What Tower Roasting does

Tower Roasting Co. (legal entity: Tower Coffee Inc.) is a privately held craft coffee company headquartered in Bend, Oregon that produces small-batch roasted single-origin and blended coffees and packages them primarily in proprietary K-Cup compatible pods. The company was founded by Robert Brown and Tor Naerheim, with Roastmaster Ian Holiday overseeing product selection, and sources beans through direct trade relationships with growers in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Peru, and Brazil. Customer focus is split between individual coffee enthusiasts in the United States and retail and hospitality businesses reached through a wholesale program. Note that the firm's year of operation is reported inconsistently across sources, with one source indicating 2002 and firmographics indicating 2020.

The company's core technology centers on its SUPER PODS product line, a proprietary single-serve pod format that holds up to 47% more coffee than standard K-Cup pods and uses a SUPER SEAL freshness system claimed to keep coffee fresh five times longer than competing pods. The pods are produced under license from Keurig Green Mountain for K-Cup compatibility and are marketed as 100% recyclable. Beyond pods, Tower Roasting sells whole bean coffee in 12-ounce and 5-pound formats across single-origin and blend SKUs including Yirgacheffe Ethiopian, Mandheling Sumatra, Costa Rica, Peru, La Familia Blend, Empire Blend, High Altitude Blend, Dolce Vita Blend, and Lil' Dipper Decaf. The company maintains named direct-trade partnerships, including the Roberto Montero Estate in Costa Rica and APROCCURMA, a cooperative of 124 female landowners in Peru.

Tower Roasting operates a multi-channel revenue model. The consumer side combines one-time e-commerce purchases through towerroasting.com with a subscription service offering 15% off for life, free shipping on orders of $50 or more, and flexible cadence (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly). Twelve-count pod packs retail at approximately $12.97, 12-ounce whole bean bags range from $16 to $21, 96-count bulk decaf packs sell for $95.68, and 5-pound whole bean bags range from $126.67 to $140. The company also runs an inquiry-based wholesale program for retail stores and hospitality businesses, sells digital gift cards from $10 to $250, and operates a Get Matched quiz tool for personalized recommendations. Shipping is limited to the United States, and the company is founder-owned with no disclosed institutional investors or funding rounds.

Name

Tower Roasting

Legal name

Tower Coffee Inc.

Website

https://towerroasting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tower Roasting Co. is a Bend, Oregon craft coffee company selling direct-trade single-origin and blend coffees via proprietary K-Cup compatible SUPER PODS, whole bean formats, and a subscription service to U.S. consumers and wholesale buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Roasting

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (31192)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Roasting & Grinding (AFAFADAB)

Keywords

• Craft coffee roaster
• Single-serve coffee pods
• Whole bean coffee
• Coffee subscription service
• Direct trade coffee

Headquarters

HQ city

Bend

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - Coffee Pods: One-time purchases of K-Cup SuperPods in various pack sizes (12, 24, 48 count). Primary revenue driver with recurring purchase opportunity.
2. Product Sales - Whole Bean: Sale of whole bean coffee in 12oz and 5lb bag options. Targets customers who prefer to grind their own coffee or have alternative brewing methods.
3. Subscription Revenue: Recurring subscription model with weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly delivery options. Subscribers receive 15% discount and free shipping. Flexible customization of coffee selection and quantity.
4. Wholesale/B2B: Bulk sales to retail and hospitality businesses. Inquiry-based sales through wholesale contact form.
5. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards sold in denominations from $10 to $250. One-time purchase with no recurring revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tower Roasting Co. is a craft coffee company that roasts and sells single-origin and blend specialty coffee in two primary formats: K-Cup compatible SUPER PODS (proprietary single-serve pods holding 47% more coffee with 5x longer freshness via SUPER SEAL technology) and whole bean coffee in 12oz and 5lb bags. Products are sold direct-to-consumer via towerroasting.com and through a subscription program offering 15% off for life with free shipping, with supplemental wholesale supply to retailers and hospitality businesses.

Product overview

Tower Roasting Co is a craft coffee company specializing in small-batch roasted single-origin beans and proprietary K-Cup compatible SUPER PODS™. The product portfolio centers on SUPER PODS™ (available in single-origin varieties like Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, Sumatran Mandheling, Costa Rica, Peruvian, and blends including La Familia, Empire, High Altitude, and Lil' Dipper Decaf) and whole bean coffee sold in 12oz and 5lb bags. The company offers subscription services with 15% lifetime discount, a 'Get Matched' interactive quiz for personalized recommendations, digital gift cards ($10-$250), and a wholesale program for retail and hospitality businesses. All products feature organic, fair trade sourcing with direct trade partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SUPER PODS™: Single-serve coffee pods that hold up to 47% more coffee than standard pods, featuring SUPER SEAL™ technology for freshness and 100% recyclable materials.

Products and services

• SUPER PODS (Yirgacheffe Ethiopian) K-Cup compatible single-origin coffee pods featuring Ethiopian Yirgacheffe light roast beans with sweet citrus, blueberry, and chocolate flavor notes. Uses SUPER SEAL freshness technology and holds up to 47% more coffee than standard pods.
• SUPER PODS (Mandheling Sumatra) K-Cup compatible single-origin coffee pods featuring Indonesian Sumatra Mandheling medium-dark roast beans with brown sugar, melon, and toffee flavor notes.
• SUPER PODS (La Familia Blend) Organic blend K-Cup compatible pods combining Costa Rican and Guatemalan medium roast beans with dark fruit, almond, and cocoa nibs flavor notes.
• SUPER PODS (Empire Blend) Blend K-Cup compatible pods combining Ethiopian and Peruvian medium roast beans with strawberry, cocoa, and maple syrup flavor notes.
• SUPER PODS (High Altitude Blend) Blend K-Cup compatible pods featuring Ethiopian and Guatemalan beans cultivated at high altitudes with medium roast and sweet citrus, chocolate, and caramel flavor notes.
• SUPER PODS (Lil' Dipper Decaf) Decaffeinated K-Cup compatible pods using Select Water Process, featuring Brazilian beans from Minas Gerais with fruit-forward plum, grape, and blackberry notes.
• SUPER PODS (Costa Rica) Single-origin K-Cup compatible pods featuring Costa Rican medium roast beans with dark chocolate, cinnamon, and caramel flavor notes.
• Roaster's Choice Pods Rotating selection subscription pods available in 2, 4, or 6 packs of award-winning single-origin and blend coffee pods selected by Roastmaster Ian Holiday.
• Lil' Dipper Decaf Bulk Pack Bulk decaf pods bundle available in 96 or 144 count boxes with 20-25% savings, featuring Brazilian Select Water Process decaf beans.
• Costa Rica Single Origin Whole Bean Single-origin whole bean coffee from Puntarenas, Costa Rica with medium roast and dark chocolate, cinnamon, and caramel flavor notes. Available in 12oz and 5lb sizes.
• Mandheling Sumatra Single Origin Whole Bean Single-origin whole bean coffee from Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia with medium-dark roast and earthy, full-bodied flavor with low acidity.
• Peruvian Single Origin Whole Bean Fair trade single-origin whole bean coffee from Santa Ana, Peru featuring orange, chocolate cola, and plum flavor notes. Farmed by 124 female landowners trained in organic practices.
• Lil' Dipper Decaf Whole Bean Decaffeinated whole bean coffee from Mantiqueira Region, Minas Gerais, Brazil with natural process for nuts, dark cocoa, and purple fruit flavor notes.
• Dolce Vita Blend (Italian Roast) Extra dark roast blend featuring Sumatra and Brazilian beans with caramel, cocoa, and almond butter notes in an Italian roast style.
• Coffee Subscription Service Recurring delivery subscription offering 15% off for life, with flexible weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly frequency. Customers choose pods (12-48 count) or whole bean (12oz bags). Free shipping on orders over $50 for subscribers.
• Digital Gift Cards Electronic gift cards available in denominations of $10, $15, $20, $25, $50, $80, $100, and $250, valid for USA purchases only in US Dollars.
• Wholesale Program Bulk purchasing program offering craft coffee pods and whole bean products to retailers, hotels, cafes, and restaurants for resale or on-premise service.

Quantifiable outcome

• 47% more coffee per pod compared to standard pods
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Direct Trade Coffee GrowerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect trade relationships with select partner farms worldwide. Beans sourced from Ethiopia, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Peru, and Brazil. These partnerships enable access to premium single-origin beans with full traceability to source farms and growing practices.
• Roberto Montero Estate (Hacienda La Amistad)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect sourcing partnership with century-old Costa Rican coffee farm in Coto Brus, Puntarenas. The estate produces organic, fair trade coffee with 97% of land dedicated to forest preservation. 27 families of farmers steward traditional coffee growing practices.
• APROCCURMA (Peruvian Female Coffee Producers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Asociacion de Productores Cafetaleros de la Cuenca del Rio Maranon - a cooperative of 124 female landowners in Peru trained in organic and environmental practices. First fair trade beans from female landowners in the region.
• Pacific Northwest Artisan RoasterssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelationships with micro roasters in Bend, Oregon and Pacific Northwest region. Co-founder Robert Brown spent decades finding and collaborating with the region's best craft coffee roasters to develop roasting techniques.
• Keurig Green Mountain (K-Cup License)coreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed use of K-Cup format for SUPER PODS compatibility with Keurig brewing systems. Keurig and K-Cup are trademarks of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., used with permission.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Specialty craft coffee roaster offering single-origin beans and direct-trade sourcing with both DTC e-commerce and wholesale/hospitality distribution. Highly comparable on craft positioning, sourcing model, and channel mix.
• Counter Culture Coffee: Direct-trade specialty coffee roaster with strong sustainability credentials, single-origin lineup, and DTC + wholesale channels. Closely aligned with Tower Roasting on direct-trade sourcing and craft roasting philosophy.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: Premium specialty coffee brand with single-origin offerings, subscription model, and DTC e-commerce. Comparable on craft positioning, subscription mechanics, and premium single-origin catalog.
• Ritual Coffee Roasters: Specialty craft roaster focused on single-origin, direct-trade beans sold DTC and through wholesale. Comparable on craft positioning, sourcing transparency, and small-batch roasting.
• Bones Coffee Company: Craft flavored and single-origin K-Cup compatible pod brand sold primarily DTC with subscription. Comparable on K-Cup format, DTC e-commerce, and subscription mechanics.
• Copper Moon Coffee: Craft roaster with K-Cup compatible pods, whole bean offerings, and DTC plus wholesale distribution. Comparable product mix and channel strategy to Tower Roasting.

Broad incumbents

• Keurig Green Mountain: Owner of the K-Cup format Tower Roasting is licensed to use, and the dominant U.S. single-serve pod brand. Sets pricing, licensing terms, and category expectations that Tower Roasting must navigate.
• Nespresso: Global leader in single-serve pod coffee, competing for the same convenience-and-quality consumer. Comparable on pod-format single-serve category, though proprietary hardware ecosystem differs from K-Cup.

Regional players

• Portland Roasting Coffee: Pacific Northwest craft roaster with organic, fair trade direct-trade sourcing and DTC/wholesale distribution. Comparable on craft model and PNW origin, though not a pod-format brand.

Emerging players

• Stone Cold Coffee: Smaller emerging craft pod brand competing in the K-Cup compatible segment with single-origin focus. Comparable as a niche pod-format craft competitor, though smaller scale than Tower Roasting.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/towerroastingco
• Facebookfacebook.com/towerroastingco
• Instagraminstagram.com/towerroastingco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tower-roasting-co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Tower Roasting