Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is a Columbus, Ohio-based specialty coffee roaster and consulting firm that, since 1991, has combined direct-trade coffee sourcing with a franchise-alternative 7 Steps consulting program that has helped launch over 300 independent coffee shops and supplies more than 900 wholesale accounts across 37 U.S. states plus Bangladesh and Guam.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersColumbus, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea does
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is a specialty coffee roaster and coffee shop consulting firm founded in 1991 by Greg Ubert and headquartered at 700 Alum Creek Drive in Columbus, Ohio. The company roasts more than 500,000 pounds of coffee annually through direct trade relationships with farmers via its Friend2Farmer program, and operates an SCA-certified Innovation Lab that trains baristas and shop managers on its equipment, proprietary recipe formulations (syrups, sauces, frozen drink bases, smoothie mixes), and brewing technologies including the Modbar Pour Over System. Its product portfolio spans wholesale coffee and supplies, six company-owned Crimson Cup Coffee House locations in Ohio (Columbus, Tallmadge, West Chester), an e-commerce retail store, and the 7 Steps to Success consulting program based on Ubert's book.
The company's core commercial engine is the 7 Steps to Success program, which provides aspiring entrepreneurs a $69.99 startup kit followed by consulting, business planning, location selection, equipment packages, hands-on training, and ongoing operational support, with no franchise fees, royalties, or long-term contracts. This program has launched more than 300 independent coffee shops across 37 states since 1991 and supplies an additional 900+ wholesale customers including independent coffee houses, grocers (Whole Foods, Kroger, Giant Eagle), colleges and universities, and healthcare facilities. Crimson Cup has layered vertical-specific consulting offerings for college, healthcare, and corporate segments, and pursues embedded-retail partnerships such as co-located coffee shops inside Telhio Credit Union and CME Credit Union branches and as the anchor tenant of the Olentangy Motor Inn boutique hotel in Grandview Heights.
Crimson Cup is privately held, bootstrapped since founding, with Greg Ubert remaining the founder and operating leader, and the company has been recognized with Roast Magazine's 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year, multiple Good Food Awards, and the 2025 Golden Bean World Series World Championship. It employs more than 75 associates, has no disclosed institutional investors or parent company, and serves customers across 37 U.S. states plus Bangladesh and Guam.
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea
- Legal name
- Crimson Cup, Inc.
- Website
- https://crimsoncup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is a Columbus, Ohio-based specialty coffee roaster and consulting firm that, since 1991, has combined direct-trade coffee sourcing with a franchise-alternative 7 Steps consulting program that has helped launch over 300 independent coffee shops and supplies more than 900 wholesale accounts across 37 U.S. states plus Bangladesh and Guam.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee Roasting
- NAICS
- Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG), Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA)
Keywords
Where Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- 7 Steps to Success Consulting Program: One-time kit purchase of $69.99 for the startup package, with consulting services provided throughout the coffee shop opening process. No ongoing royalties or fees required from coffee shop owners.
- Wholesale Coffee and Supplies: Sale of award-winning coffee, tea, syrups, sauces, frozen drink bases, smoothie mixes, and cafe essentials to independent coffee shops and other businesses. Products are provided on a per-order basis.
- Company-Owned Coffee Houses: Revenue from seven company-owned Crimson Cup Coffee House locations in Ohio (Columbus, Tallmadge, West Chester), offering coffee drinks, food, and retail coffee beans to consumers.
- Training Services: Hands-on barista and manager training services, including advanced courses at the Innovation Lab. Some training is included in the consulting program; additional specialized training may have additional fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 7 Steps to Success Startup Kit |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Coffee Shop Startup Costs (Seating Only) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Coffee Shop Startup Costs (Drive-Thru Only) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Coffee Shop Startup Costs (Seating + Drive-Thru) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Coffee Shop Startup Costs (Kiosk/Mobile Cart) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Mobile Coffee Food Truck |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Crimson Cup roasts specialty coffee at its Columbus, Ohio facility and operates as both a wholesale coffee supplier and a coffee shop startup consulting firm. Its flagship 7 Steps to Success program guides first-time entrepreneurs through opening independent coffee shops with no franchise fees or ongoing royalties, supported by award-winning coffee, proprietary syrups and bases, hands-on barista training at its SCA-certified Innovation Lab, and ongoing operational consulting. The company also runs seven company-owned Crimson Cup Coffee Houses in Ohio and sells wholesale to grocery, healthcare, and higher-education customers across 37 states.
Product overview
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is a specialty coffee company founded in 1991 offering a multi-layered product portfolio centered on its 7 Steps to Success consulting program and premium coffee products. The core offering includes the 7 Steps to Success Kit (a $69.99 book-based startup package) and the accompanying consulting program, which together provide aspiring coffee shop owners with business planning, location selection, equipment sourcing, hands-on training, and ongoing support. The company also operates six company-owned Crimson Cup Coffee Houses in Ohio as both retail locations and test labs for its products and workflows. Supporting the consulting business are wholesale product lines (award-winning coffee beans, proprietary syrups, sauces, frozen drink bases, smoothie bases, and cafe essentials), specialized vertical-specific consulting for colleges/universities, healthcare facilities, and grocery retailers, and an SCA-certified Innovation Lab for advanced barista training. The Friend2Farmer sustainability program underpins the sourcing strategy with direct trade relationships. The portfolio positions Crimson Cup as both a coffee roaster/supplier and a business consulting firm for independent coffee entrepreneurs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Friend2Farmer: Sustainability program providing economic, social, environmental and educational support to coffee-growing communities globally.
- Focus on Good
- 7 Steps to Success
- Innovation Lab
Products and services
- 7 Steps to Success Consulting Program Comprehensive coffee shop startup consulting program guiding entrepreneurs through business planning, location selection, equipment sourcing, hands-on training, marketing, and ongoing operational support, with no franchise fees or royalties. Designed for aspiring first-time coffee shop owners.
- 7 Steps to Success Kit $69.99 startup kit containing Greg Ubert's 'Seven Steps to Success' book, digital access, a business plan template, and an initial consulting call, backed by a risk-free guarantee; entry point into the 7 Steps program for aspiring coffee shop owners.
- Hands-On Training Programs Barista and coffee shop management training programs including Barista Foundations, Barista Intermediate Training, custom training plans, five days of on-site operations training for new partners, and ongoing support through the SCA-certified Innovation Lab in Columbus, Ohio.
- Wholesale Coffee and Cafe Supplies Wholesale line of award-winning specialty coffee, tea, proprietary syrups, sauces, frozen drink bases, fruit smoothie mixes, Piranha Bite energy drink concentrate, and cafe essentials supplied on a per-order basis to independent coffee shops and other wholesale customers.
- Grocery Wholesale Coffee Program Wholesale coffee bean and supply program for grocery chains and specialty food retailers, featuring Class I Specialty Grade green coffee, hand-roasted beans, and support with signage and cross-merchandising concepts. Sold through partners including Whole Foods, Kroger, Giant Eagle, The Hills Market, and Weiland's Gourmet Market.
- Existing Coffee Shop Consulting Operations consulting and supply offering for already-operating independent coffee shops, providing analysis, training, and strategies to increase profitability, reduce costs, and improve efficiency without requiring product exclusivity.
- Crimson Cup Coffee Houses Six company-owned retail coffee shops across Ohio (Tallmadge/Akron, West Chester/Cincinnati, Clintonville, Grandview Heights, Lewis Center, Upper Arlington) serving espresso drinks, nitro cold brew, teas, and specialty beverages made from award-winning in-house roasted coffee, plus food and retail coffee beans. Also function as product and workflow test labs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 300+ independent coffee shops launched since 1991
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CME Credit UnioncoreCo-located Crimson Cup drive-thru coffee shop with CME Credit Union in Lewis Center, Ohio. Located in one of Delaware County's fastest-growing corridors.
- Olentangy Motor InnminorCrimson Cup coffee shop anchors the ground floor of the renovated Olentangy Motor Inn boutique hotel in Grandview Heights, Columbus. Hotel front desk operates inside the coffee shop.
- Telhio Credit UnioncoreCo-located Crimson Cup coffee shop inside Telhio Credit Union's Beckett Ridge Branch in West Chester, Ohio. The partnership provides convenient coffee service for banking customers with shared drive-thru access and conference room facilities for community use.
- Independent Coffee Shop Owners (Network)core300+ independent coffee shop owners who use Crimson Cup's 7 Steps program and purchase coffee/products. Most are in communities under 50,000 population, east of the Rockies.
- Grocery Retailers (Whole Foods, Kroper, Giant Eagle, others)coreSpecialty grocery partners including Whole Foods, Kroger, Giant Eagle, The Hills Market, Weiland's Gourmet Market, and specialty stores selling Crimson Cup retail coffee products.
- Colleges and UniversitiescoreHigher education institutions receiving coffee, consulting, and training services. Crimson Cup has special expertise with college coffee shops due to Columbus being home to six universities.
- Healthcare FacilitiesminorHospitals and healthcare facilities receiving coffee programs and services to enhance staff, patient, and visitor experience.
- Coffee Farmers (Friend2Farmer Program)coreDirect trade partnerships with coffee farmers globally providing sustainable sourcing, fair pricing, training, and community investment through the Friend2Farmer program.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Intelligentsia Coffee: Chicago-based specialty roaster with coffee bars and direct trade sourcing, also owned by Peet's. Comparable to Crimson Cup in roastery-cafe model, third-wave positioning, and emphasis on farmer relationships.
- Counter Culture Coffee: Durham, NC-based specialty roaster with a strong training and education program and direct trade sourcing. Closely comparable to Crimson Cup's roastery plus training/consulting model and emphasis on sustainability.
- Blue Bottle Coffee: Oakland-based specialty roaster and cafe operator, owned by Nestlé. Comparable to Crimson Cup as a roastery-cafe with national wholesale reach, though at materially larger scale.
- La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Philadelphia-based specialty roaster with cafes, draft latte RTD line, and wholesale distribution. Comparable to Crimson Cup in roastery-cafe model and national wholesale footprint.
- Ritual Coffee Roasters: San Francisco-based specialty roaster with multiple cafes and a focus on single-origin direct trade. Comparable as a roastery-cafe operator with similar third-wave positioning to Crimson Cup.
- Verve Coffee Roasters: Santa Cruz-based specialty roaster with cafes in California and Tokyo. Comparable to Crimson Cup as a craft roaster with company-owned cafes and farmer-relationship-driven sourcing.
- Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters: Olympia, WA-based independent specialty roaster with wholesale and cafe operations. Comparable to Crimson Cup as a mid-sized independent craft roaster with direct trade sourcing and regional cafe presence.
- Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Portland-based specialty coffee roaster with cafes and wholesale distribution, owned by Peet's Coffee. Directly comparable to Crimson Cup as a craft roaster operating cafes and serving wholesale accounts with a direct trade sourcing model.
Broad incumbents
- Peet's Coffee: Major specialty coffee roaster and cafe chain (parent of Stumptown and Intelligentsia), now owned by JDE Peet's. Comparable to Crimson Cup as a larger, more diversified specialty roaster with national retail and wholesale operations.
- Caribou Coffee: Minneapolis-based coffee chain and roaster with broad U.S. footprint, owned by Panera Brands/JAB Holding. Comparable as a larger player with both retail cafes and wholesale/grocery distribution, providing scale context for Crimson Cup's growth ambitions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea social profiles
Digital presenceCrimson Cup Coffee & Tea financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea
What does Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea do?
Crimson Cup roasts specialty coffee at its Columbus, Ohio facility and operates as both a wholesale coffee supplier and a coffee shop startup consulting firm. Its flagship 7 Steps to Success program guides first-time entrepreneurs through opening independent coffee shops with no franchise fees or ongoing royalties, supported by award-winning coffee, proprietary syrups and bases, hands-on barista training at its SCA-certified Innovation Lab, and ongoing operational consulting. The company also runs seven company-owned Crimson Cup Coffee Houses in Ohio and sells wholesale to grocery, healthcare, and higher-education customers across 37 states.
Is Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea a public or private company?
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea founded?
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea was founded in 1991. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea based?
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is headquartered in Columbus, United States, in the North America region.
How does Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. 7 Steps to Success Consulting Program is the primary driver. The others are wholesale Coffee and Supplies, company-Owned Coffee Houses and training Services.
Who are Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Intelligentsia Coffee, Counter Culture Coffee, Blue Bottle Coffee, La Colombe Coffee Roasters, Ritual Coffee Roasters, Verve Coffee Roasters, Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters and Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Broad incumbents are Peet's Coffee and Caribou Coffee.
Does Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea have an API?
No public API is recorded for Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea.
What industry is Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea in?
Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea's product category is Specialty Coffee Roasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFADAE, Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes), with a secondary code of CRADAHAG, Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean). Its NAICS code is 311920 and its SIC code is 2080.