Stella Blue Coffee

What Stella Blue Coffee does

Stella Blue Coffee is a direct-to-consumer specialty coffee brand founded in 2022–2023 by Dan "Big Cat" Katz, co-host of the Barstool Sports podcast Pardon My Take, and wholly operated under Barstool Sports, Inc. The company sells Rainforest Alliance Certified 100% Arabica coffee in three core roasts (Big Cat Blend medium, Positive Vibes light, Electric Avenue dark) across four formats (ground, whole bean, pods, cold brew), with a 2024 expansion into ready-to-drink canned lattes (Sweet Cream and Caffe Mocha) and seasonal flavored SKUs. Beyond coffee, the product line includes branded apparel, drinkware, pet accessories, gift bundles, and gift cards, with licensed collaborations in 2024 from '47 Brand (hats), Rhoback (performance polo), and YETI (Rambler mug).

The business operates as a Shopify-based ecommerce storefront with no proprietary technology platform, and its go-to-market is anchored in product-led and community-led motions. The Coffee Club subscription (20% first-order discount, free shipping, flexible delivery cadence, Golden Mug giveaways) drives recurring revenue, while social proof from Barstool Sports' media reach, founder-brand content, and the user-generated #MUGSHOTMONDAY campaign drive organic acquisition. Customers are US-based individual coffee enthusiasts and pet-rescue-aligned consumers; no enterprise or B2B customers are disclosed.

The brand is mission-driven through the We Brew to Rescue campaign, which pledges to fund 1,000 pet adoptions via pet-accessory and RTD-can proceeds in partnership with PAWS Chicago and Mutt Fund. The company reports having raised over $200,000 for homeless pets, with 101 of 1,000 adoptions funded as of the most recent tracking. Headquarters are tied to Barstool's Chicago office under founder Katz, with the company listed as New York–based in the parent record; the operating geography is exclusively the United States.

Name

Stella Blue Coffee

Legal name

Stella Blue Coffee

Website

https://stellabluecoffee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stella Blue Coffee is a US direct-to-consumer specialty coffee brand founded by Dan "Big Cat" Katz under Barstool Sports, selling Rainforest Alliance Certified Arabica coffee in multiple formats, RTD canned lattes, and branded apparel, with a Coffee Club subscription and the We Brew to Rescue pet-adoption mission at its core.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Caffeinated Functional Beverage Production (Non-Energy) (AFAFAFAG)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee
• Ready-to-drink coffee
• Coffee subscription
• Branded merchandise
• Pet rescue donations

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Coffee Sales: One-time and subscription-based sales of coffee products in multiple formats (ground, whole bean, cold brew, pods, canned lattes). Primary revenue driver with prices ranging from $13.50 to $38.95 per unit. Coffee Club subscription provides recurring revenue with flexible delivery schedules (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly).
2. Apparel & Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded apparel and accessories including hoodies, t-shirts, hats, drinkware, and pet accessories. Prices range from $8 (sticker pack) to $85 (premium hoodie). Some items feature collaborations with brands like '47 Hitch and Rhoback.
3. Gift Card Sales: Digital and physical gift cards sold through the e-commerce storefront, enabling gifting and driving new customer acquisition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Stella Blue Coffee is a specialty coffee brand that sells 100% Arabica, Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee in multiple formats (ground, whole bean, pods, cold brew) across three core roasts (Big Cat Blend medium roast, Positive Vibes light roast, Electric Avenue dark roast), plus ready-to-drink canned lattes, seasonal limited-edition flavors, and branded apparel, drinkware, and pet accessories. The company also offers a flexible coffee subscription (Coffee Club) and ties every purchase to its 'We Brew to Rescue' pet adoption mission.

Product overview

Stella Blue Coffee is a specialty coffee brand founded by Dan 'Big Cat' Katz of Barstool Sports, built around the mission of 'We Brew to Rescue' to support pet adoptions. The product portfolio centers on premium coffee offerings including three core roasts (Big Cat Blend medium roast, Positive Vibes light roast, Electric Avenue dark roast) available in multiple formats (Ground, Whole Bean, Pods, Cold Brew). The company has expanded into ready-to-drink canned lattes (Sweet Cream and Caffe Mocha) and seasonal specialty flavors (Butter Cookie, Maple Pumpkin Pie, Blueberry Muffin, Cinnamon Sugar Donut, Miss Peaches). Beyond coffee, the company sells branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, hats), drinkware (mugs, pitchers, tumblers), and pet accessories (dog toys, bandanas, leashes), plus gift bundles. The Coffee Club subscription service provides recurring delivery with 20% first-order discount and free shipping. All coffee products feature 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified Arabica beans sourced from Colombia, Honduras, and Guatemala.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Big Cat Blend Balanced medium roast 100% Arabica coffee featuring notes of caramel, hazelnut, and fruitiness. Available in Ground (12 oz), Whole Bean (12 oz), Cold Brew (6 ct), and Pods (12 ct) formats.
• Positive Vibes

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $200,000 raised for homeless pets, enabling 1,000+ pet adoptions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered secondary, core and minor.

• '47 (47 Brand)secondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Licensed apparel collaboration producing branded hats including Stella Blue x '47 Hitch Two Tone Hat, Stella Blue Football x '47 Hitch Snapback Hat, Stella Blue Coffee Logo x '47 Hitch Snapback Hat, and Stella Blue Coffee x '47 Clean Up Hat. Products priced at $38 each.
• RhobacksecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Apparel collaboration producing the Rhoback x Stella Blue Performance Polo. A performance polo with moisture-wicking fabric, four-way stretch, and sun protection (UPF 40-50+). Originally priced at $99, on sale for $75.
• PAWS ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary charitable partner and the origin of the brand's rescue dog Stella. Dan Katz's dog Stella was adopted from PAWS Chicago, which inspired the brand's 'We Brew to Rescue' mission. 100% of net proceeds from dog toy sales are donated to PAWS Chicago. The company has raised over $200,000 supporting homeless pets through partnerships with PAWS Chicago and Mutt Fund. The We Brew to Rescue campaign funds pet adoption fees at PAWS Chicago and other shelters nationwide.
• Mutt FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimal rescue organization partnered with for the We Brew to Rescue campaign. Like PAWS Chicago, Mutt Fund receives support through the brand's charitable initiatives, helping provide lifesaving care, shelter, and adoption services to pets in need.
• Barstool SportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and brand platform. Stella Blue is 'A Barstool Brand' under Barstool Sports, Inc. Founder Dan 'Big Cat' Katz is a Barstool personality. The brand benefits from Barstool's media infrastructure, social channels, and audience reach. Barstool Sports was acquired and moved to New York City in 2016.
• YETIminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDrinkware collaboration producing the Stella Blue x YETI Rambler 14oz Mug, priced at $39.00.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Iconic specialty coffee brand with DTC subscriptions, retail cafes, and wholesale. Comparable as a premium specialty coffee brand with multi-channel distribution.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: Established specialty coffee brand operating DTC e-commerce, cafes, and wholesale at scale, now owned by Nestle. Comparable product positioning (premium specialty coffee, subscription) but with a far larger footprint and institutional backing.
• Counter Culture Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster with DTC subscriptions, wholesale, and training programs. Comparable as a specialty coffee brand operating across DTC, wholesale, and education channels.

Direct peers

• Driftaway Coffee: Subscription-first specialty coffee brand with personalized flavor profiling and direct-to-consumer e-commerce. Comparable subscription mechanics and DTC-only GTM.
• Black Rifle Coffee Company: Veteran- and founder-led premium coffee brand selling DTC via subscription and retail, with strong mission/identity positioning and apparel extensions. Directly comparable as a celebrity/founder-driven DTC coffee brand with subscription and wholesale ambitions.
• Death Wish Coffee: Premium DTC coffee brand with subscription model, strong brand identity, and national retail expansion. Comparable as a high-profile DTC-first coffee brand that scaled via subscriptions and retail partnerships.
• Trade Coffee: Subscription-based specialty coffee marketplace curating roasters for consumers. Directly comparable as a coffee subscription/DTC brand serving enthusiast consumers.
• Chamberlain Coffee: Emma Chamberlain-founded premium coffee brand with ready-to-drink oat milk lattes, organic social-led growth, and Gen Z targeting via TikTok. Closest peer in founder-celebrity DTC coffee with RTD expansion.

Emerging players

• Cometeer: Tech-forward premium coffee brand selling frozen coffee capsules via DTC subscription. Comparable premium DTC subscription model with differentiated format and venture backing.
• Blank Street Coffee: Tech-enabled specialty coffee brand with subscription and growing physical retail footprint. Comparable premium DTC subscription positioning with Gen Z appeal.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StellaBlueCoff
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/stellabluecoffee
• TikToktiktok.com/@stellabluecoffee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Stella Blue Coffee