What Sightglass Coffee Roasters does

Sightglass Coffee Roasters is a vertically integrated specialty coffee company founded in 2009 and headquartered at 270 7th Street in San Francisco's SoMa district. It operates three primary business lines: (1) direct-to-consumer e-commerce with a roast-to-order subscription program (Single Origin Series, Blend Shuffle Series, and a flexible Build Your Own tier) priced at $19-22 per 12oz bag with a 15% subscriber discount; (2) five owned retail cafés across San Francisco (SoMa flagship, Mission, Divisadero), Los Angeles (Hollywood), and Berkeley, which together function as brand-immersion venues with open coffee bars, in-house culinary programs (Hollywood), and event spaces; and (3) a wholesale and hospitality channel supplying cafés, restaurants, and specialty markets with equipment consultation, barista training, and ongoing technical support, complemented by a Los Angeles-based full-service catering offering. Core product technology centers on small-batch roasting using vintage PROBAT drum roasters with sightglass viewing windows (the company's namesake), a roast-to-order fulfillment model with same-day order processing for orders placed before 1:00 PM PST Monday-Thursday, and specialty/coffee-adjacent differentiators including Swiss Water Process decaffeination and Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) sourcing via the Grizzly Peak blend. The product portfolio spans single-origin coffees, signature blends (Blueboon, Owl's Howl, Crown Point, Banner Dark, Toketee), seasonal releases (Summer Solstice, Women of Coffee: Peru), freeze-dried instant coffee (Best Instant Coffee by NYT Wirecutter), premium Gesha lots ($45-50), and retailer Fellow brewing equipment, with educational content (brew guides, in-person barista classes) as a customer-acquisition and engagement layer.

Sightglass monetizes through five revenue streams: (i) subscription DTC recurring revenue from the 15% discount program serving 100,000+ coffee drinkers with claimed 4.9/5 satisfaction; (ii) one-time café sales of drip, espresso, and food across five California locations; (iii) wholesale recurring coffee programs with equipment and training attach; (iv) professional-services-style catering from the Hollywood kitchen across LA; and (v) merchandise and brewing equipment resale. Customer segments are four: specialty coffee enthusiasts (primary, persona-based), café visitors (primary, use-case-based), wholesale/hospitality partners (B2B), and event/corporate catering clients (B2B). Pricing ranges from $17.85 Blueboon to $85.50 Gesha Duo bundle, with free shipping above $45 and bundle discounts at 3+ bags. The company is privately held and appears to be founder-operated with no disclosed institutional investment or parent company; all growth to date has been internally funded, with the May 2026 Berkeley opening representing the first café expansion in six years.

Name

Sightglass Coffee Roasters

Legal name

Sightglass Coffee

Website

https://sightglasscoffee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sightglass Coffee Roasters is a vertically integrated specialty coffee company founded in 2009 that roasts coffee to order for direct-to-consumer subscriptions, operates five cafés across San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Berkeley, and supplies wholesale, catering, and barista-education services to hospitality partners and premium home-brewing enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Roasting

NAICS

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

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Roasters with Cafe (Roastery Cafes) (THAFADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Coffee Shops (Single-Origin, Third-Wave) (THAFADAA), Coffee Roasting & Grinding (AFAFADAB), Specialty Coffee & Tea (Single-Origin, Micro-lot, Premium) Processing (AFAFADAJ)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee roasting
• Coffee subscription service
• Wholesale coffee supply
• Barista education
• Café coffee retail

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Coffee Sales: Online sales of whole bean and ground coffee through sightglasscoffee.com. Products include single origins, blends, espresso roasts, decaf, and instant coffee. Customers can purchase one-time or subscribe for recurring deliveries with 15% subscriber discount. Coffee roasted to order after purchase.
2. Café Retail Sales: Five café locations in San Francisco (SoMa, Mission, Divisadero), Los Angeles (Hollywood), and Berkeley serving drip coffee, espresso drinks, cold brew on tap, and food. Cafés feature full menus with seasonal offerings, pastries from local partners, and in Hollywood, a full culinary program with kitchen.
3. Catering Services: Full-service catering from the Hollywood flagship café kitchen delivering across Los Angeles. Serves fresh, seasonal food, pastries, and beverages for creative studios, office teams, and private events.
4. Wholesale Coffee Program: B2B coffee programs for cafés, restaurants, and specialty markets. Includes equipment consultation, barista training, ongoing technical support, and custom program development for each partner.
5. Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including mugs, tumblers, hoodies, brewing equipment (Fellow kettles, grinders, scales), and coffee accessories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sightglass Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster that sources green coffee directly from producers worldwide and small-batch roasts it to order on vintage PROBAT drum roasters. The roasted coffee is sold direct-to-consumer through an e-commerce platform and subscription program, retailed through five company-owned cafés in California, and supplied to wholesale partners (cafés, restaurants, specialty markets) with custom programs, equipment consultation, and barista training. Supporting offerings include catering, barista classes, brewing education content, and curated brewing equipment.

Product overview

Sightglass Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee company founded in 2009, operating as a direct-to-consumer coffee roaster and café operator with both retail locations and e-commerce operations. The product portfolio centers on premium roasted coffee offerings including single origin coffees, signature blends, and seasonal releases, complemented by subscription services (Single Origin Series, Blend Shuffle Series, Build Your Own), instant coffee, brewing equipment (Fellow products), merchandise and drinkware, and educational services (barista classes, brewing guides). The company operates five café locations in San Francisco (SoMa, Mission, Divisadero), Los Angeles (Hollywood), and Berkeley, plus offers catering, wholesale, and private event hosting services. Sightglass differentiates through direct sourcing relationships, small-batch roasting to order, and regenerative organic certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Women of Coffee: A limited edition series highlighting women coffee farmers from around the world, rotating seasonally with different geographies.
• Grizzly Peak
• Owl's Howl
• Blueboon

Products and services

• Single Origin Series Subscription A rotating single origin subscription featuring seasonally sourced coffees roasted light to preserve clarity and origin character. Subscribers receive different single origins as harvests evolve. 12oz bags at $22.00 subscription price (regular $27.50-$28.50) with 15% subscriber discount and customizable frequency.
• Blend Shuffle Series Subscription A rotating blends subscription cycling through five signature blends plus seasonal releases, crafted for balance and everyday versatility across all brew methods. 12oz bags at $19.00 subscription price (regular $21.00-$25.00).
• Build Your Own Subscription A flexible subscription allowing customers to pick their preferred coffee and set their own delivery schedule with full control over frequency and selection. Roast-to-order with 15% subscriber discount.
• Summer Solstice Seasonal Blend A limited seasonal blend featuring notes of Nectarine, Blackberry, and Honeysuckle. Made from Ethiopian Heirloom and Bourbon varieties from Hambela, Ethiopia and Gakenke, Rwanda. Priced at $25.00.
• Owl's Howl Organic Espresso Blend Sightglass's flagship espresso blend featuring notes of Cacao Nib, Stone Fruit, and Candied Orange Peel. Certified organic. Priced at $21.00 per 12oz.
• Grizzly Peak Regenerative Organic Blend Sightglass's first Regenerative Organic Certified coffee featuring notes of Pear, Cara Cara Orange, and Hazelnut. ROC standard focuses on restoring soil health and supporting biodiversity. Priced at $22.50 per 12oz.
• Blueboon Organic Blend An organic blend featuring notes of Milk Chocolate, Mandarin, and Honeysuckle. Sourced from Central America and East Africa. Available in 12oz, 2lb, and 5lb sizes; $21.00 regular price.
• Women of Coffee: Peru Single Origin A limited edition single origin coffee highlighting women coffee farmers from Peru's Finca Churumpapa Women's Group. Notes of Persimmon, Cocoa Nib, and Nougat. A portion of proceeds supports La Cocina.
• Crown Point Organic Espresso Blend An organic espresso blend featuring notes of Raspberry, Chocolate, and Butterscotch. Certified organic.
• Banner Dark Organic Blend An organic dark roast blend featuring notes of Bittersweet Cocoa, Toffee, and Graham Cracker.
• Toketee Organic Blend An organic blend featuring notes of Apricot, Cacao Nib, and Caramel.
• Hunky Dory Organic Decaf Blend An organic decaf blend featuring notes of Toffee, Red Grape, and Bergamot. Decaffeinated using Swiss Water Process.
• Microdose Organic Half-Caf Blend An organic half-caffeine blend featuring notes of Dried Apricot, Poached Pear, and Toasted Hazelnut.
• Sightglass Instant Coffee Freeze-dried instant coffee using slow brewing and freeze-drying process to preserve depth and nuance. Includes La Magdalena Tolima Colombian single origin (named Best Instant Coffee by NYT Wirecutter) and Blueboon blend varieties at $17.00 per unit.
• Premium Gesha Coffees Limited release Gesha varietal coffees known for floral aromatics and vibrant acidity. Includes Mexico Silvia Herrera Gesha ($45.00, 10.9oz), Honduras La Colmena David Muñoz Gesha ($50.00), and Gesha Duo bundle ($85.50).
• Peak Light Gift Set A curated gift set featuring Summer Solstice, Women of Coffee: Peru, and Grizzly Peak coffees, including tasting notes and origin information for each selection. Priced at $60.35.
• Fellow Brewing Gear Collection Curated collection of barista-approved brewing equipment including Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker, Stagg EKG Electric Kettle, Opus Conical Burr Grinder, Carter Cold Tumbler, and Carter Move Mug.
• Barista Classes and Coffee Education In-person barista education classes including Latte Art 101, Brewing 101, Espresso 101, and Coffee Cupping sessions, offered at San Francisco and Los Angeles café locations.
• Sightglass Café Locations Five café locations serving Sightglass coffee, espresso drinks, cold brew on tap, and food: SoMa flagship/HQ in San Francisco, Mission in San Francisco, Divisadero in San Francisco, Hollywood in Los Angeles, and Berkeley. SoMa flagship is also the company headquarters and roastery.
• Catering Service Full-service catering for events in Los Angeles featuring fresh seasonal food, pastries, and beverages prepared in the Hollywood flagship kitchen. Serves creative studios, office teams, and private events.
• Wholesale Coffee Program Custom B2B coffee programs for cafés, restaurants, and specialty markets including equipment consultation, barista training, ongoing technical support, and custom program development for each partner.
• Private Event Venue Hosting Private event venue hosting at the Hollywood flagship with five versatile spaces accommodating 14-150 guests, including full buyout options for up to 150 people. Used for brand activations, workshops, and private events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Roasted to order for guaranteed freshness - coffee tastes best up to six weeks after roast date
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Edible Schoolyard ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026At Berkeley café opening, Sightglass debuted its first Regenerative Organic Certified coffee, Grizzly Peak Blend, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Berkeley-based Edible Schoolyard Project. The Edible Schoolyard Project is an organization focused on edible education and school gardens.
• La CocinaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026A portion of proceeds from Women of Coffee: Peru is donated to La Cocina, a San Francisco-based non-profit business incubator supporting women, BIPOC, and immigrant food entrepreneurs. Sightglass's Women of Coffee series highlights women coffee farmers globally.
• BrewBirdminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025BrewBird, a Bay Area startup, partnered with Sightglass Coffee among other local roasters for their $10,000 smart coffee machine using whole beans and QR-coded compostable pods for office settings. Sightglass provides coffee for the pod system.
• Boor Projects (Seth Boor)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Seth Boor from Boor Projects collaborated with Sightglass on the design and vision for their Hollywood flagship location. Boor previously helped develop the vision for all San Francisco locations, bringing European café grandeur and old Hollywood sophistication to the spaces.
• Neighbor Bakehouse, b. patisserie, PiccinominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDivisadero café partners with local bakeries for pastry offerings. Customers can enjoy pastries from these neighborhood bakeries alongside Sightglass coffee. Supports local artisan food community.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Trade Coffee: Online coffee subscription marketplace curating roasters from across the country; competes indirectly for the D2C specialty subscription customer that Sightglass also targets.

Direct peers

• Blue Bottle Coffee: Oakland-born third-wave specialty coffee roaster operating company-owned cafes and a robust D2C subscription business; widely considered the most direct peer in segment, positioning, and cafe-led D2C model.
• Ritual Coffee Roasters: San Francisco-based specialty roaster and cafe operator with a focus on direct trade sourcing and Bay Area retail; operates the same third-wave playbook in the same primary geography as Sightglass.
• Verve Coffee Roasters: Santa Cruz/SF specialty roaster with a national D2C subscription program and company-owned cafes; comparable in pricing tier, single-origin focus, and roast-to-order positioning.
• Equator Coffees: Bay Area specialty roaster with cafes, wholesale accounts, and a sustainability-led sourcing story; competes head-to-head in Bay Area wholesale and cafe channels.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Portland-born third-wave pioneer now owned by Peet's; direct comparable in cafe-plus-wholesale-plus-D2C model with deep single-origin and direct-trade credentials.
• Intelligentsia Coffee: Chicago-based specialty roaster acquired by Peet's, operating cafes and wholesale programs with a strong direct-trade sourcing story; comparable in segment and channel mix.
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Philadelphia-based specialty roaster and draft latte producer with company-owned cafes and nationwide wholesale distribution; overlaps in cafe-led retail and B2B channels.
• Counter Culture Coffee: Specialty roaster with a deep training, education, and sustainability program and nationwide wholesale distribution; comparable in education-driven B2B sales motion.

Broad incumbents

• Peet's Coffee: Mass-premium coffee company operating cafes, grocery retail, and a wholesale business; owns Stumptown and Intelligentsia, creating a much larger competitive umbrella overlapping with Sightglass in specialty channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sightglasscoffee
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sightglass
• Instagraminstagram.com/sightglasscoffee
• TikToktiktok.com/@sightglasscoffee
• Xx.com/Sightglass

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 Sightglass Coffee Roasters