally on a Wednesday-roasted/Thursday-shipped cadence. Headcount is 1-10 employees and the only disclosed capital event is the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund grant in 2020. The distribution architecture is Shopify-based with no public APIs, developer integrations, or AI/ML features disclosed, and the company has earned recognition including Food and Wine's "Best Coffee Roaster in Georgia" and Sprudge's "Most Notable Roaster."

Name

Portrait Coffee

Legal name

Portrait Coffee

Website

https://portrait.coffee

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Portrait Coffee is an Atlanta-based Black-owned specialty coffee roaster founded in 2019. It sells single-origin and blended coffees via DTC e-commerce, a West End cafe, wholesale (Kroger, Whole Foods), catering, and subscriptions, centering Black excellence in specialty coffee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Roasting

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI), Independent Neighborhood Cafes (THAFADAC)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee roasting
• Single origin coffee
• Coffee subscription service
• Wholesale coffee distribution
• Coffee catering events

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Coffee Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of roasted coffee beans through e-commerce storefront. Products sold in 310g, 2lb, and 5lb sizes. One-time purchases and subscription options available.
2. Coffee Club Subscription: Recurring subscription service (Baldwin's Coffee Club) offering regular coffee deliveries with 10% discount for subscribers. Coffee roasted on Wednesdays and shipped on Thursdays.
3. Wholesale Coffee: B2B sales of Portrait Coffee products to retail partners, restaurants, and cafes throughout Atlanta including Spiller Park Coffee, Grant Park Market, Chrome Yellow Trading Co., Full Commission, Refuge Coffee, Westview Corner Grocery, and Kroger.
4. Cafe Operations: Physical cafe at Lottie Watkins building in Atlanta West End serving espresso drinks, lattes, and coffee beverages.
5. Catering & Events: Mobile espresso cart and coffee catering services for events including brewed coffee, espresso drinks, pastries, affogatos, and zero-proof beverages. Services include coffee education and record bar experiences.
6. Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel, mugs, candles, and limited-edition collaboration items such as the Stankonia collection.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Portrait Coffee is a Black-owned specialty coffee roaster operating a physical cafe and roastery in Atlanta's West End neighborhood, selling single-origin and blended roasted coffee beans direct-to-consumer online, through wholesale to retailers and grocers, and via a recurring subscription (Baldwin's Coffee Club). The company also offers branded merchandise, mobile espresso cart catering for events, and limited-edition cultural collaborations such as the Outkast Stankonia 25th anniversary collection.

Product overview

Portrait Coffee is a Black-owned specialty coffee roaster located in West End Atlanta, founded in 2019. The company operates as a multi-channel specialty coffee business with a portfolio spanning: (1) Core Coffee Blends - flagship offerings including Founders Blend (medium roast Colombia single origin), TONI (medium-dark chocolate-forward blend named for Toni Morrison), BARRY (fruity medium roast inspired by Barry Jenkins), STACEY (medium-dark hazelnut-caramel blend), and Darker the Cherry (dark roast for cold brew); (2) Single Origin Seasonal Coffees - rotating single-origin offerings from Colombia, Honduras, Uganda, Rwanda, Peru, and other origins with various processing methods (washed, natural, anaerobic, honey); (3) Subscription Services - Baldwin's Coffee Club for recurring deliveries; (4) Merchandise - apparel, mugs, candles, and limited-edition collaborations including the Outkast Stankonia 25th Anniversary Collection and artist collaborations; (5) Wholesale and Catering - B2B wholesale program and mobile espresso cart catering services; (6) Retail Cafe - physical cafe at the Lottie Watkins building in Atlanta. The company emphasizes ethical sourcing through partnerships with producers and initiatives like the Young Producers Program with Unblended Coffee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Founders Blend: The flagship medium roast coffee blend, smooth and approachable, inspired by late-night Waffle House diner coffee. Named as the first coffee created and foundation of the roastery.
• Toni
• BARRY
• STACEY
• Darker the Cherry
• Stankonia Coffee
• Baldwin's Coffee Club

Products and services

• Founders Blend The flagship medium roast single-origin Colombia coffee and the first blend created by Portrait Coffee. Smooth, sweet, and approachable with milk chocolate, lemon, and soft fruit tasting notes. Recommended for espresso.
• TONI Medium-dark roast chocolate-forward blend named for Toni Morrison. Features dark chocolate, hazelnut, and plum tasting notes with a big, sticky body. Rotating Honduras origin.
• BARRY Medium roast fruity blend inspired by filmmaker Barry Jenkins. Well-balanced with fruity notes. Named to celebrate Black cultural excellence.
• STACEY Medium-dark roast inspired by Stacey Abrams. Features rich smokey hazelnut and caramel notes. Dark and Rich category offering.
• Darker the Cherry Dark roast Brazilian single origin. Rich and bold profile recommended for cold brew and iced coffees. Classic Coffees collection offering.
• Stankonia Coffee Limited-edition Outkast 25th anniversary coffee blend celebrating Atlanta's iconic album Stankonia. Rwanda and Colombia origin blend with experimental natural and washed processes.
• Colombia Sonson Black Honey Single origin from young producer Byron Arcila in Sonson, Antioquia, Colombia. Black Honey and Washed processing creates vibrant flavors of blackberry, dark chocolate, and açaí.
• Colombia Yessica Parra Papayo Single origin Papayo lot from siblings Yessica and Diego Parra in Pitalito, Huila. Ethiopian Landrace Papayo variety, washed process with 60-hour fermentation. Notes of mandarin, pineapple, and papaya.
• Honduras Finca La Unica Natural Natural-processed single origin from Copan, Honduras. USDA Certified Organic and Fair Trade Certified. Parainema varietal with tasting notes of red apple, dates, and honey.
• Uganda Kisoro Estate Anaerobic Natural Anaerobic natural microlot from Kisoro Estate in the volcanic Kigezi Highlands of southwestern Uganda at 1800 MASL. SL14, SL28, Nyasaland, and Bugisu varietals. Notes of cooked red grape, dried cranberry, and brown sugar.
• Rwanda Fugi Ubumwe Washed Washed single origin from Fugi Washing Station in Ngoma Sector, Nyaruguru District, Southern Province, Rwanda. Red Bourbon variety at 1550-1850 masl. Tasting notes of apple, brown sugar, and dried fruit.
• Triple Double Colombia single origin natural process coffee. Development Lot by Unblended Coffee, collaboration with young producers. Castillo, Colombia, and Caturra varieties. Tasting notes of strawberry, cherry, and lime.
• Colombia Sugarcane Decaf Colombian single origin decaffeinated using ethyl acetate derived from sugar cane, removing 97% of caffeine. Tasting notes of caramel and dried cherry. Year-round offering.
• Double Double Colombia single origin espresso roast. Single-origin Colombian coffee designed for espresso preparation. Smooth and approachable profile.
• Colombia Byron Arcila Double Ferment Colombia single origin from Byron Arcila with double ferment washed processing. Wild and Funky category featuring fermented, experimental lots.
• Peru Lorenzo Arbildo Parra Single origin Peru coffee from Lorenzo Arbildo Parra. Chocolate and Caramel category offering.
• Baldwin's Coffee Club Recurring coffee subscription service offering regular deliveries of Portrait Coffee products with 10% discount for subscribers. Coffee roasted on Wednesdays and shipped Thursdays. Flexible delivery frequency (1-4 weeks).
• Gift Card Digital gift cards available in variable denominations for gifting Portrait Coffee subscriptions or products.
• Coffee Catering Services Mobile espresso cart and coffee catering services for events including weddings, pop-up markets, team meetings, and private events. Includes brewed coffee, espresso drinks, pastries, affogatos, zero-proof beverages, and coffee education sessions.
• Wholesale Coffee Program Wholesale accounts for retailers, cafes, and businesses to purchase Portrait Coffee products in volume. Application-based program with distribution to Atlanta retailers and grocers.
• Portrait Coffee Cafe Physical cafe location at the Lottie Watkins building in West End Atlanta, 1065 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW, Atlanta, GA 30310. Serves lattes and coffee beverages.
• Stankonia Essentials Set Limited-edition Outkast 25th anniversary bundle including Stankonia Coffee and Stankonia Diner Mug.
• STANKONIA - An Outkast & Portrait Candle Limited-edition 8 oz soy candle with amber and incense scents. Outkast 25th anniversary collaboration product.
• Stankonia 25th Anniversary T-Shirt Limited-edition Outkast 25th anniversary t-shirt with front and back designs.
• Stankonia Diner Mug Limited-edition Outkast 25th anniversary ceramic diner mug created in partnership with Created Co.

Quantifiable outcome

• Featured in 20+ major media outlets including Good Morning America, Food and Wine, NBC News, CBS News
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• OutkastflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Collaboration for the Stankonia 25th Anniversary collection featuring limited-edition coffee, merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, candles), and candle products. Celebrates Atlanta's cultural impact and Outkast's legacy of innovation while advancing Portrait Coffee's mission to pour a new narrative in specialty coffee.
• Unblended CoffeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoung Producers Program partnership providing risk-free avenues for young coffee producers to develop their profiles. Portrait Coffee sources development lots including Triple Double and Colombia Yessica Parra Papayo. Focus on multi-year relationships with emerging farmers.
• Finca TerreritocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for sourcing TONI coffee blend and Honduras Finca La Unica Natural. Works with Finca Terrerito for USDA Organic and Fair Trade Certified coffee sourcing.
• FRKO (Atlanta Artist)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration with Atlanta artist FRKO for Juneteenth T-Shirt featuring FRKO's illustration of Black cultural icons in his signature Atlanta comic style.
• Flour and TimeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for coffee catering services. Flour and Time provides vegan, handmade pastries, breads, and desserts that pair with Portrait Coffee offerings at events.
• Honeysuckle GelatominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner providing gelato for affogato offerings at catering events. Portrait Coffee pairs espresso with scoops of gelato for creamy, caffeinated desserts.
• Baho Coffee & Sundog TradingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSourcing partner for Rwanda Fugi Ubumwe Washed coffee. One of Portrait Coffee's first sourcing partners, providing consistent quality Rwandan coffees through Baho Coffee's washing station investments and eco-friendly farming practices.
• Mountain Harvest (Kenneth Barigye)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for Uganda Kisoro Estate Anaerobic Natural. Mountain Harvest, founded by Kenneth Barigye in 2017, transforms livelihoods of Ugandan smallholder farmers through quality and consistency. Kisoro Estate serves as 'living laboratory' for regenerative agriculture.
• Diwan Coffee (Yessica & Diego Parra)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for Colombia Yessica Parra Papayo. Siblings Yessica and Diego Parra founded Diwan Coffee in November 2024. This shipment is part of their first export under their own name, sourced through Unblended.
• Byron ArcilacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with young Colombian producer Byron Arcila for Colombia Sonson Black Honey coffee. Byron is a youth leader and advocate for coffee education in Sonson, Antioquia, helping young farmers adopt innovative farming and processing techniques.
• The Press ShopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Hey Mama Mother's Day collection. A Portrait diner mug paired with a hand-letterpress card, designed to travel together as a way of seeing women fully.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Portland-born third-wave specialty coffee roaster with a roastery-cafe hybrid model, national wholesale, and DTC subscriptions. Direct comparable in product category, channel mix, and target customer.
• Counter Culture Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster with sustainability focus, training centers, and national wholesale. Comparable as a third-wave roaster with direct trade sourcing and education-driven GTM.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: Third-wave specialty roaster with cafe network, DTC subscriptions, and a strong brand identity. Closely aligned on single-origin positioning, subscription model, and cafe-plus-roastery model.
• Intelligentsia Coffee: Pioneering third-wave roaster with direct trade relationships and barista training programs. Comparable on premium single-origin sourcing and cafe/wholesale model.
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Specialty roaster with multiple cafes, draft latte RTD line, and national wholesale into grocery. Highly comparable on roastery-cafe hybrid, DTC, and grocery distribution.
• Verve Coffee Roasters: California-based specialty roaster with cafes, subscriptions, and farmer partnerships. Comparable as a third-wave single-origin roaster with community-driven brand.
• Red Bay Coffee: Oakland-based, Black-owned specialty roaster with wholesale, DTC, and cafe operations. Closely aligned on cultural-identity-driven brand and values-led sourcing, making it a strong peer for Portrait's positioning.
• Joe Coffee: NYC specialty roaster and cafe operator with subscription program. Comparable on roastery-cafe hybrid, DTC subscriptions, and specialty wholesale.
• Onyx Coffee Lab: Award-winning specialty roaster known for competition-grade coffees, with cafe and subscription model. Comparable on premium single-origin positioning and roastery-cafe operations.

Regional players

• Spiller Park Coffee: Atlanta-based specialty coffee shop and roaster that is also a wholesale partner carrying Portrait Coffee. Comparable as an Atlanta specialty competitor in the same local market and customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/portraitcoffeeatl

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Portrait Coffee