Sprudge
Sprudge is a privately held, independent digital media company founded in 2009 in Portland, Oregon, that publishes specialty coffee journalism, podcasts, city guides, and industry awards, monetized through advertising, sponsorships, and commerce aimed at coffee professionals and enthusiasts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Sprudge does
Sprudge is a privately held, independent digital media company founded in 2009 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, that publishes original journalism covering the specialty coffee industry. Its product surface is a WordPress-based multimedia platform at sprudge.com delivering news articles, long-form features, city and brew guides, explainers, podcasts (Coffee Sprudgecast), a Substack newsletter, and an events calendar. The company also operates adjacent editorial properties including the Special Projects Desk (presented by La Marzocco), Build-Outs of Coffee, Green Room (importer intelligence), Sprudge Twenty, and the Sprudgie Awards and Sprudge Design Awards recognition programs.
The company's underlying technology is a standard WordPress content management system with multimedia distribution, supplemented by a podcast feed, a Substack newsletter integration, an Apple Maps data/content partnership (Sprudge Maps), an e-commerce storefront (Sprudge Shop), and a job board (Sprudge Jobs). There is no proprietary technology, no patents or trademarks, and no software product sold to customers; the primary technology asset is the editorial content library and the distribution integrations.
Sprudge's business model is B2B content-led media, monetized primarily through display and banner advertising and sponsored content from coffee industry brands (equipment manufacturers, roasters, importers, and adjacent beverage/chocolate brands). Secondary revenue streams include paid job postings on Sprudge Jobs, newsletter sponsorship via Substack, and limited commerce through the Sprudge Shop. The audience is split between coffee industry professionals (baristas, cafe owners, roasters, importers) and specialty coffee enthusiasts and travelers seeking city guides and gear recommendations. With a stated headcount of 1–10 employees and no disclosed funding, Sprudge operates as a small, founder-controlled niche publisher rather than a venture-backed media business.
Sprudge firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sprudge
- Legal name
- Sprudge Media
- Website
- https://sprudge.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sprudge is a privately held, independent digital media company founded in 2009 in Portland, Oregon, that publishes specialty coffee journalism, podcasts, city guides, and industry awards, monetized through advertising, sponsorships, and commerce aimed at coffee professionals and enthusiasts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sprudge industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee Media
- NAICS
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Podcast Networks & Multi-Show Publishers (MPACADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Coffee, Tea & Cacao Experiences (Roastery Tours, Tastings) (THAJAGAH)
Keywords
Where Sprudge is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Sprudge business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Advertising and Sponsorships: Display advertising and sponsored content from coffee industry brands including equipment manufacturers, roasters, and importers
- Newsletter Subscription: Free and paid newsletter content via Substack
- Job Listings: Sprudge Jobs division posting coffee industry employment opportunities
- Event Partnerships: Sponsorship and coverage of coffee industry events and competitions
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Sprudge product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sprudge is a specialty coffee media network publishing original journalism, podcasts, city guides, build-out features, and industry event coverage for the global specialty coffee industry. The platform distributes editorial content through its website, newsletter (Substack), Coffee Sprudgecast podcast, and integrated Apple Maps coffee guides, monetizing primarily through advertising, sponsorships, and event partnerships with coffee equipment manufacturers, roasters, and importers.
Product overview
Sprudge is a specialty coffee media network offering a comprehensive content platform focused on coffee news, travel, and buying guides. The core offering consists of the main Sprudge website providing daily coffee industry news, features, and editorial content, supplemented by Sprudge Maps (integrated with Apple Maps for location-based coffee guides), the Coffee Sprudgecast podcast series, and the Special Projects Desk editorial content. The portfolio includes the Sprudge Shop for e-commerce, Sprudge Jobs for industry employment, Roasters Village for roaster showcases, and the Sprudge Events Calendar for global coffee events. Additional features include Build-Outs of Coffee (cafe design documentation), Sprudgie Awards and Sprudge Design Awards (industry recognition), City Guides and Brew Guides (educational content), Coffee Gear and Explainers (industry coverage), Ready-To-Drink Coffee coverage, Press Releases distribution, and Green Room (green coffee importer intelligence). Sprudge Twenty provides annual industry influence rankings. Together these products form a multimedia ecosystem serving specialty coffee professionals and enthusiasts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Coffee Sprudgecast: Podcast covering coffee culture, interviews, and industry news.
- Special Projects Desk
- Sprudgie Awards
- Sprudge Design Awards
- Coffee Gear
- Sprudge Jobs
- Sprudge Maps
Products and services
- Sprudge Coffee News, Travel & Buying Guides
- Coffee Sprudgecast
- Special Projects Desk
- Sprudge Maps
- Sprudge Jobs
- Sprudge Shop
- Sprudgie Awards
- Sprudge Design Awards
- Sprudge Events Calendar
- Green Room
Companies that use Sprudge
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sprudge technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Sprudge partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
48 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- La MarzoccoflagshipLa Marzocco presents the Special Projects Desk, a long-form journalism series featuring origin stories and deep industry features. Additional banner advertising partnership across the site.
- DONAcoreBanner advertising sponsor for chai and tea products, appearing throughout the site with various campaign themes including honey, matcha, turmeric, and rose flavors.
- MiiRcoreBanner advertising sponsor for precision coffee gear including the Tomo thermos, pourigami, and new standard collection products.
- AcaiacoreBanner advertising partner for coffee scales and brewing equipment including Pearl model and Pyxis products.
- BaratzacoreBanner advertising partner for coffee grinders featuring Vario and Encore ESP Pro models.
- 8th & RoastcoreFeatured in Roaster's Village showcasing Elefante El Salvador coffee. Long-term sourcing relationship with Rodriguez family at Finca Nejapa.
- Atlas Coffee ImporterscoreGreen Room partner showcasing Q Arabica Grader courses and educational content. World of Coffee event presence.
- Cafe ImportscoreGreen Room partner with presence at World of Coffee Brussels featuring cuppings and industry events.
- Royal CoffeecoreGreen Room partner publishing industry intelligence reports including 'What Does Direct Trade Actually Mean?' content series.
- Swiss WatercoreGreen Room partner featuring Verdant Reserves program and decaffeination educational content.
- Stumptown Coffee RoasterscoreRoaster's Village partner featuring Wild Flower seasonal blend and banner advertising.
- Verve Coffee RoasterscoreRoaster's Village partner featuring Wilder Blend. Also featured in Coffee Gear section with Dwell Dripper brewer.
- Onyx Coffee LabcoreRoaster's Village partner featuring Geometry blend and single origin collections.
- Joe Coffee CompanycoreRoaster's Village partner featuring Cafe Feminista program highlighting women producers.
- Klatch CoffeeflagshipRoaster's Village partner with exclusive access to award-winning Panama Geisha lots from Hacienda La Esmeralda. Banner advertising partner.
- Night Swim CoffeecoreRoaster's Village partner featuring Yessica and Diego Parra coffee from Colombia.
- Olympia Coffee RoastingcoreRoaster's Village partner featuring Big Truck flagship blend. Wholesale banner advertising partner.
- CovoyacoreGreen Room partner showcasing Guatemala fresh crop arrivals and specialty coffee sourcing.
- SLOW POUR SUPPLYcoreBanner advertising partner featuring Kimera milk pitcher and origami brewer products.
- Apple Inc.flagshipSprudge selected as coffee guides provider for Apple Maps, integrating city guides into native iOS/macOS map experience.
- ModbarcoreBanner advertising partner for espresso machine technology.
- Flair EspressocoreBanner advertising and Coffee Gear feature partner for Flair 58 Plus 2 and Wizard stovetop steamer.
- BOOKOOcoreBanner advertising and Coffee Gear feature partner for espresso tools including Puckgo 3-in-1 tamper and Themis Ultra scale.
- Partners Coffee RoasterscoreRoaster's Village partner featuring Edin Lopez Gesha from Honduras.
- PERC CoffeecoreRoaster's Village partner featuring Super Power Plum coffee from Diego Bermudez.
- Phil & SebastiancoreRoaster's Village partner featuring Sure Thing blend from Honduras.
- Portland Coffee RoasterscoreRoaster's Village partner featuring OPBEANS collaboration with Oregon Public Broadcasting.
- Presta Coffee RoasterscoreRoaster's Village partner featuring rare Yemen coffees from Al-Khanshali Estate and Peru Gesha offerings.
- Blueprint CoffeecoreRoaster's Village partner featuring Timespan dark roast and Nidia Lasso Boutique Series Colombia.
- Caffé UmbriacoreRoaster's Village partner featuring Bizzarri Blend for milk-based drinks.
- Equator CoffeescoreRoaster's Village partner featuring Ecuador La Carolina Sidra coffee.
- La Barba CoffeecoreRoaster's Village partner featuring Ethiopia Musa Abalulesa Honey process coffee.
- Mr. EspressocoreRoaster's Village partner featuring Java Garut natural process coffee and Sumatra Jasmine co-ferment.
- Madcap CoffeecoreRoaster's Village partner featuring Eureka blend.
- Mill City RoasterscoreBanner advertising partner for M-Series coffee roasters.
- CxffeeblackcoreBanner advertising partner celebrating Black coffee professionals and supply chains.
- ColdPerkcoreBanner advertising partner for Commissary 70 high-volume coffee extraction system.
- DriposcoreBanner advertising partner for point-of-sale systems built for coffee shops.
- ComandantecoreCoffee Gear feature partner for C40 Lab Series Hammerhead hand grinder.
- HariocoreCoffee Gear feature partner for V60 Simply Glass pour-over kit.
- Hemro GroupcoreListed as Proudly Partnered With brand.
- GhirardellicoreBanner advertising partner for chocolate products used in coffee drinks.
- Hollander ChocolatecoreListed as Proudly Partnered With brand.
- Rishi Tea & BotanicalscoreBanner advertising partner for London Fog concentrate and tea products.
- Pacific Barista SeriescoreBanner advertising partner for plant-based milk products.
- noissuecoreBanner advertising partner for sustainable packaging solutions.
- Created Co.coreListed as Proudly Partnered With brand.
- ecotactcoreListed as Proudly Partnered With brand for sustainable packaging.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Sprudge competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Perfect Daily Grind: Specialty coffee news and features platform covering baristas, roasters, and equipment — overlaps Sprudge's audience of coffee professionals and competes for the same coffee-brand advertisers.
- Daily Coffee News (Roast Magazine): Long-running coffee industry news outlet covering the North American specialty coffee sector with similar B2B advertiser base as Sprudge.
- Barista Magazine: Print and digital coffee industry magazine targeting baristas and cafe operators — directly competes with Sprudge for premium coffee brand sponsorships and reader attention.
- Coffee Review: Coffee reviews and ratings publication serving specialty coffee consumers and professionals — overlaps with Sprudge's buying guide and gear review content.
Broad incumbents
- Specialty Coffee Association (SCA): Trade association publishing industry resources, event coverage, and educational content — broader incumbent that competes for specialty coffee mindshare but operates a wider portfolio beyond media.
Emerging players
- The Coffeevine: Coffee subscription and city-guide platform with editorial content — partial overlap with Sprudge's city guides and Sprudge Shop offering.
Regional players
- Bean Scene Magazine: Australian specialty coffee publication with similar editorial coverage of cafes, roasters, and baristas — comparable offering but focused on the APAC region rather than Sprudge's global US-anchored audience.
Others
- Tea Journey: Independent beverage media publication focused on specialty tea — adjacent editorial model and audience overlap with Sprudge's occasional tea coverage (e.g., DONA, Rishi Tea partnerships).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sprudge social profiles
Digital presenceSprudge financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sprudge leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Sprudge funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sprudge M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sprudge
What does Sprudge do?
Sprudge is a specialty coffee media network publishing original journalism, podcasts, city guides, build-out features, and industry event coverage for the global specialty coffee industry. The platform distributes editorial content through its website, newsletter (Substack), Coffee Sprudgecast podcast, and integrated Apple Maps coffee guides, monetizing primarily through advertising, sponsorships, and event partnerships with coffee equipment manufacturers, roasters, and importers.
Is Sprudge a public or private company?
Sprudge is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sprudge founded?
Sprudge was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sprudge based?
Sprudge is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sprudge make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Advertising and Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are newsletter Subscription, job Listings and event Partnerships.
Who are Sprudge's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Perfect Daily Grind, Daily Coffee News (Roast Magazine), Barista Magazine and Coffee Review. Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is listed as a broad incumbent. The Coffeevine is listed as an emerging player. Bean Scene Magazine is listed as a regional player. Tea Journey is listed as an others.
Does Sprudge have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sprudge.
What industry is Sprudge in?
Sprudge's product category is Specialty Coffee Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACADAB, Podcast Networks & Multi-Show Publishers, with a secondary code of THAJAGAH, Coffee, Tea & Cacao Experiences (Roastery Tours, Tastings). Its NAICS code is 5418 and its SIC code is 2721.