Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company

What Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company does

Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company (DBA Chesapeake Coffee Roasters / CCR) is a privately held specialty coffee roaster founded in 2002 and headquartered in Crofton, Maryland. The company roasts approximately 326,000 lbs of coffee annually at its single Concord Boulevard facility and operates with a team of roughly 15–20 employees spanning roasting, production, sales, customer service, shipping/receiving, and finance. Its product portfolio is built around two certification-led lines — USDA Certified Organic blends (Diamondback, Oyster Reef, Cattail, River's Edge) and Bird Friendly certified single-origins (Hellbender, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Ethiopia, Costa Rica) — supplemented by signature dark roasts (Boater's Brew, Capital City Blend), Swiss Water decaffeinated options, a Roastmaster's Choice monthly subscription, wholesale portion packs, and branded merchandise.

The company's commercial model is a hybrid DTC/B2B structure: a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront and walk-in roastery retail serve individual consumers (with subscriptions offering 5% discounts and free shipping over $40), while a separate wholesale program delivers coffee, equipment packages, training, and Direct Store Delivery service to coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, campus and healthcare dining services, offices, grocery stores, and specialty food markets across the Mid-Atlantic region. Pricing is small-ticket and unit-based, with 12oz bags starting at $19.00, 2.2lb bags from $36.01, and Bird Friendly SKUs from $19.95–$21.00.

CCR's core differentiation is a mission-anchored brand in which 3.385% of 2025 gross income ($128,665.26) flowed to Chesapeake Bay watershed conservation via embedded giveback programs — notably $0.10 per item to the Oyster Recovery Partnership on Oyster Reef sales and 2% of Hellbender sales to the Maryland Zoo. The company has held a Bird Friendly certification partnership with the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and a sourcing relationship with Gold Mountain Coffee Growers; 73% of coffees sold are Certified Organic/Fair Trade and 37% are Bird Friendly. There is no evidence of AI/ML capability, app platform, or external venture funding beyond a single 2012 $400,000 round from DC Community Ventures.

Name

Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company

Legal name

Chesapeake Coffee Roasters

Website

https://chesapeake.coffee

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company (CCR) is a Crofton, Maryland-based specialty coffee roaster founded in 2002 that sells USDA Organic and Bird Friendly certified coffee through e-commerce, subscriptions, wholesale, and a walk-in roastery, serving environmentally conscious consumers and Mid-Atlantic food service accounts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Coffee Roasting

NAICS

Coffee and Tea Manufacturing (311920)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee Roasting & Grinding (AFAFADAB)

Keywords

• Specialty coffee roasting
• Organic coffee products
• Bird friendly coffee
• Coffee subscription service
• Wholesale coffee distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Crofton

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, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Coffee Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of roasted coffee beans in various formats (12oz bags, 2.2lb bags, retail cans) through e-commerce and walk-in purchases. Includes single-origin, blend, organic, and Bird Friendly varieties.
2. Coffee Subscriptions: Recurring subscription model with options for weekly, biweekly, or monthly deliveries. Subscribers receive 5% discount and free shipping on orders over $40. Includes Roastmaster's Choice option featuring rotating selections.
3. Wholesale: B2B sales to coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, catering companies, campus dining, healthcare, offices, grocery stores, and specialty retailers. Includes conventional and organic single-origins, blends, flavored coffees, cold brew programs, and portion packs with DSD service.
4. Merchandise: Sales of branded merchandise including apparel (hoodies, shirts), tumblers, coffee canisters, stickers, and other accessories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Chesapeake Coffee Roasters is a certified organic and Bird Friendly specialty coffee roaster that sources green coffee (much of it through Gold Mountain Coffee Growers), roasts it at its Crofton, Maryland facility, and sells the finished beans through three channels: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront with a monthly subscription service, walk-in retail at its roastery, and a wholesale program with DSD distribution. The product portfolio is built around Chesapeake Bay ecology-themed blends and Bird Friendly single-origins, with rotating limited editions, flavored options, decaf (Swiss Water processed), and a wholesale portion-pack format.

Product overview

Chesapeake Coffee Roasters is a certified organic and Bird Friendly specialty coffee roaster established in 2002, operating as a single unified product company focused on sustainable coffee. The core product portfolio includes signature organic blends (Organic Diamondback, Organic Oyster Reef, Organic Cattail, Organic River's Edge) named after Chesapeake Bay conservation icons, and a Bird Friendly certified line (Bird Friendly Hellbender, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Ethiopia, Costa Rica) protecting migratory bird habitats. Additional products include Boater's Brew and Capital City Blend dark roasts, Nighthawk Decaf Swiss Water processed coffee, and the Roastmaster's Choice Subscription delivering rotating monthly selections. The company also offers a Wholesale Coffee Program for food service partners with portion packs, and merchandise including branded apparel (Nighthawk Hoodie, Bird Friendly Shirt), accessories (Miir Tumbler, Airscape Coffee Canister), and collectible stickers. The company roasts approximately 326,000lbs of coffee annually with products available in 12oz bags, 2.2lb bags, retail cans, and wholesale portion packs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Organic Diamondback Coffee USDA Certified Organic dark roast blend named after the diamondback terrapin, with tasting notes of s'mores, dark chocolate, and nutmeg, sold in 12oz bags starting at $19.00.
• Organic Oyster Reef Coffee USDA Certified Organic coffee blend supporting the Oyster Recovery Partnership, with $0.10 from every item sold donated to oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay, priced from $19.00 in 12oz bags.
• Organic Cattail Espresso Medium-dark roast USDA Certified Organic espresso blend with Black Forest Cake, pineapple, and citrus tasting notes and creamy caramel body, priced from $19.00 in 12oz bags.
• Organic River's Edge Coffee USDA Certified Organic dark roast blend sourced from Indonesia, Africa, and Central America with s'mores, dark chocolate, and nutmeg notes, named after the Great Blue Heron habitat, priced at $19.00 per 12oz bag.
• Bird Friendly Hellbender Coffee Bird Friendly and USDA Certified Organic signature blend combining coffees from Guatemala and Ethiopia, priced at $19.95 and $21.00 in 12oz bags, with 2% of sales donated to The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore for Hellbender Salamander research.
• Bird Friendly Guatemala Coffee Bird Friendly certified single-origin coffee from Guatemala with Baltimore Oriole packaging, priced from $21.00 per 12oz bag.
• Bird Friendly Honduras Coffee Bird Friendly certified single-origin coffee from Honduras with Cerulean Warbler packaging, priced from $21.00 per 12oz bag.
• Bird Friendly Mexico Coffee Bird Friendly certified single-origin coffee from Mexico with dark roast profile and Ruby-Throated Hummingbird packaging, priced from $21.00 per 12oz bag.
• Bird Friendly Ethiopia Coffee Light-roasted Bird Friendly certified single-origin coffee from Ethiopia with Silvery-Cheeked Hornbill packaging, priced from $21.00 per 12oz bag.
• Bird Friendly Costa Rica Coffee (Limited Edition) Limited edition light-roasted Bird Friendly coffee from Costa Rica with medium body, mild acidity, and date-like sweetness with semi-sweet chocolate and light browned sugar notes, packaged in 12oz Bird Friendly blue bags.
• Nighthawk Decaf Coffee 100% chemical-free Swiss Water processed Bird Friendly decaffeinated coffee, sold in 12oz bags.
• Boater's Brew Coffee Bold signature dark roast blend with grilled fruit, smoked vanilla, and dark roasted peanut tasting notes, packaged in 2.2lb bags priced at $37.90.
• Capital City Blend Coffee Signature dark roast blend sourcing from South & Central America and Indonesia, with dark chocolate and campfire marshmallow notes, packaged in 2.2lb bags priced at $36.01.
• Roastmaster's Choice Coffee Subscription Monthly coffee subscription delivering a new coffee each month (blend, single-origin, limited edition, or subscriber-exclusive roast) across light to dark profiles at $22.00 monthly, with weekly, biweekly, or monthly cadence, 5% subscriber discount, and free shipping on orders over $40.
• Wholesale Coffee Program B2B wholesale partnership for coffee shops, cafés, restaurants, catering, campus and healthcare dining services, offices, grocery stores, and specialty food markets, providing conventional and USDA Certified Organic single-origins, blends, flavored coffees, cold brew programs, training, branding, marketing, and equipment packages, with ordering through a dedicated wholesale portal and regional Direct Store Delivery (DSD).
• Portion Packs Wholesale-specific single-serve portion pack coffees in Chesapeake Bay-themed SKUs for food service establishments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3.385% of gross income donated to environmental causes in 2025 ($128,665.26 total)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Maryland Zoo in BaltimorecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20192% of Hellbender item sales and $1 from every Cold Brew Keg donated to assist in research and support of the Hellbender Salamander and other native species of Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Partnership began in 2019 with Hellbender retail bag sales and expanded to wholesale items in subsequent years.
• Smithsonian Migratory Bird CentercoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1991Bird Friendly certification partner. SMBC is dedicated to understanding, conserving, and championing bird migration. Founded in 1991 and located at Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C. SMBC scientists work to clarify why migratory bird populations are declining and protect diverse habitats across the Western Hemisphere.
• Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner$0.10 per Oyster Reef item sold donated to ORP for oyster restoration efforts in Chesapeake Bay. Since 1994, ORP has planted more than 13.1 billion oysters on 3,000 acres of reef and recycled more than 340,000 bushels of shell, supported by Maryland Department of Natural Resources and University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Horn Point Lab.
• Gold Mountain Coffee GrowerscoreTechnology or Integration$0.10 per pound additional premium paid on purchased coffees. Gold Mountain Coffee Growers operates Finca Idealista farm in Nicaragua and connects specialty coffee farmers directly with roasters. Supports microcredit, technical assistance, community projects (running water, school libraries, electricity), and purchased rainforest to protect endangered species.
• Compost CrewminorOthersCompost service partner for sustainable business practices. $4,321.00 spent in 2025 on composting services as part of environmental sustainability commitment.
• MiirminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMerchandise partner for branded tumblers. Miir is known for dedication to sustainability, fair labor practices, and giveback efforts. Each tumbler includes a Give Code that funds specific projects when registered on Miir's website. CCR Miir Tumbler priced at $27.60.
• Charm City Screen PrintminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal screen printing partner for apparel decoration. Locally screen-prints CCR Bird Friendly Shirt at $26.50, supporting local manufacturing and sustainable sourcing.
• Smithsonian Folklife FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent participation partner. CCR team donates time, coffee, and resources to various local community and environmental-focused organizations including Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stumptown Coffee Roasters: Iconic specialty coffee roaster (now owned by Peet's) operating DTC, wholesale, and cafe formats. Larger and broader footprint, but directly comparable in product category, sustainability positioning, and customer base.
• Kicking Horse Coffee: Canadian specialty/organic/Fair Trade coffee roaster with broad retail distribution across North America. Comparable certification positioning and DTC/wholesale hybrid but operates at larger scale.
• Blue Bottle Coffee: Premium specialty coffee roaster and cafe operator (owned by Nestle). Comparable in DTC subscription model, premium pricing, and sustainability narrative, but operates at much greater scale and capital intensity.

Direct peers

• Equal Exchange: Worker-cooperative specialty coffee roaster focused on Fair Trade and organic certification with wholesale and retail distribution. Mission-driven comparable with similar certification moat and small-team operating profile.
• Counter Culture Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster with strong sustainability mission, direct-to-consumer e-commerce, wholesale foodservice distribution, and subscription programs. Directly comparable in scale, mission-driven branding, and B2B/B2C hybrid model.
• Thanksgiving Coffee Company: Mission-driven specialty roaster focused on organic, Fair Trade, and shade-grown/Bird Friendly coffees with wholesale and DTC operations. Closely comparable in size, certification focus, and sustainability storytelling.

Emerging players

• Higher Grounds Trading Company: Mission-driven specialty coffee roaster focused on Fair Trade, organic, and direct-trade relationships with small-scale producers. Comparable in mission-driven positioning, smaller scale, and wholesale/DTC mix.
• Birds & Beans Coffee: Specialty coffee company built entirely around Smithsonian Bird Friendly certification. Directly comparable mission focus and certification moat; smaller and more niche than CCR.

Others

• Gold Mountain Coffee Growers: Direct-trade coffee supplier and farm operator that is also a strategic partner of Chesapeake Coffee Roasters. Comparable because both companies share the same mission and the supplier relationship is core to CCR's sourcing story.

Regional players

• Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea: Ohio-based specialty coffee roaster serving Mid-Atlantic-adjacent region with wholesale, DSD, and DTC operations including subscription. Comparable regional specialty roaster profile and B2B/B2C hybrid model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cbrcfan
• Instagraminstagram.com/chesapeakecoffeeroasters
• Xx.com/cbrcfan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chesapeake-bay-roasting-company-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company