What Paramount Coffee Company does

Paramount Coffee Company is a 100% employee-owned coffee roaster founded in 1935 and headquartered at 5133 W Grand River Ave, Lansing, Michigan. Operating continuously for 90+ years and recognized as one of the Midwest's largest coffee roasters, the company roasts premium Arabica coffee in an SQF-certified facility and sells a broad portfolio that includes 79+ flavored varieties, single-origin offerings, blends, Swiss Water Process decaf, Fair Trade Organic, and seasonal limited editions across sub-brands such as Joe Knows Coffee, Yellowstone, 1935, Aliado Farm-Direct, Stars & Stripes, and co-branded Biggby Coffee products. Packaging spans 12oz and 5lb bags, frac packs, single-serve cups compatible with Keurig systems, pillow packs, and bulk formats.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams. Direct-to-consumer e-commerce on paramountcoffee.com (powered by Shopify) plus the Amazon and Walmart marketplaces carries a Subscribe & Save subscription offering 5-10% recurring discounts. B2B wholesale supplies convenience stores, grocery stores, coffee shops, restaurants, retail stores and offices, anchored by private label and custom blend programs with packaging services. A Coffee Ca$h fundraising program enables churches, schools and nonprofits to keep up to 50% margin on sales. Pricing on retail ranges from approximately $14.49 for 12oz flavored coffees to $69.99 for premium 5lb SKUs; wholesale and private label pricing is not publicly disclosed.

The company's B2B franchise is anchored by a multi-decade wholesale partnership with Biggby Coffee (since 1999) and a strategic alignment with the OBIIS (One BIGG Island in Space) initiative, supporting Biggby's 100% Farm-Direct sourcing target by 2028. Certifications held include SQF, USDA Organic, Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, STAR-K Kosher, Swiss Water Process, and OBIIS. Operations are exclusively domestic (United States), with the workforce of 101-250 employees holding ownership through the ESOP established in 2000. Management is led by President Rich Schaafsma, with Ward Yondo (VP Food Service), Rod Carpenter (Farm-Direct Coordinator, 16+ years tenure), and Angelo Oricchio (former CEO, developer of the Joe Knows Coffee brand).

Name

Paramount Coffee Company

Legal name

Paramount Coffee Company

Website

https://paramountcoffee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Paramount Coffee Company is a 100% employee-owned coffee roaster founded in 1935 in Lansing, Michigan, serving wholesale B2B customers (C-stores, grocery, coffee shops, restaurants, offices), direct-to-consumer retail, and nonprofit fundraising programs with a broad portfolio of flavored, single-origin, and custom-blend Arabica coffees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Coffee Roasting

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing (AFAFADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG), Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Beverage Wholesale (AFAIAGAD)

Keywords

• Gourmet coffee roasting
• Wholesale coffee supply
• Private label coffee
• Coffee subscription service
• Farm-direct coffee sourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail E-commerce Sales: Direct-to-consumer online sales through paramountcoffee.com. Products include 12oz, 2lb, 5lb bags, single serve cups, and frac packs. Subscription model (Subscribe & Save) offers 5-10% recurring discounts.
2. Wholesale B2B: Bulk sales to businesses including private label programs, custom blends, and standard wholesale supply to convenience stores, grocery stores, coffee shops, restaurants, retail stores, and offices.
3. Fundraising Program: Coffee Ca$h fundraiser program for nonprofits where organizations keep 50% of sales. Provides free materials and support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Paramount Coffee Company roasts and sells gourmet coffee under its own brands (Paramount Roasters, Joe Knows Coffee®, Yellowstone, Aliado Farm-Direct, 1935) and co-branded lines (Biggby Coffee). Products are sold in 12oz, 2lb, and 5lb bags plus single-serve cups and frac packs across ground, whole bean, flavored, single-origin, decaf, and seasonal varieties. Beyond retail coffee, the company offers wholesale supply, private label and custom blend development, multi-format packaging services, and a Coffee Ca$h fundraising program for nonprofit organizations.

Product overview

Paramount Coffee Company is a 100% employee-owned coffee roaster founded in 1935, based in Lansing, Michigan, offering a broad portfolio of roasted coffee products and services across both retail (DTC e-commerce and Amazon) and wholesale channels. The product lineup centers on a core roasted coffee range (ground, whole bean, flavored, decaf, single-origin, Fair Trade Organic) sold in 12oz and 5lb formats, supplemented by branded sub-lines including the proprietary Joe Knows Coffee® flavor collection (Tall Dark & Handsome, Wake Up Joe, Coconut Crazy Joe, Joe Pumpkin Latte, Chocolate Raspberry Joe, Donut Store), the Yellowstone Collection (award-winning caramel oatmeal, maple bourbon, bunkhouse roasts), and the Biggby Coffee co-branded Farm-Direct line (Biggby Best, Biggby French Roast) developed for the Biggby Coffee chain. The Aliado Farm-Direct sub-brand represents premium, OBIIS-certified direct-trade coffees sourced from named farms. Seasonal limited-edition flavors (Pumpkin Pie, Vermont Maple, Orange Creamsicle, Dubai Chocolate, Stars & Stripes Birthday Cake) are introduced regularly throughout the year. On the wholesale side, Paramount offers private label/custom blend creation, comprehensive packaging services (frac packs, single-serve cups, film packaging, pillow packs, bulk), and the Coffee Cash fundraising program for nonprofits. The company holds SQF, USDA Organic, Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, STAR-K Kosher, and OBIIS certifications, and roasts all coffee at its SQF-certified facility in Lansing, Michigan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Joe Knows Coffee®: A popular sub-brand developed by former CEO Angelo Oricchio, featuring special blends including Tall Dark & Handsome, Wake Up Joe, Coconut Crazy Joe, Donut Store, Joe Pumpkin Latte, and Chocolate Raspberry Joe.
• Yellowstone
• 1935

Products and services

• Retail Roasted Coffee (Ground, Whole Bean, Flavored, Decaf, Single Origin) Core roasted coffee line sold directly to consumers through paramountcoffee.com, Amazon, and select retail; includes dark, medium, and light roasts; ground and whole bean formats; 12oz and 5lb package sizes; single-origin and blended offerings; 79+ flavored varieties; Fair Trade Organic; Swiss Water Process decaf; and single-serve cups compatible with Keurig brewing systems.
• Joe Knows Coffee® Flagship proprietary sub-brand of flavored and dark roast coffees; includes Tall Dark & Handsome, Wake Up Joe, Coconut Crazy Joe, Donut Store, Joe Pumpkin Latte, and Chocolate Raspberry Joe; sold in 12oz, 2lb, single-serve cups, compostable pods, and frac pack formats.
• Yellowstone Collection Branded sub-collection featuring Yellowstone Caramel Oatmeal, Maple Bourbon, Bunkhouse, and Ranch House blends; sold in 12oz ground, single-serve cups, and frac packs.
• Biggby Coffee (co-branded wholesale line) Co-branded Farm-Direct coffee products (Biggby Best and Biggby French Roast) produced for the Biggby Coffee chain; 100% Farm-Direct sourced; available in 12oz, 32oz, single-serve cups, and frac packs.
• Aliado Farm-Direct Coffee Premium Farm-Direct coffee sub-brand sourced directly from partner farms (e.g., Finca LaFortaleza in Chiapas, Mexico); OBIIS Certified; traceable single-origin provenance; flagship example named a 2026 SCA Sustainability Award finalist.
• Seasonal Flavors Collection Limited-edition flavored coffees released for seasonal occasions including Pumpkin Pie, Vermont Maple Grove, Vanilla Nut Cream, Joe Pumpkin Latte, Orange Creamsicle, Dubai Chocolate, Dubai Chocolate Strawberry, and Stars & Stripes Birthday Cake; sold in 12oz, 5lb, and single-serve formats.
• Private Label and Custom Blends Wholesale service enabling businesses to create personalized, proprietary coffee blends tailored to brand taste and identity; includes collaborative consultation, exclusive bean selection, quality assurance, and custom packaging design.
• Packaging Services (Wholesale) Comprehensive packaging solutions for wholesale customers including frac packs (single-pot packs), single-serve cups and cartons, traditional film packaging, digital film packaging, pillow packs, and bulk sizes; supports private label branding and custom design.
• Wholesale Coffee Supply Bulk and wholesale coffee supply for convenience stores, grocery stores, coffee shops, restaurants, retail stores, and offices; includes private label options, custom blends, and Farm-Direct sourcing partnerships.
• Coffee Ca$h Fundraiser Program Coffee fundraising program for churches, schools, and nonprofits; organizations keep up to 50% of every sale; free materials, no upfront costs, pricing assistance, and local pickup available.

Quantifiable outcome

• Organizations keep up to 50% profit margin on Coffee Ca$h fundraiser sales
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• University of Notre DameminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 June 2026Host of 3rd Annual Sustainability Celebration where Paramount Coffee received the Human Rights and Social Responsibility Award, recognizing their sustainable sourcing efforts and Farm-Direct program impact.
• Biggby CoffeecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1999Long-standing partnership since 1999 where Paramount Coffee serves as Biggby's primary wholesale coffee supplier. Paramount supplies Biggby's Farm-Direct coffee products, supporting Biggby's goal of 100% Farm-Direct sourcing by 2028. Paramount was awarded the Human Rights and Social Responsibility Award at Notre Dame's Sustainability Celebration recognizing this partnership's impact.
• One BIGG Island In Space (OBIIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOBIIS is an initiative by Biggby Coffee founders Bob and Michelle Fish to change the way coffee is purchased globally. Paramount Coffee partners with OBIIS to bring Farm-Direct certified coffees to market, ensuring traceable supply chains and sustainable pricing for farmers.
• Finca LaFortalezacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarm partner in Chiapas, Mexico producing Aliado Farm-Direct coffee. Their coffee was named 2026 SCA Award Finalist, demonstrating the quality of Paramount's farm-direct relationships and the resulting products.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster with both wholesale and consumer (DTC, retail, foodservice) distribution, known for sustainability and single-origin focus. Directly comparable in CPG specialty coffee positioning and channel mix.
• Cameron's Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster with broad grocery distribution (including single-serve Keurig-compatible cups) and a focus on flavored/specialty varieties. Comparable as a similarly scaled roaster operating in the flavored coffee and mass retail category.
• Coffee Beanery: Coffee roaster and franchise cafe operator with a broad specialty portfolio and grocery/wholesale distribution. Comparable in size and product breadth to Paramount, with an additional franchise-cafe component.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster with single-origin and direct-trade focus, sold via grocery, DTC, and wholesale; now part of a larger parent. Strong reference point for Paramount's Farm-Direct specialty positioning and retail/grocery strategy.
• Kicking Horse Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster with a strong organic and fair-trade positioning, sold through grocery and e-commerce. Comparable to Paramount's Farm-Direct/Aliado positioning and its multi-channel retail and DTC distribution model.
• New England Coffee: Family-owned regional coffee roaster founded in the early 20th century with broad flavored/specialty portfolio, supermarket and foodservice distribution. A close regional-roaster analog to Paramount's blend of legacy operations, flavored portfolio, and B2B/wholesale channel mix.
• Caribou Coffee: Mid-sized specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator with broad retail grocery distribution and a national footprint. Closely comparable as a roaster with both B2B/wholesale and consumer packaged offerings, albeit materially larger than Paramount.

Broad incumbents

• J.M. Smucker (Folgers / Café Bustelo): Large packaged coffee CPG owner (Folgers, Café Bustelo, etc.) with national grocery distribution and specialty push. Comparable at the category level — roasted/ground coffee CPG via grocery and mass retail — though vastly larger and resource-backed.
• Green Mountain Coffee (Keurig Dr Pepper): Specialty coffee brand owned by Keurig Dr Pepper, sold primarily through Keurig single-serve systems and grocery. Comparable as a large-scale specialty wholesale/retail coffee brand that competes in the same Keurig-compatible single-serve category Paramount addresses.

Regional players

• Biggby Coffee: Michigan-based, Midwest-focused coffee chain that is Paramount's longest-standing wholesale customer. Comparable because it overlaps in coffee category and regional geography, though it is primarily a retailer/operator rather than a roaster.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/paramountcoffeecompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/paramountcoffeeco/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paramount-coffee-company

Compliance11 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 Paramount Coffee Company