Pj's Coffee of New Orleans

What Pj's Coffee of New Orleans does

PJ's Coffee of New Orleans is a specialty coffee franchise chain founded in 1978 by Phyllis Jordan in New Orleans, Louisiana and currently operated as New Orleans Brew, LLC. The company operates 100+ franchise locations across 14 US states, with a centralized roasting facility in New Orleans managed by Roastmaster Felton Jones (25+ years tenure, SCA-certified) producing small-batch (300lb or less) roasted coffee from 14 origin countries. Its core product differentiator is a proprietary cold-drip brewing process pioneered by the founder that produces coffee two-thirds less acidic than typical coffee; this process also powers the NOLA Favorites flavored line (King Cake, Southern Pecan, Pralines & Cream) and signature New Orleans-style beverages including Café au Lait and beignets.

The business operates through four revenue streams: retail coffee and food sales at franchise locations (the largest by volume), franchise royalties and fees, e-commerce sales of whole bean, single-serve cups, chicory, and subscriptions through shop.pjscoffee.com, and catering services (Joe-To-Go, gallon jugs, pastry/sandwich trays) distributed via ezCater and direct ordering. Go-to-market is exclusively franchise-driven with a separate franchise sales funnel at pjsfranchise.com, supplemented by strategic non-traditional placements inside hotels (Royal Sonesta, DoubleTree), hospitals (Ochsner, North Oaks), universities (Tulane, MUSC, UNO, LSU Health), casinos (L'Auberge), and grocery stores (Roberts Fresh Market). Customer acquisition is supported by a mobile loyalty app (My PJ's Perks), email/text club, organic social, and seasonal limited-time offerings, with standard marketing integrations including Google Analytics, Google AdWords, and Facebook remarketing.

The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, M&A activity, or external investors, and operates with 251-500 employees headquartered in Mandeville, Louisiana. There are no disclosed AI/ML capabilities; technology is centered on physical roasting infrastructure and a mobile app supporting order-ahead, mobile payment, and loyalty rewards.

Name

Pj's Coffee of New Orleans

Legal name

New Orleans Brew, LLC

Website

https://pjscoffee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

PJ's Coffee of New Orleans is a specialty coffee franchise founded in 1978, operating 100+ locations across 14 US states through franchise and non-traditional venue partnerships, serving cold-brew coffee and New Orleans-style beverages to consumers, hospitality partners, healthcare facilities, and universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Chain

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coffee (Roasted, Ground, Whole Bean) (CRADAHAG), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI), Coffee Blending & Flavoring (AFAFADAC)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee retail
• Coffee franchise
• Cold brew coffee
• New Orleans coffee
• Coffee catering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mandeville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Coffee and Beverage Sales: Revenue from direct sales of coffee beverages, cold brew, frozen drinks, and food items at franchise locations to walk-in customers. Also includes whole bean coffee and single serve cups sold in-store and online.
2. Catering Services: Corporate and social event catering including Joe-To-Go beverage containers, gallon jugs of cold brew/tea/lemonade, pastry trays, sandwich trays, and treat trays. Orders placed online, through ezCater, or directly at locations.
3. Franchise Royalties and Fees: Revenue generated from franchise owners through initial franchise fees and ongoing royalty payments. Franchise sales information is directed to the franchise page at pjsfranchise.com.
4. E-commerce Sales: Online sales of whole bean coffee, single serve cups, coffee subscriptions, and accessories through the online shop at shop.pjscoffee.com.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PJ's Coffee of New Orleans is a specialty coffeehouse franchise that produces, serves, and sells premium coffee beverages, organic teas, pastries, and beignets across more than 100 locations in 14 U.S. states. The company roasts 100% Arabica beans in small batches using a proprietary cold-drip brewing process that yields coffee two-thirds less acidic than typical coffee, and also operates an e-commerce shop, catering service, and coffee subscription program.

Product overview

PJ's Coffee of New Orleans operates as a coffeehouse chain offering a unified brand experience centered on gourmet coffee. The core product is PJ's Coffee, featuring signature Original Cold Brew Iced Coffee and traditional New Orleans-style beverages. The product portfolio includes the main coffeehouse brand with hot, iced, and frozen drinks; food items including beignets and pastries; retail products like whole bean coffee, single-serve cups, and accessories sold through the online shop; catering services for corporate and social events; and a mobile app with integrated My PJ's Perks loyalty program. Seasonal limited-time offerings (Summer and Winter drinks) and the NOLA Favorites flavored coffee line extend the core brand. The company operates as a franchise with locations across multiple U.S. states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PJ's Original Cold Brew Iced Coffee

Quantifiable outcome

• Coffee is two-thirds less acidic than typical coffee due to cold-drip process
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ezCaterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorezCater serves as a third-party catering ordering platform for PJ's Coffee locations, enabling corporate and social event catering orders through the ezCater website and providing PJ's Coffee with catering order volume from businesses seeking breakfast and coffee catering.
• Royal Sonesta HotelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyal Sonesta operates PJ's Coffee locations inside their hotels in New Orleans (300 Bourbon St), Houston (2222 West Loop South), and Hilton Head Island (130 Shipyard Drive), providing in-hotel coffee service for guests seeking authentic New Orleans coffee experiences.
• Ochsner Health SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple PJ's Coffee locations operate within Ochsner Health facilities including Ochsner Medical Center - Baptist Hospital, Ochsner Health Center - Covington, Ochsner Elmwood Fitness Center, and other Ochsner campus locations in the New Orleans area.
• DoubleTree by Hilton (Canal Street, New Orleans)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPJ's Coffee location operates inside the DoubleTree Hotel at 300 Canal St. Suite R in New Orleans, serving hotel guests and visitors.
• L'Auberge Casino ResortsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPJ's Coffee operates locations inside L'Auberge Casino properties in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles, Louisiana, serving casino guests and visitors.
• Roberts Fresh MarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultiple PJ's Coffee locations operate within Roberts Fresh Market grocery stores in the New Orleans area, including Harrison Ave, Elysian Fields, Robert E Lee, and South Claiborne Ave locations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Dunkin': National coffee and donut QSR chain with extensive franchise footprint. Competes on convenience and price in the beverage category but lacks PJ's specialty positioning and New Orleans-themed differentiation.
• Peet's Coffee: Established specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator (acquired by JAB Holding). Competes with PJ's on small-batch roasting, premium Arabica sourcing, and branded retail coffee products via grocery and e-commerce.
• Starbucks: The dominant global coffee chain, offering specialty coffee beverages, food, and a loyalty program. Competes directly with PJ's in the U.S. specialty coffee segment but operates at vastly greater scale with a broader product portfolio.

Direct peers

• Caribou Coffee: Specialty coffee chain with both company-owned and franchise locations, focused on the Midwest and Southeast U.S. Directly comparable in business model and geographic footprint to PJ's franchise operations.
• Dutch Bros Coffee: Fast-growing specialty coffee drive-thru chain operating primarily through company-owned and franchise locations across the U.S. Direct competitor in the specialty coffee category with a comparable franchise/company mix and southern U.S. footprint.
• Biggby Coffee: Franchise specialty coffee chain with a similar mid-scale footprint across multiple U.S. states. Comparable franchise-led model, loyalty program, and specialty coffee positioning targeting similar demographic segments.
• Scooter's Coffee: Franchise-based specialty coffee drive-thru chain headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Closely comparable business model: franchise-led expansion, drive-thru focus, loyalty program, and emphasis on specialty espresso and cold brew beverages.

Emerging players

• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Third-wave specialty coffee roaster with cafes and wholesale distribution (owned by Peet's/Lavazza). Comparable to PJ's in direct-trade Arabica sourcing and small-batch roasting ethos, though with a craft rather than franchise model.
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster known for draft latte and cold brew products. Directly comparable to PJ's in cold brew category leadership and premium retail positioning, though primarily cafe/wholesale rather than franchise-based.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: Third-wave specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator with direct-to-consumer retail. Competes with PJ's on small-batch roasting and Arabica-bean quality positioning, though focused on premium urban markets rather than franchise scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pjscoffee
• Facebookfacebook.com/pjscoffee
• Instagraminstagram.com/pjscoffee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Pj's Coffee of New Orleans